I have been a  calligraphist and illuminator in Quebec City since 2005. I have had the luxury of learning to write with a pen and a pen holder in my youth at school, to practice calligraphy during many years at school and also on a purely private basis.  I already liked very much to write and to copy recipes and historical chapters of my native area of Poitou; these were my favourite activities during my school vacations.  My participations in formations of calligraphy and illumination trainings in Poitiers and Montmorillon gave me the feeling of meeting an old friend again. 

I admire manuscripts, especially when they are hand illustrated and even more if it is handwritten.  What a joy to be able to emphasize a text and its illustration!  My intention is not to give you a history lesson of the book and the writing, in spite of its marvellous interest.  Remarkable authors have done that. 

The monks, the moniales and then laymen of the Middle Ages used products, pigments and parchments (animal skins prepared for the writing) accessible around the monastery and sometimes requiring long-lasting voyages.  They had other alternatives only to be satisfied with these materials which gave, however, extraordinary results.  I am happy to carry on my activity with powder pigments, medium with egg,  24 carats gold sheets, 24 carats mineral gold powder and goat, calf, lamb and also vellum parchments. Sometimes, it also happens to carry out work on very beautiful papers  such as paper “skin of elephant”, hand crafted papers imitating parchment and giving very beautiful aesthetic results. I have the fabulous chance to be able to choose, the copyists did not have that choice.  But what counts to me is that I share with them the pleasure of  writing and  illustrating with noble materials which I respect and which I share with a great pleasure with my public, my pupils… my friends…

See you soon !            Myriam