Learning Copperplate...

[ihtzazqamar]

As I said earlier, I will be concentrating on shading practices. Presented is my first post in this regard. Please let me know any gross problems in this area. Finer details will come later.

Ihtzaz

 

[caliken]

Since Salman (smk) started this topic back in February, it has become one of the most informative, lively and popular threads on this forum. It's fascinating to see the study of the style in so many capable hands and a lot of this must be thanks to the examples set by Salman, himself. If you compare his first posts in February to the work he is producing now, his rapid progress shows just what is possible with enthusiasm and dedication.

 

From time to time, I've been asked if I'm ever truly satisfied with any of my writing, and like so many of us, I'm rarely entirely happy with the results. However, as it's some time since I posted here, I thought I'd put up this little video clip, here which is possibly the best I can do. Certainly, it's among the first examples which I show to prospective clients.

 

Ken

Edited September 19, 2011 by caliken

[smk]

I wish I could reproduce the letters like that. In fact, I felt like I should put in a little more practice today after seeing your practice sheet. Noticed that I have difficulty with o shapes, and creating the simplest straight lines.

 

Pietru - you are off to a superb start. The ingredients of success as Ken pointed out are enthusiasm and dedication and you are showing both along with a healthy dose of talent.

 

Your statement above shows that you have a critical eye and are willing to do what it takes to learn this very challenging hand. I find this inspiring.

 

Whats even more amazing to me is that you are producing these results with a straight holder. In the very first post in this thread I admit to failing so badly with a straight holder that I thought this script was beyond my capabilities.

 

As I said earlier, I will be concentrating on shading practices. Presented is my first post in this regard. Please let me know any gross problems in this area. Finer details will come later.

Ihtzaz

 

 

Ihtizaz, what can I say - this is just lovely. If there is any comment I can make its that the round shapes 'a', 'o' are a tad too round and the loop of the 'e' is a bit too generous. The second 'e' in 'hence' is closer to the mark.

 

But overall your practice looks very clean and confidently done, your 'b's are just lovely. This is getting exciting now.

 

Edit: Regarding your comment about not looping my 'h','l','b', you're right - I'm taking the easy way out here. It helps that I like the cleaner look of the straight ascenders :-)

 

Salman

Edited September 18, 2011 by smk

[smk]

 

From time to time, I've been asked if I'm ever truly satisfied with any of my writing, and like so many of us, I'm rarely entirely happy with the results. However, as it's some time since I posted here, I thought I'd put up this little video clip, which is possibly the best I can do. Certainly, it's among the first examples which I show to prospective clients.

 

Ken

 

 

Ken - its always a joy to see you write. You set a high standard to shoot for but make it look easy and accessible in a way that is inspiring. Its good to be reminded every once in a while that there's still a ways to go :-)

 

Thanks also for your validation of the usefulness of this thread. My initial goal was to share the learning process in the hope of getting others to join so we could help each other out as well as get some help from the more experienced members here.

 

I have gained much more than what I had hoped for; not only did I receive useful advice from you but the continued participation from Soki and the new people taking this up has provided incentive to keep up my practice. I'm really glad that others find this thread useful too.

 

Regards,

Salman

[Ghost Plane]

There are so many of us lurking and enjoying, too.

[Hex]

There are so many of us lurking and enjoying, too.

 

Yes there are Ghost.

 

And I have a question about how y'all practice.

I am using Mastering Copperplate, by Eleanor Winters as my text and am just about done with the lower case letters.

I want to go back and practice them all again and wondered what would be an effective way and how do y'all practice.

 

1) Do 1 page of each letter ?

2) Do 1 line of each letter ?

3) Something in between until I die of boredom ?

4) The quick brown fox,,,,,etc.

 

One of these days I will get brave enough to post a sample of my chicken scratching.

 

Thanks again.

[smk]

George, try writing a letter 5 times. Choose the best one of the 5 and then try to write is exactly like that or better another 5 times - repeat.

 

I find this method helps maintain my concentration as well as help develop the eye to recognize good letter forms. And since I'm concentrating on the form most of the time, its not as mind numbingly boring as just writing a letter over and over again. If I'm just practicing (as opposed to learning the letter for the first time) I take two or three letters of the same shape and alternate practicing each one for a few lines to break the monotony.

 

It would be nice to see your practice sheets - it might not seem like much to you but its inspiring to others (including me) - and who knows, you might get some pointers that save you a bundle of work.

