Practising Carolingian Script...

[mliptrot]

Hello,

 

I've been practising a few different italic styles of writing to get to know my pens better! This is a sample of a quotation I found from an appropriate period involving 'Carolus Magnus' himself, Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne.

 

Cited courtesy of:

 

John Foxe. Acts and Monuments […] (1576 edition), [online]. (hriOnline, Sheffield). Available from: http://www.hrionline.shef.ac.uk/foxe/. [Accessed: 21st September 2010]

 

Written using a Parker 61 with black Quink and a Parker 45 with red Quink. Both have gold stub nibs.

 

Any comments gratefully received!

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Mark

[bigstick]

Very nice, if my medieval Latin is a bit rusty. Where did you find an exemplar for Carolingian?

[Jamesiv1]

Here's a couple of pages from Jacqueline Svaren's excellent book, "Written Letters - 22 Alphabets for Calligraphers". Note the x-height: only 2.5 pen nibs tall.

 

http://www.iampeth.com/stuff/carolingian02.jpg

 

http://www.iampeth.com/stuff/carolingian01.jpg

Edited September 22, 2010 by Jamesiv1

[Ernst Bitterman]

The tops of the 'l's at in Charlemange's name look like they're following the Marc Drogin example.

 

As far as critique-- I'd watch the alignment on the parts of the 'd', which can look perilously like a 'cl'. Other than that, it's just a matter of practice for smoothness of motion.

[mliptrot]

Very nice, if my medieval Latin is a bit rusty. Where did you find an exemplar for Carolingian?

 

I could have sworn it was here... but I can't find it after a quick search of the penmanship section. It was on the net somewhere but I don't have the printouts to hand at the minute.

 

Thanks for your feedback so far.

 

Mark

[mliptrot]

Very nice, if my medieval Latin is a bit rusty. Where did you find an exemplar for Carolingian?

 

Found it:

 

Click here and find 'Carolingian' section

 

Mark

[bigstick]

Milles gratiae, legate! Great resource, and I foresee some fun in the future.

[Randal6393]

Haven't seen anything from Savern's book for a long time. Her work shows one what can be done to modernize (ie, improve the legibility) of ancient scripts. And how to develop scripts into personal expressions. Recommend it for study and practice.

 

Thanks,

[mliptrot]

Haven't seen anything from Savern's book for a long time. Her work shows one what can be done to modernize (ie, improve the legibility) of ancient scripts. And how to develop scripts into personal expressions. Recommend it for study and practice.

 

Thanks,

 

 

Thank you! Looks good and I will order it soon.

 

Mark

[pe2dave]

Hello,

 

I've been practising a few different italic styles of writing to get to know my pens better! This is a sample of a quotation I found from an appropriate period involving 'Carolus Magnus' himself, Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne.

 

Written using a Parker 61 with black Quink and a Parker 45 with red Quink. Both have gold stub nibs.

 

 

Mark

 

I'm another one fascinated by Caroligian scripts. Nice setup after so many years

of illegible scripts.

 

Curious what size your Parkers are, nib width? "Stub nibs"

I guess could be any width?

I'm settling on 1.9mm as 'good for me'.

 

Dave

[mliptrot]

Hello,

 

I've been practising a few different italic styles of writing to get to know my pens better! This is a sample of a quotation I found from an appropriate period involving 'Carolus Magnus' himself, Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne.

 

Written using a Parker 61 with black Quink and a Parker 45 with red Quink. Both have gold stub nibs.

 

 

Mark

 

I'm another one fascinated by Caroligian scripts. Nice setup after so many years

of illegible scripts.

 

Curious what size your Parkers are, nib width? "Stub nibs"

I guess could be any width?

I'm settling on 1.9mm as 'good for me'.

 

Dave

 

The one I used in red (45) is about 1.5mm but has an odd 'droop' to the end. It flows beautifully, though, considering I found it for a few pounds in a charity shop. I don't have the 61 to hand but it's slightly wider.

 

Mark

[pe2dave]

More Carolingean

 

1

 

2

 

Great site

 

HTH

 

I found the last one great as a reference.

 

Dave

[Rena]

Beautiful work, Mark. Thank you for sharing. And thanks to those who have provided the links to some great sites for ancient manuscripts, now bookmarked. I'll share one of my favorite links to Oxford University. You can see the scripts and illumination in wonderful detail because of incredible magnification. This is one of my favorite sites for inspiration and direction in my own practice. You'll find manuscripts in various scripts here — some in Carolingian.

