Learning Copperplate...

[caliken]

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/A4Page30480.jpg Edited May 13, 2011 by caliken

[smk]

deleted

 

Ken - I'm sure you have a good reason for removing it but I thought your post was most informative and definitely pertinent. I was actually wondering about the two styles of miniscule 'o' that I saw in different exemplars.

 

Salman

[smk]

As promised, here are a couple of old-vs-new comparisons. The early examples are from around February when I was just starting out.

 

 

 

 

And here's another Majuscules practice sheet along with some numerals - I think these examples are somewhat better than the one posted a few days ago.

 

I found that I made the quickest progress when I started writing at an x-height of 1cm. I needed a very flexible nib for it but the line variation was much more controllable and any deficiencies much more visible.

 

I am going to continue practicing this hand and hope to achieve a good level of form and consistency some day.

 

Salman

[caliken]

Ken - I'm sure you have a good reason for removing it but I thought your post was most informative and definitely pertinent. I was actually wondering about the two styles of miniscule 'o' that I saw in different exemplars.

 

Salman

 

Re-reading it this morning, I thought that it probably wasn't of much interest, so I removed it.

Now that I've read your post, I've put it back again!

 

Ken

[caliken]

I am going to continue practicing this hand and hope to achieve a good level of form and consistency some day.

 

Salman

 

Most noticable is the consistency of weight you are now achieving in your downstrokes. This is nice work, and your steady, even progress is, I'm sure, of interest and benefit to all those starting out in Copperplate.

 

Ken

[caliken]

In Copperplate writing, the minuscule letters are surprisingly narrow with only moderate weight to the shading.

In the work of beginners, it is very common to see letters which are too wide with shading which is too heavy.

 

The minuscule letter o is very important as it appears in letters o a d g and q. Also, it is there by implication in c and e.

 

When drawn upright, this ellipse is about 3 : 1 ratio (height to width) including the shading.

 

Careful construction of this ellipse is very important, and the rest of the alphabet is relatively easy to balance visually.

 

The whole is more important than individual elements. Word construction, based on these proportions with moderate shading, coupled with visually balanced inter-letter spacing, will produce good results.

 

It's worth spending some time on the humble letter o as its influence is far-reaching.

 

Ken

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/oadgqce350.jpg

Edited May 13, 2011 by caliken

[Ghost Plane]

Ahhhhh! Thanks. That explains a lot.

[smk]

I am going to continue practicing this hand and hope to achieve a good level of form and consistency some day.

 

Salman

 

Most noticable is the consistency of weight you are now achieving in your downstrokes. This is nice work, and your steady, even progress is, I'm sure, of interest and benefit to all those starting out in Copperplate.

 

Ken

 

Thank you Ken. I wish I had your book when starting out. I believe my progress would have been quicker and smoother if I had the benefit of your instruction. The exercises you recommended in the early stages were indeed very beneficial.

 

Salman

[smk]

In Copperplate writing, the minuscule letters are surprisingly narrow with only moderate weight to the shading.

In the work of beginners, it is very common to see letters which are too wide with shading which is too heavy.

 

It took some doing to control the heft of my shades, I still tend to be heavy handed, particularly when writing at 5mm or less x-height. Its hard to control when one's just starting out, the power of the flex nib is intoxicating.

 

Salman

[Ghost Plane]

the power of the flex nib is intoxicating

 

Salman's slogan!

[hlyuqi]

Salman

 

I suddenly got ill and now I'm at home().I also learned something about flourishing.And here are my attempts:

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m532/hlyuqi1/hlyuqi2.jpg

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m532/hlyuqi1/hlyuqi1.jpg

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m532/hlyuqi1/hlyuqi.jpg

I will come here again after the college entrance exams on June 7.And I wish you make greater progress~

[smk]

hlyuqi - these are lovely. You are exploring an altogether higher plane. The birds are lovely and the writing is inspiring - very fluid and relaxed.

 

Salman

[kuroba]

loving this thread!

I'm just about to dive into copperplate myself and I was wondering if someone could help me choosing the nib, because I'm torn between a Tachikawa G nib and a Brause steno 361 (which I had been using for years to ink drawings, just recently discovered it was actually a calligraphy nib ).

 

And also, is it more difficult for a left-handed to learn this? Any tips you could give me? It kinda gives me the chills when I'm practicing and the nibs goes scraaaatchhhhy all the way on the paper (pet peeve? )

Edited May 18, 2011 by kuroba

[Ghost Plane]

Oh help! I can't stand it! Must find time to sit with pens :embarrassed_smile:

[smk]

loving this thread!

I'm just about to dive into copperplate myself and I was wondering if someone could help me choosing the nib, because I'm torn between a Tachikawa G nib and a Brause steno 361 (which I had been using for years to ink drawings, just recently discovered it was actually a calligraphy nib ).

 

And also, is it more difficult for a left-handed to learn this? Any tips you could give me? It kinda gives me the chills when I'm practicing and the nibs goes scraaaatchhhhy all the way on the paper (pet peeve? )

 

I think the choice of nib is a personal thing and depends on a number of variables from feel to sound as you mentioned. I started with a Gillot 303 and didn't think it could be improved upon - then tried a Brause 66 EF and loved it followed by a bunch of other nibs that I like for various reasons to my current infatuation with Hunt 99 vintage (which happens to be a drawing nib )

 

That said, I think the Tachikawa G nib is too stiff to write anything larger than 3-4mm x-height - and thats too small for the learning stages. I found that I made quicker progress developed better understanding of the script when I started practicing at 1cm x-height. I know it sounds huge but you can really see the shapes and get a feel for the hand. You do need a fairly flexible nib for that size since the recommended thickness is 1/5th the width of the miniscule 'o'.

 

My recommendation is that you start out writing big and select a nib that suits you best for that. You can always use the G nib when using the hand to write letters :-) Also, do take a lot of time with the initial exercises (Ken recommends one at the beginning of this thread) - it makes a lot of difference. These are the strokes that the letters are formed with and you'll need to learn them when practicing letters anyway.

 

Do share a scan of your practice sheet when you start. I shared a comparison of my before/after a few posts ago and the difference is amazing to me.

 

Best of luck on your journey. You are going to have fun - guaranteed.

 

Salman

[smk]

Oh help! I can't stand it! Must find time to sit with pens :embarrassed_smile:

 

I second that.

 

I'm expecting a striking cursive G done with that Namiki - anytime you're ready.

 

S.

[Ghost Plane]

I'm not sure "striking" will be the adjective :embarrassed_smile:

[kuroba]

thanks smk for your advice! I'll try to share the practices, shameful as they'll be

[smk]

I'll try to share the practices, shameful as they'll be

 

Not at all. I was a little concerned about putting my learning process online but the motivation and help I got from other participants more than made up for any self consciousness I had. Besides, people mostly think about themselves, not others ;-)

 

I'm sure your journey will be every bit as inspiring as others who took the initiative. I, for one, will be looking forward to your contribution.

 

Salman

[CatBookMom]

Just stopping by to look at the pretty lettering and the swooshes - you who turn the swooshes into birds, so talented. I still marvel at Salman's avatar, all the costume details and movement of the figure that is conveyed by those few strokes of a pen.

 

Thanks for the fun.

 

My own cursive italic practice is on hiatus; I hit a plateau and decided to just write for a while to see what personal quirks develop. (My minuscule 'o' is still being too small, darn it!)

Edited May 19, 2011 by CatBookMom