Bristol Art Museum Offers Experimental Drawing Workshop with Pamela Seymour Smith Sharp

5/12/2026

The Bristol Art Museum will host a hands-on workshop, Experimental Drawing with artist Pamela Seymour Smith Sharp, on Wed., Jun 10, from 12 to 4 p.m.

This class takes a different approach to working with letterforms. It begins with an introduction to single-stroke-written Roman Capital letters, using the “Ideal Letters” developed by Fr. Edward M. Catich as a point of reference. Fr. Catich was a calligrapher, teacher, and scholar whose study of Roman inscriptions shaped modern understanding of how classical Roman Capital letters were originally written.

Participants will look closely at how the letters are constructed such as the stroke order, proportions, and subtle geometry that give them their balance and clarity. From there, the session moves into more open territory. Rather than focusing on perfect replication, participants will be encouraged to experiment by developing their own alphabets and working through the movement and rhythm of drawing letters by hand. Each person will leave with a finished piece created during the workshop.

“Roman Capitals can look deceptively simple, but they require a trained eye and a steady hand,” Sharp said. “In this class, we start with that structure, then loosen it a bit. The goal isn’t perfection, rather it’s to explore what happens when you really engage with the form.”

Sharp studied with Father Catich in the 1970s and brings a long perspective to the work. She recalls the discipline of those early lessons and how they continue to shape her approach today. That balance between structure and freedom is at the heart of this class.

The workshop is open to visual artists, designers, and anyone interested in letterforms. No prior experience is required. Organizers note that this is not a traditional calligraphy class, but a drawing-based exploration of written forms.

Cost: $55 for members, $65 for non-members
Supplies (participants should bring):