Uncial into Capitals
Writing Uncials from historical sources and developing them into a contemporary pen capital letterform.
Course Summary
“Uncials are true pen-forms—more quickly written than the “Square”, and clearer than the “Rustic” Capitals—having the characteristic, simple strokes and beautiful, rounded shapes which flow from the rightly handled reed or quill.” —Edward Johnston (Writing, Illuminating & Lettering, 1906)
Why start with Uncial? Because at its heart, this class is about Capitals. Uncial provides us with a foundation of pure pen forms—beautifully simple, rhythmic, and flowing—that open the door to understanding pen-made capitals. Uncial was in everyday use from the 4th to the 8th century. Today, it is considered a specialist hand, but its lessons are timeless: it makes a superb book hand, and its clarity and rhythm can enrich both formal calligraphy and text hands. In my own work, I often borrow from Uncial when shaping Pen Capitals—sometimes alternating between them to achieve a particular effect.
In this workshop, we’ll move beyond the purely historic. We’ll explore design and lettering principles in depth, seeing how Uncial can train the hand and eye in ways that directly apply to both text and titling. This study provides not only historical insight but also creative freedom—giving you a reliable framework for developing your own Pen Capitals while experimenting with variations. As with all my workshops, we’ll combine close study of the forms with practical design approaches, technique refinement, and best practices in calligraphy. Looking at a hand in its historical “peak” period allows us to see reliable, well-formed models—not as a cage, but as a roadmap. From there, you can move from walking to running, from study to personal expression. Topics Covered Study and understand a historic hand Adapt and modify it for modern use Formal pen calligraphy practice Improve technique and refine letter design Learn the key differences between text-hand and titling Build a working Pen Roman—both simple and advanced
Comments / Testimonials for John Stevens online classes
John shared key fundamentals of #gothiccalligraphy, his design experience and insights, discussed historical exemplars we can learn from, and possibilities for further exploration. I enjoyed the class, and grateful to John @calligraphile —Bakhyt Kadyrova
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I am very happy to attend the course on Roman pointed pen. it has been a wonderful experience and i look forward to attend in future courses. Thank you very much.🙏 Caligrafia_mea (Iam very happy to attend the course roman pointed pen. it has been a wonderful experience and i look forward to attend in future courses. Thank you very much.🙏 –( MeryemTunca)
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John, your class as always is rich in subject & challenging in skill. Thank you for the generous sharing of your skills & knowledge! –Connie Posigian
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Last upload from the final lesson of this incredible class. Master John Stevens always confirms himself as a source of great inspiration and with many useful ideas for learning to think outside the box. Andrea Russo
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Many thanks for another great course. Your instruction as always have been most illuminating and challenging. This plus the posting of of so many brilliant contributions has made this experience very special. –Isaias Zelkowicz
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What a grand class… ( as per usual!) Studying with you is such a privilege… made possible by these internet classes. Your demonstrations have a kind of magic about them. ( of course it’s your years of experience) and your ability to turn that experience into such well thought out tasks that can be grasped by beginners as well as seasoned artists! Just Wow! And a special Thanks to Takako for assisting you so ably! She’s quite the gifted Calligrapher in her own right! Sorry for gushing a bit, but I wanted you to know how much I appreciate both your efforts to support and promote such soundly based and thoughtful approaches to this artistry!–Jeff Redford
John Stevens
John Stevens is a lettering artist and calligrapher with over 40 years of professional experience. He began his career as a sign painter in New York, and his lifelong interest in letters led him to explore calligraphy, type, and lettering with pens and brushes.
His work spans publishing, packaging, advertising, television, and film, with clients that include Lucasfilm, Life, Time, Newsweek, Tiffany & Co., and the New York Public Library. He is also commissioned for traditional calligraphic works on paper and vellum, continuing a centuries-old craft.
John has been invited to teach throughout the United States and abroad, including Europe, Japan, and South America. His original works are held in public and private collections, such as the San Francisco Public Library, Berlin’s Akademie der Künste, and La Casa del Libro in Puerto Rico.
His calligraphy and lettering have appeared in numerous books and publications worldwide. His first book, Scribe: Artist of the Written Word (2013), received critical acclaim, and his most recent, Mastering Broad Brush Roman Capitals, is currently available from John Neal Bookseller.
You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook. Website: www.johnstevensdesign.com
Most Recent lecture: The Letterform Archive (2019)
Date & Time: Three Saturdays: x 2026
starting at 2 pm EDT Sessions: 1.5 hours Zoom live.
(Recording is available for later viewing until xxxxx)
www.johnstevensscribe.com
Tuition Fee: $130.usd
Upon signing up, you will be able to download the materials list and class information.
I hope to see you there!
Well first, thank you for a wonderful class. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have so much to practice.I had multiple chats with other students that were also very happy with your presentation. I felt strongly that your talents needed to go out to a wider calligraphy world and this was the perfect time. It was something the calligraphy world needed.
I am very grateful for these 5 weeks of study. It was a great course, every lesson was super informative and inspiring, I loved the way you summarized important feedback on our practice, the handouts became a wonderful book with nice examples and notes. Thank you very much, John!
