Learning Copperplate...

[Wickwack]

I just got some J. Herbin calligraphy inks in the mail today. Wow, calligraphy ink really does work much better than FP ink! I'll post a photo soon.

However, I just found out it's not water washable.... I had some Fantastic w/bleach that worked but what do you normally use to clean your nibs between colors?

 

Rhea

 

I use Sumi inks or iron gall. The Sumi inks are water soluble until dry, so I keep a glass of water nearby and if I stop writing for more than a couple of minutes, I'll put the pen in the water. I also dunk (of wipe down) the pen periodically so that the ink doesn't start to dry out or thicken up while I'm writing and change the characteristics of the nib. For stubborn gunk, I use inkjet print-head cleaner. I don't know what's in it (probably isopropyl alcohol), but it seems to work.

 

For the ink gall, I use very dilute ammonia and water or Windex. Again, I keep a glass of water handy while writing and try not to let the ink dry out on the nib. (I use McCaffery iron gall: great stuff for teeny tiny hairlines. Just remember, this stuff is eventually going to eat your nibs, but the performance justifies the slightly added expense.)

 

For acrylic based inks, I believe isopropyl alcohol or acetone works.

 

The day before yesterday, I accidentally dunked my pen in a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Bummer.

 

 

Thanks - I'll try that.

Too bad about the coffee (but it IS funny - tee hee!

[fuchsiaprincess]

Pretty! Is it me, or do the "e" in permit and separate look a little small compared to the rest?

 

Very consistent rhythm

 

No, it's not you, Ghost. I was sloppy Remember - I did say that I whipped it up in an instant

[fuchsiaprincess]

I just got some J. Herbin calligraphy inks in the mail today. Wow, calligraphy ink really does work much better than FP ink! I'll post a photo soon.

However, I just found out it's not water washable.... I had some Fantastic w/bleach that worked but what do you normally use to clean your nibs between colors?

 

Rhea

 

Hi Rhea,

 

Just water and paper tissue. Whenever I find that the nib is getting gunky, I wipe it with some tissue and swish it in the water, then dry with tissue again. When I finish writing, I clean it thoroughly in water and dry with tissue. I do this with all different inks. Sometimes, I put the nib through the ultrasonic cleaner when I'm finished.

 

Warm regards,

Soki

[fuchsiaprincess]

Mickey - I did that once with a FP. Luckily, it was capped. My cup of coffee was right next to the pen mug

[Ghost Plane]

Pretty! Is it me, or do the "e" in permit and separate look a little small compared to the rest?

 

Very consistent rhythm

 

No, it's not you, Ghost. I was sloppy Remember - I did say that I whipped it up in an instant

I'd be thrilled if I could whip up anything legible, much less this pretty.

[Wickwack]

I just got some J. Herbin calligraphy inks in the mail today. Wow, calligraphy ink really does work much better than FP ink! I'll post a photo soon.

However, I just found out it's not water washable.... I had some Fantastic w/bleach that worked but what do you normally use to clean your nibs between colors?

 

Rhea

 

Hi Rhea,

 

Just water and paper tissue. Whenever I find that the nib is getting gunky, I wipe it with some tissue and swish it in the water, then dry with tissue again. When I finish writing, I clean it thoroughly in water and dry with tissue. I do this with all different inks. Sometimes, I put the nib through the ultrasonic cleaner when I'm finished.

 

Warm regards,

Soki

 

 

Thanks Soki,

I think I may have let the ink dry too much before I washed it. I also did the no-no thing, I dipped the entire nib in my ink, the nib has a reservoir, but I was not home and didn't have a brush to load to ink! I just couldn't wait to try the ink!

Rhea

[fuchsiaprincess]

OK, Salman. Here it is :

 

I think I overdid the flourishing

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

[Beautifulink]

OK, Salman. Here it is :

 

I think I overdid the flourishing

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

 

LOL cute!

[smk]

This is lovely Soki. I don' think the flourishing is overdone at all and I like how you've integrated the 'F' and the 'p' into them. Very nice.

 

Did you find that flourishing is harder than it looks - especially balancing it around the writing? I just can't get the hang of it.

 

Salman

[Bierce]

 

Darn work keeps getting in the way of scriptorium time.

Note to self: no more writing uphill.

Edited April 28, 2011 by Bierce

[smk]

Darn work keeps getting in the way of scriptorium time.

Note to self: no more writing uphill.

 

Wow! Nice work on the flourishes - they are so fluid and proportionate - just lovely. The Gothic 'B' looks nice coupled with Copperplate.

 

S.

[Wickwack]

Bierce ----

 

 

gorgeous flourishes...

 

Rhea

[fuchsiaprincess]

 

Darn work keeps getting in the way of scriptorium time.

Note to self: no more writing uphill.

 

That is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing! Did you use pencil first? I am really impressed with the fine flourishes

 

Regards,

Soki

[fuchsiaprincess]

I have redone my handle and while I had that beautiful ink, thought Id copy something in Latin as well:

 

http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y331/fuchsiaprincess/Fuchsiaprincess_0001.jpg

 

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

[Ghost Plane]

Other than forgetting to cross a "t" [i think - been years since high school Latin], very nice! You're getting a good rhythm going

[Bierce]

That is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing! Did you use pencil first? I am really impressed with the fine flourishes

 

Regards,

Soki

 

Thanks for the kind words Soki. No, the pencil route never worked for me. Just practicing drawing lots and lots of ovals (and it works just as well with a ball point pen- say, when you're on hold on the phone, or waiting for the bus or whatever). Hundreds of sheets of ovals. And then when that's finished, more ovals. Also, over time I noticed that the eye, on its own, sort of develops with regard to seeing what works and what doesn't when intersecting lines.

 

The Universal Penman, while being the bible of pointed pen flourishing AFAIC, will also probably be the reason I'm eventually admitted to the asylum. I'll be the guy in the corner drawing ovals on the wall. :blink:

[fuchsiaprincess]

Other than forgetting to cross a "t" [i think - been years since high school Latin], very nice! You're getting a good rhythm going

 

Oops! Thanks, Ghost :embarrassed_smile:

[fuchsiaprincess]

That is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing! Did you use pencil first? I am really impressed with the fine flourishes

 

Regards,

Soki

 

Thanks for the kind words Soki. No, the pencil route never worked for me. Just practicing drawing lots and lots of ovals (and it works just as well with a ball point pen- say, when you're on hold on the phone, or waiting for the bus or whatever). Hundreds of sheets of ovals. And then when that's finished, more ovals. Also, over time I noticed that the eye, on its own, sort of develops with regard to seeing what works and what doesn't when intersecting lines.

 

The Universal Penman, while being the bible of pointed pen flourishing AFAIC, will also probably be the reason I'm eventually admitted to the asylum. I'll be the guy in the corner drawing ovals on the wall. :blink:

 

Wow! I wanna join you in that corner. I have to admit that I drew my flourishes in pencil first :embarrassed_smile: so I kinda cheated.

[CatBookMom]

Thanks to you all for the eye candy! I'm not going to try to learn how to do the beautiful lettering you are all producing, but I like watching you do it,

[Ghost Plane]

Just got my hands on a BB Namiki Falcon and producing ANYTHING legible with any flex nib is rough going. Can't imagine how you guys are handling serious flex AND using dip nibs :notworthy1: