Copperplate is more demanding of precise technique..

March 29, 2009

Hi folks! This is a Copperplate calligraphy sample I've written today (a hard rainy day). It's a citation from Gordon Turner "The technique of Copperplate calligraphy" book. I don't own this book (I've found some pages on the net), but I think it gives a really sense to what I'm feeling when I study and practice copperplate style (and maybe also to you).

Used a Waterman's 52 fountain pen with Parker black Quink. I wanted to start this work with a dip pen, but since I've began to use fountain pens with flex nib, I've lost the feeling with the first ones (it's not a good thing! )

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1v8Xv71Du3g/Sc-ZDCdJWXI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/Es-aA5hVU1M/Copperplate.jpg

March 29, 2009

That's a beautiful piece of writing! If I may ask a couple of questions: first, I'm interested to see that you've managed to get the slant required for good copperplate despite using an 'in-line' nib (as opposed to using an oblique dip pen holder). Did that require a special technique - angle of paper, etc? Second, I've not noticed anyone producing this script with a lower-height letter 'd' - i.e. lower than the other ascenders. Is this something you copied from the original piece, or something you've developed for yourself? (I'm not criticising it - I think it's rather attractive, but it's new to me.)

I also have a flexible '52' nib and am tempted to follow your lead!

Ken

March 29, 2009

Re:

"Copperplate is more demanding of precise technique.., and less forgiving of imperfections."

I would definitely agree -- I can admire the technical perfection of a well-executed piece of Copperplate (or of the various styles that have descended from it) while noting that everyday life may require something more forgiving, less demandingly "accident-prone."

March 29, 2009

That's a beautiful piece of writing! If I may ask a couple of questions: first, I'm interested to see that you've managed to get the slant required for good copperplate despite using an 'in-line' nib (as opposed to using an oblique dip pen holder). Did that require a special technique - angle of paper, etc? Second, I've not noticed anyone producing this script with a lower-height letter 'd' - i.e. lower than the other ascenders. Is this something you copied from the original piece, or something you've developed for yourself? (I'm not criticising it - I think it's rather attractive, but it's new to me.)

I also have a flexible '52' nib and am tempted to follow your lead!
Ken

Copperplate forms are written at a letter slant of 55 degrees from the horizontal, and the skill is to maintain the nib in line with this angle (this is the sense of the lines we found on ruled papers). So you have to slant the paper in order to write comfortably, and you'll find more natural also write the oval letters.

I study with Eleanor Winters "Mastering copperplate calligraphy" book, rules are a little complicated to explain in the better way for me (because of language), but I try:

rules say that minuscule letters have an "x" height, so "t" letters are a little more height with the cross stroke horizontaly lined with them, "d" ascenders are another "x" height, and "l,f,k" ascenders are 3/2x. In the same way are the descender "p,q,f" (2x) and "g, j, y" (3/2x). You can ask: why? Simply, it's better appearance. Look at my first examples and you'll see immediately the difference:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1v8Xv71Du3g/R1MXyw-FtUI/AAAAAAAABug/5Ozd-pNfit8/s400/copperplate.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1v8Xv71Du3g/R63D4wMqKYI/AAAAAAAACGA/UR1FEm2ef8E/s400/01.jpg

March 29, 2009

Hi folks! This is a Copperplate calligraphy sample I've written today (a hard rainy day). It's a citation from Gordon Turner "The technique of Copperplate calligraphy" book. I don't own this book (I've found some pages on the net), but I think it gives a really sense to what I'm feeling when I study and practice copperplate style (and maybe also to you).
Used a Waterman's 52 fountain pen with Parker black Quink. I wanted to start this work with a dip pen, but since I've began to use fountain pens with flex nib, I've lost the feeling with the first ones (it's not a good thing! )

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1v8Xv71Du3g/Sc-ZDCdJWXI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/Es-aA5hVU1M/Copperplate.jpg

Lovely writing, very neat. I particularly like the 'r's, this is the style of 'r' I prefer to use. For a long piece of work you have kept all the lettering uniform

and at a good angle all the way through.

March 29, 2009

That's a beautiful piece of writing! If I may ask a couple of questions: first, I'm interested to see that you've managed to get the slant required for good copperplate despite using an 'in-line' nib (as opposed to using an oblique dip pen holder). Did that require a special technique - angle of paper, etc? Second, I've not noticed anyone producing this script with a lower-height letter 'd' - i.e. lower than the other ascenders. Is this something you copied from the original piece, or something you've developed for yourself? (I'm not criticising it - I think it's rather attractive, but it's new to me.)

