Learning Copperplate...

[fuchsiaprincess]

Done after work this evening - already quite tired and it shows. Just some old anarcho-patter for fun. And don't panic - I'll stop posting examples for a while now, since this won't get much better fast (but hopefully steadily).

 

 

Nice work, Achim. Good parallel strokes with evenly balanced weight. Of the letter construction, I particularly like (at random) the 'g' of 'giraffe' : the 'f' & 'm' of 'form' : the 'n' of 'never' : the word 'never' : etc.

 

Please keep posting.

 

I thought I'd throw this contribution of Copperplate handwriting (as opposed to carefully written script) into the mix.

Nothing special - just an attempt to show how Copperplate handwriting can work with a fairly large piece of text, admittedly written more slowly than in Italic, for example.

 

caliken

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/ThanksgivingProclamation910.jpg

 

That is lovely, Ken! May I ask a personal question? How long have you been calligraph-ing?

 

Warm regards,

Soki

[caliken]

Oh, Ken wyes instead of thorns?

 

This was written and engraved by George Bickham in 1733.....so I'm in good company!

 

Ken

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/Ye400.jpg

[caliken]

That is lovely, Ken! May I ask a personal question? How long have you been calligraph-ing?

 

Warm regards,

Soki

Thank you, Soki.

 

I first took an interest in calligraphy around 1953 and bought my first book, "Italic Handwriting" by Tom Gourdie when it first appeared in 1955.

 

Ken

[fuchsiaprincess]

That is lovely, Ken! May I ask a personal question? How long have you been calligraph-ing?

 

Warm regards,

Soki

Thank you, Soki.

 

I first took an interest in calligraphy around 1953 and bought my first book, "Italic Handwriting" by Tom Gourdie when it first appeared in 1955.

 

Ken

 

No, thank YOU, Ken! You have been such an inspiration to me, and I'm sure to many others here on FPN. I'm so glad that I have some time to improve myself

[fuchsiaprincess]

And here is my sheet for today :

http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y331/fuchsiaprincess/IMGP2270.jpg

 

 

 

I have also started on Lesson 3 (Baird), but am having difficulty with the ascenders. I found that 'f' is almost impossible to master. Any tips and caveats would be much appreciated.

 

Thank you all!

 

Regards,

Soki

[fuchsiaprincess]

My sources told me to use 1.5x X-height for these spaces, so my guidelines were spaced 9mm-6mm-9mm apart"

I agree, my book also states it should always be a ratio of 3:2:3 - that is the proportion of classically balanced miniscule letters.

 

 

That explains that my letters look so condensed - the Dick Jackson templates use about 2:1:2. I made some templates with 9-6-9 mm and will try that (I guess it's easier since the difficult upstrokes for "b", "l" etc. don't have to be that long). Attached are PDFs of the guide sheets - one in light blue to print directly on your writing paper, the other one in black with thicker lines to use under the paper. For the quite opaque 100g paper it's easier on the eyes to print the thin blue lines directly.

 

Achim.

 

Hi Achim,

 

Your Copperplate is beautiful! I have downloaded your grids for my letters that have ascenders and descenders. I think the lessons I'm following at the moment use 2:1:2, and my letters look funny. So, I'm going to try 3:2:3, so thank you very much.

 

Regards,

Soki

[Ghost Plane]

Good rhythm, Soki! You look even to my novice's eyes until the last lines, where I suspect you were growing tired or rushed and the letter heights began to wander.

[fuchsiaprincess]

Thank you, Ghost! Yes, was getting tired towards the end :embarrassed_smile:

 

Wish I could write on for pages, but it's hard work concentrating and using just the right amount of pressure. You can probably work out the splatter marks where the nib got caught on the paper on the upstroke

[caliken]

I have read so many of the IAMPETH guides that i must have crossed wires somewhere. Using my forearm as a rest/guide and using my wrist and fingers makes it much easier to control the pen

 

Here's another relevant quote, this time from C P Zaner - "Lessons in Engrossers Script"

 

Ken

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/zanerquote600.jpg

Edited February 18, 2011 by caliken

[Dueller]

I have started on the "Oval" Letters. They really take some concentration, getting the slant right then there is the swell which is greater just below halfway down the thick stroke and of course the overall shape.

 

I have decided to concentrate on getting the letter "O" just right as i belive that if i can do that then letters like e, c, r, and s will fall into place much easier.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

Lee

[smk]

I have started on the "Oval" Letters. They really take some concentration, getting the slant right then there is the swell which is greater just below halfway down the thick stroke and of course the overall shape.

 

I have decided to concentrate on getting the letter "O" just right as i belive that if i can do that then letters like e, c, r, and s will fall into place much easier.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

Lee

 

I concentrated on the 'c' first as it seemed easiest to me. I think 'o' is the hardest since you have to transition out of the shade into a very light stroke and continue to make the oval just right.

 

Salman

[smk]

And here is my sheet for today :

 

I have also started on Lesson 3 (Baird), but am having difficulty with the ascenders. I found that 'f' is almost impossible to master. Any tips and caveats would be much appreciated.

 

Thank you all!

 

Regards,

Soki

 

Wow - this is superb - the hairlines are awesome and the letter shapes much more uniform. Keep it up, I'm enjoying this.

 

I need to catch up on my practice!!!

 

Good rhythm, Soki! You look even to my novice's eyes until the last lines, where I suspect you were growing tired or rushed and the letter heights began to wander.

 

Do you mean the second 'r' and the two 's'? They are supposed to be higher than the other letters.

 

Salman

[Achim]

I have decided to concentrate on getting the letter "O" just right as i belive that if i can do that then letters like e, c, r, and s will fall into place much easier.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

 

I think this is right - in every Copperplate book one of the fundamental strokes to exercise is the oval (and also for Spencerian and Ornamental penmanship). A line of "o" is usually one of my warm up exercises - or, to a similar effect, some spirals that are as long as the ink in the nib lasts. It doesn't help me for the "s", though - which I found is quite special in that it has a stroke not to be found in any of the other letters.

[fuchsiaprincess]

Prolific day today

 

I know it's nowhere close to perfect, but I felt like it's falling into place during my practise today

http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y331/fuchsiaprincess/IMGP2273.jpg

[Ghost Plane]

Visibly better "rhythm"

[Achim]

Prolific day today

 

I know it's nowhere close to perfect, but I felt like it's falling into place during my practise today

 

Bravo - very nice forms and consistent slant!

[Dueller]

Still working on the Oval letters. Shapes not too bad, but i will have to concentrate on weight.

 

 

[fuchsiaprincess]

Visibly better "rhythm"

 

Thanks, Ghost!

[fuchsiaprincess]

Prolific day today

 

I know it's nowhere close to perfect, but I felt like it's falling into place during my practise today

 

Bravo - very nice forms and consistent slant!

 

Thanks, Achim! It's the grid you share with us - I love it!

[fuchsiaprincess]

Still working on the Oval letters. Shapes not too bad, but i will have to concentrate on weight.

 

 

 

Lee, that is beautiful! You may like to try joining the letters in your next practise - it helps with keeping the 'rhythm'

 

Regards,

Soki