 

My link

[pe2dave]

Beautiful work, Mark. Thank you for sharing. And thanks to those who have provided the links to some great sites for ancient manuscripts, now bookmarked. I'll share one of my favorite links to Oxford University. You can see the scripts and illumination in wonderful detail because of incredible magnification. This is one of my favorite sites for inspiration and direction in my own practice. You'll find manuscripts in various scripts here — some in Carolingian.

 

My link

 

Isn't that marvellous Rena? Really great site, and as you say, you can zoom in to the detail sufficient to allow

a letter to be made out.

I only wish other sites (British Museum?) would do the same, but I can imagine the cost of photographing these

documents professionally.

 

Dave

[zaga]

I've tried to write in Carolingian Script. After seeing some examples of it (including those above ) still not shure that I've succided completly. Any advice?

[caliken]

I've tried to write in Carolingian Script. After seeing some examples of it (including those above ) still not shure that I've succided completly. Any advice?

zaga,

 

This is confident and positive lettering, which I prefer to the example by Jacqueline Svaren (earlier in this thread) as, with this script, you appear to have better control of inter-letter and inter-word spacing and the construction of the letters in general.

 

Thanks for posting.

Edited October 31, 2010 by caliken

[Daisy]

I've tried to write in Carolingian Script. After seeing some examples of it (including those above ) still not shure that I've succided completly. Any advice?

 

I think it's very lovely! You have -- as far as I can tell, and I'm an amateur -- mastered a consistent pen angle, consistent slant, and consistent letter size, which combine to make it look quite professionally done. I'm *drooling* over here. Way to go!!!

 

 

Edited to add: Zaga, I just now read your post that as a leftie, you turn your page 180 degrees and write upside down -- is that how you did this? Whoa. That's doubly impressive...

Edited November 1, 2010 by Daisy

[zaga]

Caliken,

 

Thank's for your comment. If I get it right, Carolingian script is not subject of severe canons, and examples I used in my work (exercises) were quite different. Even if not very demanding script to do, I spent a lot of time in shaping of the particular letters and proportions between them. I've wrote more than 50 pages to acquire just satisfying consistency and rhythm.

 

Daisy,

 

Yes, now I write this way.

In the fact, it is not hard or completely different from the usual manner of writing. A letter is still composed of a one or several strokes in a different direction and their shapes which are always in some relations with each other. In a matter of fact, everything is about trying to repeat a given shape. So in eyes of a performer letter is decomposed in a series of abstract lines and if we succeed to forget that particular sign we know, then its upside-down performance is not so different than the regular one.

Edited November 1, 2010 by zaga

[pe2dave]

Caliken,

 

Thank's for your comment. If I get it right, Carolingian script is not subject of severe canons, and examples I used in my work (exercises) were quite different. Even if not very demanding script to do, I spent a lot of time in shaping of the particular letters and proportions between them. I've wrote more than 50 pages to acquire just satisfying consistency and rhythm.

 

I've not seen Carolingian with a slope? Which reference are you using please, or is it just your interpretation? I'm still working on 'regularizing' my script. Just moved down

from 1.5 to 1.1 pen to ape the line thickness I'm seeing. Getting the letter/word spacing 'right' is very difficult I find. Lose concentration and it goes!

 

Dave

[Chevalier]

You can find a sloped script variations of most forms and no writer does a form exactly like another, there are always differences. That's why it's so important to find a perfectly executed form (you like) to learn from. Consistency is most important, your forms will change over time anyway, until it is your interpretation of (fill in form). The only other way is to construct and/or draw, some people do that, but I, personally, dislike the dull and boring appearance. You could as well download the font and forget about executing it by hand. Most calligraphy books feature only one variation, because it would be too confusing otherwise. "Right" is pretty much a matter of taste, as long as certain characteristics are shown and consistency is given. It's easy to forget, that calligraphy is an art. I simply copied for years, until my hand cramped, because I tried too hard, writing a hand that just wasn't mine, hehe.

 

(I am talking about really tiny elements, that most people, that aren't into calligraphy and penmanship, might not even see)

Edited November 1, 2010 by Chevalier