I also have a flexible '52' nib and am tempted to follow your lead!
Ken

Copperplate forms are written at a letter slant of 55 degrees from the horizontal, and the skill is to maintain the nib in line with this angle (this is the sense of the lines we found on ruled papers). So you have to slant the paper in order to write comfortably, and you'll find more natural also write the oval letters.
I study with Eleanor Winters "Mastering copperplate calligraphy" book, rules are a little complicated to explain in the better way for me (because of language), but I try:
rules say that minuscule letters have an "x" height, so "t" letters are a little more height with the cross stroke horizontaly lined with them, "d" ascenders are another "x" height, and "l,f,k" ascenders are 3/2x. In the same way are the descender "p,q,f" (2x) and "g, j, y" (3/2x). You can ask: why? Simply, it's better appearance. Look at my first examples and you'll see immediately the difference:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1v8Xv71Du3g/R1MXyw-FtUI/AAAAAAAABug/5Ozd-pNfit8/s400/copperplate.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1v8Xv71Du3g/R63D4wMqKYI/AAAAAAAACGA/UR1FEm2ef8E/s400/01.jpg

Second piece definately much more pleasing to the eye with the correct ascender heights. Lovely.....

March 29, 2009

tipstricks,

This is attractive, controlled and confident Copperplate - not easy with a fountain pen!

Thanks for posting.

Ken

Edited March 29, 2009 by caliken

April 2, 2009

I bought Gordon Turner's book from Dover, the only usable parts for tutorial are a couple of pages of majuscules examples.

Even $5 is too expensive for that.

I should have bought Eleanor Winters book.

Edited April 3, 2009 by Anne-Sophie

April 2, 2009

I should have bought Eleanor Winters book.

..................or Dick Jackson's book - if you can find a copy!

April 2, 2009

I should have bought Eleanor Winters book.
..................or Dick Jackson's book - if you can find a copy!

Did he pass on or not? I know you told us but, I forgot.

Either way, I would love for the book to be reprinted or even allowed to be scanned as an ebook.

I need all the help I can get.

Oh, thanks again for your site caliken, I just came from there, an inspiration! :clap1:

So you wrote the royal address and "she" signed it.

And, I am green with envy, you have to make an effort to "look not too neat".

Unfortunately, I am plagued with the opposite problem, it also doesn't help that my mind and fingers sometimes get mixed up and I miss or use one letter for another.

April 3, 2009

Anne-Sophie,

Thanks for your comments.

Dick Jackson died some time ago - I can't remember exactly when.

I know that I sound like a one-man advertising campaign, but when I self-taught in Copperplate, I used only this book for study - there were no others available at the time (around 1980). It's one of the clearest, well-thought-out writing manuals I've ever seen and I still refer to it from time to time. I'm really surprised that he doesn't appear to be very well known in USA. He had quite a distinguished career and taught widely throughout the country including spells at the Smithsonian Institution and the Scottsdale Center for the Arts.

There are currently 11 copies of "Copperplate Calligraphy" available in USA on Amazon

caliken

Edited April 3, 2009 by caliken

April 3, 2009

Anne-Sophie,

Thanks for your comments.

Dick Jackson died some time ago - I can't remember exactly when.

I know that I sound like a one-man advertising campaign, but when I self-taught in Copperplate, I used only this book for study - there were no others available at the time (around 1980). It's one of the clearest, well-thought-out writing manuals I've ever seen and I still refer to it from time to time. I'm really surprised that he doesn't appear to be very well known in USA. He had quite a distinguished career and taught widely throughout the country including spells at the Smithsonian Institution and the Scottsdale Center for the Arts.

There are currently 11 copies of "Copperplate Calligraphy" available in USA on Amazon

caliken

I go check that out, I went to Abebooks and the prices were a little high.

I also found an independent bookstore, they sell used and new, in my area. So I try them first, never mind if they use Amazon themselves to get the book.

I really need to practice.

I think you do not know what you are getting into by encouraging my Copperplate practice.

Because I found your renditions so amazing and I got a breakthrough reading your exemplar about linking letters smoothly, you might get asked endless questions and wish Mr Jackson was there to answer.

Thanks for your help caliken

Edited to say that the online prices are too high for a book I will have to buy sight unseen.

The price of Eleanor Winters book is more within my budget. It also helps that it is widely available in the U.S so I can take a look at it before buying.

I am more interested in the letter forms than using the Copperplate technique, per say,

I use non flexible fountain pens to write the letters so there is no shading.

In a way, I use Copperplate letter forms in a Spencerian manner and this is how I strive to write every time I put fountain pen, inkroller and pencil to paper.

Except when I print those dreaded forms with the equally dreaded shared ballpoints.

Edited April 3, 2009 by Anne-Sophie

April 4, 2009

tipstricks,

This is attractive, controlled and confident Copperplate - not easy with a fountain pen!

Thanks for posting.

Ken

Thanks Ken! I think the round tipped nib of a fountain pen is very helpful to write, specially upstrokes, so writing looks more consistent. Maybe for this reason I've lost the capacity to control in the best way a more scratchy dip pen nib. I'm planning to return on them (I'm waiting for an Ackerman pump pen) and in the next future I'll do some tests.