Beginner Question

[WOBentley]

I was looking through some of the ink reviews and came across this brief excerpt from Crewel's review of Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo.

 

 

The top two lines show the writing styles I would like to learn. I believe these are Copperplate (or a type of copperplate?) and Italic (certainly there are likely many styles of Italic, so maybe I need more specificity in nomenclature?). I have a couple of questions

1. Is it possible to write in these styles fairly rapidly, i.e. can I use these styles for my everyday handwriting (after suitable practice!), or are these too demanding of time to use that way?

2.Other than time and patience what do I need to get started; Any good books, practice sheets, tips, videos, pointers? Very specific recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!!

Edited February 2, 2013 by WOBentley

[mliptrot]

I was looking through some of the ink reviews and came across this brief excerpt from Crewel's review of Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo.

 

 

The top two lines show the writing styles I would like to learn. I believe these are Copperplate (or a type of copperplate?) and Italic (certainly there are likely many styles of Italic, so maybe I need more specificity in nomenclature?). I have a couple of questions

1. Is it possible to write in these styles fairly rapidly, i.e. can I use these styles for my everyday handwriting (after suitable practice!), or are these too demanding of time to use that way?

2.Other than time and patience what do I need to get started; Any good books, practice sheets, tips, videos, pointers? Very specific recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!!

 

Hello there,

 

I've been practising for a few years now, both at calligraphy and improving my handwriting. I sought out The Osmiroid Book of calligraphy (1p + postage from Amazon) and that was a great start. It's got advice on the fundamentals of calligraphy and also a nice simplified Italic that you can use as a quicker form of handwriting.

 

I've got to the stage now where I can produce a simplified italic - with a straight-cut nib - or copperplate - with a flexible nib - at a reasonable speed.

 

As to the picture, the italic is fairly 'sharp' and you can find examples of many different italic styles. My 'natural' style is slightly less sharp than in the second line, but not as rounded as I have seen elsewhere.

 

Mark

[Keyless Works]

wow I wish my hand writing looked like that. People always ask my if my parents were doctors because my hand writing is so bad.

[WOBentley]

wow I wish my hand writing looked like that. People always ask my if my parents were doctors because my hand writing is so bad.

I am a doctor...so you know how much help I need!

Thanks for the responses so far!

Dave

[Mickey]

Either hand can be written quickly enough for daily handwriting. Of the two, Round Hand is potentially the more rapid and definitely more rapid in its monoline or business writing form (no shades). Where Italic has an advantage is in portability. Where shaded Round Hand, as in the example, is more easily and effectively done with dip pens, Italic can be done quite well with a fountain pen.

 

Edited for correction. The first hand is a strongly slanted Round Hand or Copperplate, not Spencerian.

Edited February 4, 2013 by Mickey

[WOBentley]

Thanks Mickey!

So that is Spencerian? Learning something every day, that helps with knowing where to look for information.

[Mickey]

Thanks Mickey!

So that is Spencerian? Learning something every day, that helps with knowing where to look for information.

 

It's actually Copperplate. What threw me at first, was the slant, which is extreme even for Spencerian. (Copperplate is written at 55 degrees, Spencerian at 52, and the sample at barely 48 degrees.) I didn't bother to look at the actual letter forms, the slant yelled Spencerian. Bad on me. Sloppy me.

 

Still, the same advice applies. Round Hand can be written rapidly, though most practitioners these days do not do so, leaning more in the direction of Engrosser's (or Engraver's) script for inspiration, which is written or drawn quite deliberately.

 

If you want to see actual Spencerian check out

 

http://www.iampeth.c...lege_letter.jpg

 

or

 

http://www.iampeth.c...udy_as_much.jpg

 

And to see Copperplate

 

http://www.iampeth.c...certificate.jpg

 

As I said, bad on me.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Mickey

[caliken]

The top two lines show the writing styles I would like to learn. I believe these are Copperplate (or a type of copperplate?) and Italic

In pinned topics at the top of this forum, there are examples in various styles including Italic, Copperplate and Spencerian in "Depository..." and instructions in Italic in "Handwriting Aids...".

