Learning Copperplate...

[fuchsiaprincess]

GREAT job...what pen are you using?

 

Thank you all for the praise - myself I'm far from content with it, slant is all over the place (I didn't use slant guidelines for this), the ovals have dents or simply don't look like what I had in my head. But the feeling that it's really only a matter of lots of exercise gets stronger - *dream mode ON* maybe someday I'll be able to draw one of those beautiful ornamental birds *dream mode OFF*.

 

The nib used is again the Zebra G in a plastic speedball penholder.

The border that makes it look like a death notice was a Pilot Parallel pen 2.4 mm.

 

Achim,

 

Don't be so hard on yourself. It is beautiful. However, striving for perfection is a good virtue to have.

 

How you manage to produce such beautiful flourishes is simply beyond me, especially with a Zebra G nib! I find them extremely stiff to use. Well done!

 

Warm regards,

Soki

[fuchsiaprincess]

Ken - thanks for the crow quill tip and the video link. I don't have one but will get one when I get a chance. I did try out a Nikko G nib and it worked much better than the 303 for the smaller script. You make it look so easy in the video - its lovely to watch the letters being formed so smoothly.

 

bigstick - your templates are really nice. I like the idea of the flourish at the end.

 

Soki- your rendering is nice. I think the 'Ohio Trust Company' could be a bit bigger but the overall look is nice and clean. I like it.

 

amyx231 - yes you can flex a nib too much and spring it i.e. it goes beyond the point where it'll spring back. I haven't used the Noodler's flex pen (want one though) but I suspect you'll enjoy the script much more with an oblique holder and a few nice flex nibs, it'll cost you less than $10 :-)

 

Its lovely to see such participation. It spurs me on to redouble my efforts.

 

Salman

 

Thank you, Salman! I totally agree with you. I think I went too small after my first effort was too large :embarrassed_smile:

 

Warm regards,

Soki

[bigstick]

I have crowquills, but not an oblique holder that will mount them.

[smk]

I have had a lot of fun the last month or so learning Copperplate. What I have realized is that this is going to be a long process. I have just started with the Majuscules and see a long and pleasant journey ahead.

 

A couple of weeks ago I got the opportunity to participate in online lessons offered by Mr. Geoff Ford who is an accomplished and well known Calligrapher (Member of the Australian Society of Calligraphers, Member of the Society of Heraldic Art UK). These lessons are on the more formal technique as opposed to the more handwriting like Copperplate I started out with. I have been enjoying these lessons over on WetCanvas (link to Copperplate lessons) and I invite all who are interested to join in there. The first couple of exercises are posted already and it'll give you an idea of what the instructions are like. You can join in at any time and learn at your own pace.

 

I plan on continuing my Copperplate practice along with the lessons on WetCanvas that I will share here from time to time :-)

 

Salman

[Achim]

Just so you see I don't always write complete alphabets here's a typical exercise sheet - one of those is usually what I start out with, trying to get into the flow and working on previous shortcomings.

This was written with an Esterbrook 357 in a Century Oblique penholder.

[smk]

Just so you see I don't always write complete alphabets here's a typical exercise sheet - one of those is usually what I start out with, trying to get into the flow and working on previous shortcomings.

This was written with an Esterbrook 357 in a Century Oblique penholder.

 

This is lovely Copperplate Achim. Thanks for sharing the exercise sheet. I find that it takes me a line or two of practice strokes to get into the swing of things too - good to know I'm not alone in this.

 

Salman

[caliken]

I have crowquills, but not an oblique holder that will mount them.

I was writing with an Hourglass Adjustable Oblique Rosewood Holder from Paper & Ink Arts.

This ingenious holder takes any size of nib.

 

Ken

[bigstick]

I have crowquills, but not an oblique holder that will mount them.

I was writing with an Hourglass Adjustable Oblique Rosewood Holder from Paper & Ink Arts.

This ingenious holder takes any size of nib.

 

Ken

 

Thanks Ken, I just ordered one.

