Blackletter Transformed: from Structure to Spontaneity by Chicago Calligraphy Collective

Blackletter Transformed: from Structure to Spontaneity is a two-day live online calligraphy workshop taught by Elmo van Slingerland for the Chicago Calligraphy Collective. It runs on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2027, from 9 am to 5 pm Central time, on Zoom. The workshop starts with the formal construction of Textura, the classic blackletter hand, and then moves on to informal variations that let you build a personal style. It costs $109 for members and $159 for non-members, and registration is open.

Many blackletter classes stop once you can write a clean, formal Textura. This workshop uses that structure as a starting point. Once the rules are in place, you learn which ones can bend, and how far, while the writing still reads as Textura.

What You Will Learn

The workshop moves from discipline to freedom over the two days. Based on the official workshop page, it covers:

• The formal construction of Textura minuscules
• Textura capitals and how they relate to the lowercase
• The shapes, spacing and contrast that define the hand
• Varying letter widths while keeping the character of the script
• Playing with spacing and x-height for different effects
• Developing a personal style that still reads as Textura

Who Is Blackletter Transformed For?

The official page lists the level as intermediate to advanced, for intermediate to experienced calligraphers. You should already be comfortable with a broad-edged pen and have some practice with formal hands. Lettering artists and graphic designers who letter by hand may also find the variations useful for display work.

It is not a beginner's class. If you have never used a broad-edged pen, start with an introductory course in a foundational hand first, then come back to blackletter.

Schedule

The workshop takes place over one weekend:

• Dates: Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2027
• Time: 9 am to 5 pm Central time each day
• Format: live on Zoom
• Day one focus: formal Textura structure, shapes, spacing and contrast
• Day two focus: informal variations towards a personal style

Because the times are set to US Central time, check your local time before you register. For much of Europe the sessions run from the afternoon into the late evening.

Price and Access

The workshop costs $109 for members of the Chicago Calligraphy Collective and $159 for non-members, for both days. Joining the guild before registering may work out cheaper if you plan to take more of its workshops. Check the official page for current prices and availability.

How to Register

Registration is open on the Chicago Calligraphy Collective website, on the workshop's own page. The page also links to the supply list and the instructor's biography, so read both before you sign up.

About the Instructor and the Guild

Elmo van Slingerland teaches this workshop; his full biography is linked from the official workshop page. The Chicago Calligraphy Collective is a calligraphy guild based in Chicago that runs workshops with visiting teachers, including online classes like this one that are open to calligraphers anywhere.

Things to Consider

• Supplies: use the supply list linked on the official page and have everything ready before Saturday.
• Experience: you need a working knowledge of broad-edged pen calligraphy.
• Time: two full days of writing is tiring; set up a comfortable desk and good lighting.
• Camera: a setup that lets you see the screen while you write makes demonstrations easier to follow.
• Time zone: check what 9 am Central means where you live.
• Practice: plan time in the weeks after the workshop to keep developing your variations.

How to Get the Most From It

Warm up with some formal Textura in the days before the workshop so your hand is ready for the first session. Taking Blackletter Transformed with a small project in mind, such as a title, a quotation or a poster, gives you a reason to keep using the variations after the weekend.

Register for the Workshop

Interested in learning with the Chicago Calligraphy Collective?

Register for Blackletter Transformed

For the full programme and pricing, visit the official Chicago Calligraphy Collective website.

Looking for more ways to learn? Browse all courses and learning resources on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: November 12, 2026