 

Ken

[josiah]

Either hand can be written quickly enough for daily handwriting. Of the two, Round Hand is potentially the more rapid and definitely more rapid in its monoline or business writing form (no shades). Where Italic has an advantage is in portability. Where shaded Round Hand, as in the example, is more easily and effectively done with dip pens, Italic can be done quite well with a fountain pen.

 

Or, if you are more particular than you are accurate like me, you'll spend a long time writing whatever way you choose, so pick one you like.

 

Unless I'm using a flexible nib (on a fountain pen or with a dip pen), my cursive is rotten: I need the directional feedback of the nib to guide me. When I have to use a stiff, smooth nib, or if I'm stuck with a ballpoint, I revert to my semi-cursive italic handwriting. It may be a little bit slower for me, but at least it's legible.

 

If you want a more-or-less standard roundhand-derived cursive handwriting (including, say, Spencerian or Palmer), I will defer to others to guide you. But if you want an italic handwriting:

 

In general, if you like stub nibs or italic (or chisel-point) nibs, italic is a good choice for a handwriting. If you want an italic handwriting, you can certainly use a mono-width nib, but my reflex as a teacher would be that learning with a chisel nib helps to learn why certain shapes work the way they do. I have an Article In Progress™ about this very topic, and will spare you. In any case, my handwriting usually settles on italic, and my better examples of cursive usually use italic letter shapes as a base.

[tdzb36]

Wo .......... your penmanship is too nice!

[DanielCoffey]

wow I wish my hand writing looked like that. People always ask my if my parents were doctors because my hand writing is so bad.

 

To which you should reply... "Yes, but I can afford not to worry about it."

[torstar]

Where there's a will, there's a way.

 

Slow and steady and tons of hours and painful patience and you are on your way.

[dickydotcom]

From a complete amateur who tries both styles:

Copperplate style with the line variation I find very slow. I think it really requires a dip pen to get the fabulous effects shown.

I do use a monoline version in everyday writing and while it looks OK it's no work of art.

I also carry at least one italic nibbed pen and if I want something to look a bit better I'll use italic. It is bit slower than my standard writing but quicker than trying to use a flexible nib.

Dick D

 

[torstar]

From a complete amateur who tries both styles:

Copperplate style with the line variation I find very slow. I think it really requires a dip pen to get the fabulous effects shown.

I do use a monoline version in everyday writing and while it looks OK it's no work of art.

I also carry at least one italic nibbed pen and if I want something to look a bit better I'll use italic. It is bit slower than my standard writing but quicker than trying to use a flexible nib.

Dick D

 

 

 

Very impressive if you are just learning to write like this!!

[WOBentley]

Thanks all for the tips.

Ken, I will look more thoroughly at the lists above especially now with some feedback! I don't think I can ever hope to have your level of skill!

Dick D, Our native handwriting is very similar so I have some hope now, thanks!

 

I do prefer using edged nibs, mostly CI's and I have some dip pens and nibs and have been playing around a bit, but want to get more serious. As stated above I guess all I need is TONS of practice :roflmho:

[Penne Stilografiche]

Barnes and Noble has some nice Calligraphy books. I'm 14 and I basically mastered the Italic style in about 2 hours of practice.

[MusinkMan]

Barnes and Noble has some nice Calligraphy books. I'm 14 and I basically mastered the Italic style in about 2 hours of practice.

 

 

You mastered the Italic Style in 2 hours of practice? Um, are you certain that you mastered it? You would impress the hell out of me if you mastered any style with 2 hours of practice.

[Mickey]

Barnes and Noble has some nice Calligraphy books. I'm 14 and I basically mastered the Italic style in about 2 hours of practice.

 

 

You mastered the Italic Style in 2 hours of practice? Um, are you certain that you mastered it? You would impress the hell out of me if you mastered any style with 2 hours of practice.

 

In an (d)evolving language where 'awesome' has now become a mild expression of approval, mastery means you figured out which end of the pen goes on the paper.

[medicalcpa]

Barnes and Noble has some nice Calligraphy books. I'm 14 and I basically mastered the Italic style in about 2 hours of practice.

 

 

Pics or it didn't happen.

[atamantara]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

I second this. After using a italic nib, I didn't found it too hard to "use", but I have a long road to "master" it. Plus, do you have some pics of the before/after trying the italic nib? I'm curious about it.