After many years of envying others, I have been studying full time since September, at the European Lettering Institute. I've also taken on the arduous job of editing and designing the Edge the magazine of the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society (CLAS) clas.co.uk - I've been able to combine both and have published several editions of my news from Bruges in the Edge.
the news from Bruges part one
Or Brugge as I shall now call it!
Since the last issue I have been looking for and finding somewhere to live. I travelled over in early July with my husband to look for what at times seemed to be impossible, i.e a flat or apartment with two bedrooms, some outside space and a parking space and I ended up with everything I needed at a price I could afford.
We stayed near the park in a very modern yet compact airbnb with use of two bicycles so we could explore the whole city and get a real feel for how it all joined up! Our hosts were lovely and really interested in calligraphy. A friend of theirs, Maud Bekaert (lettter carver www.lettersinsteen.be) whose studio I had visited when in Bruges for the Sunderland Symposium in 2015, had offered to open specially if I called round - and on the wall in the bedroom was a Brody Neuenschwander original piece of work. www.brodyneuenschwander.com. Instagram @brody_neuenschwander.
lettering on restaurants in Bruges and Damme
Belgium doesn’t do furnished accomodation and a normal lease is 9 years! In fact I was told in no uncertain terms that 3 years was an absolute minimum and though it was possible to leave early, you had to pay a penalty and would be responsible for the rent until another suitable tenant could be found. We traipsed round numerous agents and some were much more helpful but I felt a bit long in the tooth for student accomodation! Fortunately I had been getting email alerts from a couple of websites and had arranged two viewings before I arrived. The first was happy to give me a one year lease and right in the area near the college.... but oh so depressing when I viewed it....
I must be mad - I thought - to be attempting this wild adventure. We sat outside a cafe in the sun drinking coffee and got talking to some locals about the Belgium world cup match that evening that was being shown live on a big screen in one of the squares. We decided to join them and ................................the luck changed and Belgium won......I started to feel happier and was enjoying the atmosphere.
Next day while waiting for more appointments we went to see the second place I had seen online....now this might be the one! It was on the first floor, with two bedrooms a balcony and the option of a garage and the landlords wife had English parents and he was happy to give me a one year lease!! Not only that, it is just down the road from ‘Simbolik’ a delightful shop selling all things calligraphic by Nathalie Beelprez who I have been following on Instagram. @nathalie_beelprez www.simbolik.be. There are so many calligraphers and lettering artists in Bruges and soon I will be one of them for a little while!
Nathalie Beelprez’s shop Simbolik
Since then I have been in touch with other students on the course - they come from Belgium, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Argentina, Colombia, Russia and I am the first from the UK! We are travelling over together for the Letter Exchange Conference and I feel I have some friends already.
Details are being finalised for the courses during the year with options for drawing, letter carving in wood, letter carving in stone, Adobe Illustrator and InDesign - This is what I really want to get to grips with and I will be using the Edge as my main focus for learning so I will be practising on you!
I’m writing this surrounded by boxes getting ready to take a van full of furniture and washing machine, tumble drier, drawing board and art materials! The wifi is arranged, deposits and fire insurance paid and there is no backing out now! My husband is staying home with the dogs, cats and chickens but we’ve arranged sitters and walkers so he can visit often and anyway half term is not far away.