[MicheleB]

A little inspirational image for aspiring calligraphers...the frog. Good luck in this endeavor.

 

From Japanese Art Motives By Maude Rex Allen

 

http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/MicheleB1/japanesefrogstory_1small.jpg

[caliken]

For those of us who use the 3:2:3 layout format for Copperplate, this is a great resource with the grid shown at 12 different degrees of enlargement for printing out.

 

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/enzo_and_ziti.pdf

 

Ken

[boseador]

Hey guys,

 

I just wanted to say that these cheques are amazing, very beautiful, all of them.

 

You have inspired me, and since I have made my choice on what style to learn (copperplate), I will participate if you don't mind.

 

I only have a lamy safari FP with fine nib and zero experience in copperplate, anyway, I will copy one of the your checks and see how it goes.

 

I don't know if it is ok to ask here, forgive me if I go off topic, but can you recommend me a calligraphy set for copperplate?

 

What do you think of this set with this book, would this be good for a beginner?

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/William-Mitchell-Calligraphy-Dip-Copperplate/dp/B003CKKQH2

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Copperplate-Calligraphy-Eleanor-Winters/dp/0486409511/ref=pd_sim_office_2

 

Also, this site has a few kits for copperplate and two of the kits come with the book, thay are a bit more expensive though.

 

http://www.johnnealbooks.com/prod_detail_list/119

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited March 14, 2011 by boseador

[Achim]

 

http://www.johnnealbooks.com/prod_detail_list/119

 

 

I recommend this one - the first set on the page with the Winters book would be a good starter set (or without the book if you can get a copy of the out-of-print Dick Jackson's "Copperplate Calligraphy").

 

Welcome on board! It will be a journey with lots of ups and downs :ltcapd:

Edited March 14, 2011 by Achim

[boseador]

 

http://www.johnnealbooks.com/prod_detail_list/119

 

 

I recommend this one - the first set on the page with the Winters book would be a good starter set (or without the book if you can get a copy of the out-of-print Dick Johnson's "Copperplate Calligraphy").

 

Welcome on board! It will be a journey with lots of ups and downs :ltcapd:

 

LOL.

 

I am excited to start learning.

 

Thanks for the recommendation.

 

here is my cheque done with a lamy safari FP. This is the first time I try copperplate if you can call this copperplate.

 

PS: I didn't have space for the word "company"

 

[Achim]

 

here is my cheque done with a lamy safari FP. This is the first time I try copperplate if you can call this copperplate.

 

 

I wonder how you managed to make those thick lines with a Safari F nib which is not flexible at all without breaking it. Or did you draw multiple times over those lines?

[boseador]

Haha I cheated, I drew multiple lines. I did it really quickly, I even forgot to dot the i.

 

Next time I will take my time.

[fuchsiaprincess]

Welcome! You are more than welcome to join in and share the fun. You have done extremely well writing the cheque with just a fine nibbed Safari. I too highly recommend this kit from John Neal's Bookstore : K100-B. Can't wait to see your practise sheets

 

Warm regards,

Soki

Edited March 14, 2011 by fuchsiaprincess

[bigstick]

I have crowquills, but not an oblique holder that will mount them.

 

Well, I HAD a crowquill. I have no ideal what it has been up to in my pen mug, but there it is, the poor thing. And, it seems to be my only one! Ah well, another trip to Artists Emporium.

 

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii241/bigstickpilot/Bulletin%20Board/P3140002.jpg

 

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii241/bigstickpilot/Bulletin%20Board/P3140001.jpg

[fuchsiaprincess]

Oh dear! Looks like you left it in the mug too long, and it needed to go to the loo desperately (the crossed tines are a dead giveaway!)

[fuchsiaprincess]

Here's today's effort :

http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y331/fuchsiaprincess/IMGP2290.jpg

[Ghost Plane]

Oh dear! Looks like you left it in the mug too long, and it needed to go to the loo desperately (the crossed tines are a dead giveaway!)

:roflmho: :roflmho: :roflmho: