A Prize Worth Writing For ~ Penmanship Contest

[dcpritch]

I prepared a couple of trial balloons early on in the contest, when the tiniest chance remained for an unskilled amateur to be on the same playing field. I showed them at home and, even then, my wife said I better not post the effort, lest I embarrass myself. Since then, of course, we have seen an ever unfolding array of skill and creativity that blows me away every time I open this thread.

 

I am posting this now in an effort to show how truly amazing all the others are, and also to demonstrate the vast gulf between what I see in my mind when I put pen to paper (well, I mean the actual letters - the creative part escapes me entirely), and what actually happens. I am sure others can understand. For those who can navigate the gulf between mind and paper, I applaud you!

 

Pen: Mabie Todd & Co. Swan 3260, 14k No. 2 nib (c. 1930s)

Ink: Noodler's Seminole Sepia, the actual color is more brown than gold, but my office scanner isn't exactly made for this sort of thing

Paper: 40 year old bonded paper out of an old corporate minute book from my office basement, unfortunately it feathers, though not as badly as the poor scanned image seems to show

[hlyuqi]

Salman

 

Silver ink ? Oh I like it ,but have you ever try white ink?I think writing with white ink on a black paper will look better.It seems that people here like fountain pen more than dip pen,and is it ok that I use dip pen to participate the contest?

 

Yuqi.

[Ghost Plane]

  On 7/1/2011 at 3:48 AM, beak said:

This was a good thread! It gave me the motive to work on a new hand - something more fluid, freer and more 'friendly' than my everyday script, which can be a bit severe. I guess my interest is still more in ordinary run-of-the-mill handwriting than calligraphy as such, but I learned heaps doing this, and here's the result so far:

I think everyone has done so well!

What ink did you use for this?

[beak]

  On 7/1/2011 at 12:05 PM, Ghost Plane said:

...............

 

What ink did you use for this?

Herbin 1670 - this scan seems to be a bit more orange than before, but I didn't bother to correct it. Usually looks more like that on my first try.

[smk]

  On 6/30/2011 at 11:52 PM, GClef said:

In case no one's thought of it already, I think it'd be cool to get these entries--not some, but ALL of them--and put them on exhibit at the DC Pen Show!

 

This is a superb idea. I was planning on sending my entries to PB as thanks for starting this lovely thread. He can bring them to the show if he's attending.

 

  On 7/1/2011 at 11:34 AM, hlyuqi said:

Silver ink ? Oh I like it ,but have you ever try white ink?I think writing with white ink on a black paper will look better.It seems that people here like fountain pen more than dip pen,and is it ok that I use dip pen to participate the contest?

 

Yuqi - I bought a bottle of Silver and White ink each. I didn't have the patience to try out the white after the tough time the Silver one gave me. I did go to get the black paper but liked the navy blue much better and thought I'd use it more often than the black. I'm sure playing with the ink consistency and adding a bit of water might do the trick but it needs some experimentation.

 

The competition rules stated fountain pens but I think were later amended to allow dip pens with priority given to fountain pen entries.

 

Salman

[smk]

beak - that is a nice hand indeed. It almost looks like it was written with a ruling pen - very nice.

 

Salman

Edited July 1, 2011 by smk

[smk]

  On 7/1/2011 at 4:51 AM, dcpritch said:

I prepared a couple of trial balloons early on in the contest, when the tiniest chance remained for an unskilled amateur to be on the same playing field. I showed them at home and, even then, my wife said I better not post the effort, lest I embarrass myself. Since then, of course, we have seen an ever unfolding array of skill and creativity that blows me away every time I open this thread.

 

I am posting this now in an effort to show how truly amazing all the others are, and also to demonstrate the vast gulf between what I see in my mind when I put pen to paper (well, I mean the actual letters - the creative part escapes me entirely), and what actually happens. I am sure others can understand. For those who can navigate the gulf between mind and paper, I applaud you!

 

You are not giving yourself due credit. I think you are closer to a Copperplate hand than you might suspect.

 

Salman

[pb2]

Dear peeps,

 

 

The contest is still open until midnight tonight (that's midnight in EST or your time zone if you are west of EST to be extra fair). I expect late entries. The judges are working hard and trust me, this is not easy. I may not even take part in the judging. This is the third FPN contest I have offered and even though everyone was most gracious, I still have regrets about not being able to chose more than one first prize winners. Wimpy in this respect, I know.... I am one of those that sees every effort prize-worthy; everyone a winner.

 

The 5 judges I have chosen are very nobel: all Gold (really platinum) FPN members who have been on this FPN board longer than I have; really I think they better suited to judge what has become a tough decision. The point system should help. I will only give their names if they permit, but if it was me, I would not.

 

I am not certain when I will get all the results in, so posting time will be tomorrow (July 3) sometime before midnight.

 

If I have all the results calculated, I will announce the winner during my radio shift 1 - 5:40 PM (EST) on WWEV 91.5 in Atlanta or http://victory91.5.com where you can listen live if you wish. I may be able to give an update of who's in the running.

 

All the best to each contestant.

 

Pendleton

[dcpritch]

  On 7/1/2011 at 12:52 PM, smk said:

You are not giving yourself due credit. I think you are closer to a Copperplate hand than you might suspect.

 

Salman, that is very kind and, coming from you, inspirational. I am at the very beginning stage of learning, and still seem to draw my letters, rather than write them. I hope that with time and practice it will become more fluid and natural.

 

I have learned much from this thread about opening my mind up to possibilities - the creativity here is astounding!

Edited July 1, 2011 by dcpritch

[Chocoadele]

I adore all the things that happened in this topic~

Edited July 1, 2011 by Chocoadele

[aquariusamethyst]

The writing sample is actually supposed to be Psalm 45, Chocoadele. But your sample is very nice!

 

Another entry from me... how does everyone else get their entries to look so clear with their cameras?

[Chocoadele]

  On 7/1/2011 at 5:41 PM, aquariusamethyst said:

The writing sample is actually supposed to be Psalm 45, Chocoadele. But your sample is very nice!

 

Another entry from me... how does everyone else get their entries to look so clear with their cameras?

 

Oops ,sorry~ I'll delete it~~

[Chocoadele]

  On 7/1/2011 at 5:41 PM, aquariusamethyst said:

The writing sample is actually supposed to be Psalm 45, Chocoadele. But your sample is very nice!

 

Another entry from me... how does everyone else get their entries to look so clear with their cameras?

 

I'm new~~~

Edited July 1, 2011 by Chocoadele

[Ghost Plane]

Don't delete! Just add to what's already there. We're all learning from each other.

[River]

  On 7/1/2011 at 4:51 AM, dcpritch said:

I prepared a couple of trial balloons early on in the contest, when the tiniest chance remained for an unskilled amateur to be on the same playing field. I showed them at home and, even then, my wife said I better not post the effort, lest I embarrass myself. Since then, of course, we have seen an ever unfolding array of skill and creativity that blows me away every time I open this thread.

 

I am posting this now in an effort to show how truly amazing all the others are, and also to demonstrate the vast gulf between what I see in my mind when I put pen to paper (well, I mean the actual letters - the creative part escapes me entirely), and what actually happens. I am sure others can understand. For those who can navigate the gulf between mind and paper, I applaud you!

 

Pen: Mabie Todd & Co. Swan 3260, 14k No. 2 nib (c. 1930s)

Ink: Noodler's Seminole Sepia, the actual color is more brown than gold, but my office scanner isn't exactly made for this sort of thing

Paper: 40 year old bonded paper out of an old corporate minute book from my office basement, unfortunately it feathers, though not as badly as the poor scanned image seems to show

 

Beautiful! I really love the color of this. At least on my computer, it looks like a very golden brown or copper.

[River]

This isn't the right Psalm, but I thought it would be interesting for reference. It is a handwritten manuscript in the original Hebrew.

 

 

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/Riversplitter/HebrewManuscript.jpg

[pb2]

My goodness ~ That is really beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[demonstrator fan]

My attempt, sorry about the rubbish scan but it's late and I need to get some sleep

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5072/5892101461_e84dab7160_b.jpg

 

 

Pen: Pilot Falcon (SF)

Ink: Diamine Sepia

Paper: No brand cheap 90gsm pad (all I had to hand this evening)

 

Thanks

 

DF

Edited July 2, 2011 by demonstrator fan

[spiv]

There are some jaw dropping entries here...

Well done you folk!

 

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5196/5892689430_e744d3dcd3_o.jpg

2011_20110701_3206- by itspiv, on Flickr

[ArchiMark]

Wow! This thread is simply depressing...I mean inspiring to this ol' primate.....

 

Lots of great work to digest......kudos to all that have posted their work...

 

 

 

Glad I don't have to decide who's the winner......