Concentrating On Your Unique Style

[SuperNib44]

I have always been fascinated by people's everyday writing, much more so than perfect calligraphy. It is much more fun to look at all the nuances in peoples' writing in the not so distant past. I have been developing my own personal hand, trying to obtain the same high level of skill and a similar style to those of the early to mid 19th century. Below are some examples of styles I admire. I was wondering if any others on FPN have similar goals of perfecting their own style?

[SujiCorp12345]

I agree. Even though I think calligraphy looks gorgeous, I'm more interested in getting a cool everyday hand.

[islandink]

Exactly! are there good resources for practising useful scripts--FPN members keep suggesting a calligraphy website called Iampeth (?sp) but that is not what I am after. Just other interesting elegant personal writing styles to try that would involve regular pens (not dip pens) and no more than a semi flex nib. Suggestions?

[Auspice]

I'm more hoping for a consistent style than even an attractive one. Some days, it's great. Others... well, today, I somehow managed to blend the d and g in 'bridge'. ;.;

[Venemo]

Me too. I'm always looking for making my handwriting prettier and stylish. Whenever I see some old writing, I look for interesting parts in it (usually just small details and curves) that I can use to tweak my own with.

[Millefleurs]

Absolutely. I definitely want to improve my handwriting and would also be open to suggestions on how to do that. The Iampeth site is a great resource, but I already write fairly decent cursive - I just want it to be prettier. I was thinking practicing individual letters might be the way to go.

[pen tom]

That is some really nice writing (above) I find that my printing comes out prettier while my cursive can often be sloppy. I really have to try hard to get it looking nice

[MusinkMan]

In my opinion, the reason these "ordinary" handwritings are appealing is because they are heavily based in learned hands. It is those elements that make this handwriting attractive and interesting. These are both heavily based in the Spencerian hand, although they were obviously quickly written and not a lot of time or effort was spent in making them "perfect". But the folks who penned these letters were trained in the Spencerian hand (probably since elementary school). Spencerian in it's "pure" form is not necessarily a fancy or ornate style...it does however, have that "look" of yesteryear. I would say that if you would like to write similar to these letters, rather than trying to emulate these examples, learn the principles of Spencerian penmanship. Once you have those down pat and you are comfortable writing in that style, then it's influences will show up in your personal handwriting too! :-)

 

Also, realize that these letters were written with a flexible dip pen. It's not really feasible to carry a dip pen and a pot of Walnut or Iron Gall ink around...but what you can do is to purchase a decent flexible Fountain Pen (get a decent vintage one, not a "modern" one). In no time your handwriting will be interesting and amazing, just as in the examples shown in the original post.

[SuperNib44]

Exactly! are there good resources for practising useful scripts--FPN members keep suggesting a calligraphy website called Iampeth (?sp) but that is not what I am after. Just other interesting elegant personal writing styles to try that would involve regular pens (not dip pens) and no more than a semi flex nib. Suggestions?

I am going to get a sample of my writing up soon. As far as improving, I still suggest what I use, this free program connects me to a database of old records, ready to be digitized. https://familysearch.org/indexing/get-started-indexer I do this service while enjoying the writing of the recorders. It has helped me immensely in developing my own hand and has allowed me to focus on what handwriting elements I like and which I do not. The great thing is, that while it is expected that you digitize the record, you can send it back to the database without doing a thing besides looking at it! A great free resource for any penman.

[Randal6393]

Exactly! are there good resources for practising useful scripts--FPN members keep suggesting a calligraphy website called Iampeth (?sp) but that is not what I am after. Just other interesting elegant personal writing styles to try that would involve regular pens (not dip pens) and no more than a semi flex nib. Suggestions?

Must disagree with you. IAMPETH has many advantages to offer.

 

PROS:

 

Manuals of many of the common scripts taught as American cursive hands.

Price is free for the download.

Articles discuss handwriting and are from a time when work was handwritten.

Excellent workbooks that cover all aspects of writing.

 

CONS:

 

Being older books, many of the manuals require mentally substituting a fountain pen for the dip pen.

Must search the site as there are several areas with manuals, tutorials, and articles.

The student must do the work.

 

Enjoy,

[SuperNib44]

Exactly! are there good resources for practising useful scripts--FPN members keep suggesting a calligraphy website called Iampeth (?sp) but that is not what I am after. Just other interesting elegant personal writing styles to try that would involve regular pens (not dip pens) and no more than a semi flex nib. Suggestions?

I think the IAMPETH stuff is great for drills. Drills can never hurt no matter what the style. Just look at old documents and copy letter forms you like and drill with those. (Did I mention drills )

[dms525]

 

[SuperNib44]

Thank you David.

[proton007]

In my opinion, the reason these "ordinary" handwritings are appealing is because they are heavily based in learned hands. It is those elements that make this handwriting attractive and interesting.

 

This.

 

The flair comes from the individual. The basics come from learning a hand.

[sidthecat]

I find I don't have the patience for formal calligraphy, but I do a lot of journal-type writing and I can see in my notebooks a long sequence of stylistic evolution: letters get tired and start leaning over; calligraphy morphs into flex and a long fascination with Secretary Hand made my words almost illegible. Lately it's more elegant and consistent, but I still couldn't ascribe it to anything so formal as a method.

[ac12]

As for unique style.

I keep an eye out for interesting looking letters all the time; cereal boxes, advertisements, pen pal letters, etc.

When I see something that looks interesting, I will try it out.

Example, my "L" is based on the L in the Leica logo, but with a bit more flair. And has become one of my favorite letters to write, but surprisingly tricky to pull off well.

 

As has been said, if I really want to make my handwriting "look" nice, I pull out the dip pen with an oblique holder.

Next is a Lamy joy with a 1.1 nib, for line variation without much work.

Finally a standard FP with a ball nib.

[dickydotcom]

_{My ordinary writing has changed a lot over the years. I used to write almost exclusively in an italic style.}

_{I then started to take an interest in flex and semi flex nibs and used a more cursive style.}

_{When I changed jobs and needed to write a lot more I found the older style cursive much faster.}

_{So here is a clip from 2004 Journal and a partly redacted one from my current journal}

_{Dick D}

_{http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/dickydotcom/Journal2004_zps9527b4b7.jpg}

_{http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/dickydotcom/Journal2015_zps8bc32825.jpg}

[mvarela]

As others have said, don't dismiss IAMPETH. You'd do well to learn a hand, and evolve a nice style from that. Doing drills and learning the basics is important, whether you're doing calligraphy, or just want to have a nice everyday writing.

[Randal6393]

Hi, Dick D,

 

Impressive! Both of your hands are easily read and attractive hands. A lot of work has gone into your writing and it is apparent.

 

Enjoy,

[BookCat]

I really like handwriting which is based on italic. I love the second example given by the OP and think that has italic origins, whereas the first example looks like it has its origins in Spencerian, which I like a little less. I'm currently teaching myself the basics of italic, but I prefer to write it with a flex pen. Holding an edged pen at a 45 degree angle is just too contorted.