 

Regards,

Salman

[Pietru]

This is definitely one of my favourite threads here! I've tried some more practicing after not doing much yesterday. I've ordered an oblique holder, since I couldn't find any locally. Hopefully that will help somewhat with the errors...and lots more practice. Any comments and suggestions are, as ever, much appreciated. (the pangram at the end isn't meant to be correct, I was just being silly with it).

http://i.imgur.com/E1Abo.jpg

Edited September 19, 2011 by Pietru

[ihtzazqamar]

This is definitely a great thread. We should keep it up and help each other as Salman intended originally.

 

Hex: I do it by writing small words which contain similar letters.

 

Pietru: Oblique holder...well I tried oblique holder. At that time it helped to get good upper loops as in b and l. But other letters became a problem. I, therefore, exclusively use a straight holder. All my posts have been done with it. So I think one can do a lot with straight holders.

 

Ihtzaz

[Pietru]

Hmm I'll bear that in mind ihtzaz. It will be fun to experiment with, either way! And I'd like to attempt this script without having to write away from myself (with the page in landscape rather than portrait) all the time.

Edited September 19, 2011 by Pietru

[fuchsiaprincess]

You guys are indeed an inspiration to me!

 

Ihtzaz, I can't believe that you wrote with a straight holder. That is amazing!

 

I have to admit that I'm not disciplined enough to write a single letter repeatedly. I practise by copying passages/paragraphs. Otherwise, I get bored and lose interest :embarrassed_smile:

[youstruckgold]

You are all amazing!!! While I do tend to practice on one letter over and over; I also get bored eventually and then forget about the progress I've made!

[fuchsiaprincess]

Today's practise :

 

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

[Pietru]

Fuchsia princess, that's lovely. You've inspired me to take up my pen and try, try again... I've suspended my copperplate practice, trying to master a basic italic hand (I know, bad idea to attempt several scrips at once). Thanks for sharing!

[Pietru]

Ps. What kind of paper is that? I like the colour.

[caliken]

Today's practise :

 

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

 

Soki,

 

I'm really impressed with a couple of aspects of your writing. It looks nice and even on the page with consistent slope and balanced inter-letter spacing.

 

I felt that the flow of your earlier version was spoilt by the excessive spacing between r and the following letters in a word. I see that you've neatly eliminated that problem, by changing to the alternative form of r - good move!

 

I hope that you don't mind a small, constructive criticism

 

The weight of your downstrokes is a litle inconsistent. It could be that your nib is a little too flexible for the size of the lettering, making control difficult. Failing that, I would suggest that spending some time on basic stroke exercises concentrating on consistency of weight, would pay great dividends in as hand that's already good.

 

Thanks for letting us share in your development.

 

Ken

[ihtzazqamar]

fuchsiaprincess,

Lovely writing. I am trying to overcome my problem areas while writing 6-10 mm x height. Seeing your sample, I am tempted to try small x height writing.

Again, excellent hand.

 

Ihtzaz

[fuchsiaprincess]

Ps. What kind of paper is that? I like the colour.

 

Sorry! The paper is from Piccolo Press - Piccolo Cream 160 gsm. Ink was Penman liquid gouache ink (mixture of magenta rose and burnt umber). The nib I used was a Nikko G nib.

[fuchsiaprincess]

Today's practise :

 

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

 

Soki,

 

I'm really impressed with a couple of aspects of your writing. It looks nice and even on the page with consistent slope and balanced inter-letter spacing.

 

I felt that the flow of your earlier version was spoilt by the excessive spacing between r and the following letters in a word. I see that you've neatly eliminated that problem, by changing to the alternative form of r - good move!

 

I hope that you don't mind a small, constructive criticism

 

The weight of your downstrokes is a litle inconsistent. It could be that your nib is a little too flexible for the size of the lettering, making control difficult. Failing that, I would suggest that spending some time on basic stroke exercises concentrating on consistency of weight, would pay great dividends in as hand that's already good.

 

Thanks for letting us share in your development.

 

Ken

 

Thank you very much for your comments, Ken! You have found my main issue - I definitely need more practice on my downstroke. Are there any particular exercises you would recommend?

 

Warm regards,

Soki

[fuchsiaprincess]

fuchsiaprincess,

Lovely writing. I am trying to overcome my problem areas while writing 6-10 mm x height. Seeing your sample, I am tempted to try small x height writing.

Again, excellent hand.

 

Ihtzaz

 

Hi Ihtzaz,

 

Unlike Salman, I find it easier to practise writing small. Perhaps you are in this group too

 

Warm regards,

Soki