Invitation To Show Off Your Stuff...

[caliken]

A little decorated Blackletter. A great German script for the greatest German composer.

 

Ken

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/JohannSebastionBach600.jpg

Edited March 19, 2013 by caliken

[MusinkMan]

A little decorated Blackletter. A great German script for the greatest German composer.

 

Ken

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/JohannSebastionBach600.jpg

 

 

Now Ken Fraser, that's just crazy, man. How??? How do you get those 3 colors in there like that? Is that done with a brush by layering one color on top of the other? I can't wrap my head around how that is done.

[thang1thang2]

 

Now Ken Fraser, that's just crazy, man. How??? How do you get those 3 colors in there like that? Is that done with a brush by layering one color on top of the other? I can't wrap my head around how that is done.

 

Here's my wild guess.

 

1. We start with the base dark red color. I would imagine this was done with a gouache paint type of ink with a pointed nib like the gillott 303 that's capable of keeping very consistent shades so it looks like a flat nib

 

2. Then you move onto the highlights. The yellow would also be a gouche type of ink, and he probably did that with a pointed nib as well and carefully retouched everything

 

3. Then there's the bright red. Same technique as the yellow.

 

The rest of it would have been normal black ink and an edged nib (I believe).

[MusinkMan]

As impressive as the capitals are, look at the lower case. Those serifs are all so flawless. Look at that lowercase s in the word Sebastian. Those split serifs on the ascenders...I never could do that. Tried using the corner of my nib in every way I could thing of and it always turned into a disaster...and THEN I was just trying to do a plain split, not this flourishy stuff. It just keeps coming from Ken, and every darn one of them is a total show-stopper. I don't think he's really mortal, do you Thang? Did you know he was self-taught??? That's just freakishly astounding, man.

[caliken]

 

Now Ken Fraser, that's just crazy, man. How??? How do you get those 3 colors in there like that? Is that done with a brush by layering one color on top of the other? I can't wrap my head around how that is done.

 

Here's my wild guess.

 

1. We start with the base dark red color. I would imagine this was done with a gouache paint type of ink with a pointed nib like the gillott 303 that's capable of keeping very consistent shades so it looks like a flat nib

 

2. Then you move onto the highlights. The yellow would also be a gouche type of ink, and he probably did that with a pointed nib as well and carefully retouched everything

 

3. Then there's the bright red. Same technique as the yellow.

 

The rest of it would have been normal black ink and an edged nib (I believe).

 

That's more or less correct. However, I used acrylic for the basic colour as it's waterproof and makes overpainting with gouache, much easier.

[Stompie]

Almost embarressed to put my stuff on here after Ken and others! :embarrassed_smile:

 

BUT, I am having fun so here goes!

 

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj229/Popsjill/pens/DSCN1311_zps5b1c4ba5.jpg

[MusinkMan]

There you go, Stompie! I, too, am "trying" to get serious with the dip pen. That thing is a little devil, it is. Have you tried Ken's "trick" of running your nibs through the dishwasher? I tried it, and it works. I don't have the little cage-contraption that Ken has, so I tied my nibs up in one of my white socks, and let it rip. Be sure to take them out and dry them as soon as the cycle is over though, because the sock stays wet and will begin to rust your nibs. I made that mistake and left mine in for just a few minutes after the cycle was over and a couple of them had teeny rust spots, but they weren't on the tines or the tip thank the Lord.

 

You going for the Spencerian thing these days? Looks like it from the looks of your shaded t's, and a few other elements.

 

Dip pens are more fun than I ever thought they could be. Until I got a little help on this forum, they were nothing more than a frustration and a dread to me. Now they are my favorite instrument to write with. In fact, I placed an order to JohnNealBooksellers for another oblique handle last night. Woooo Hooooo!

[Stompie]

LOL, are you NUTS!!!! in a sock!!!

 

Can see you ain't the housewife. Any housewife worth her salt will tell you that washing machines and such like have a propensity for devouring socks and you will never find it again! :roflmho:

 

No mate, my mouth is sooo toxic I do Kens other little trick and suck on them for a bit. After 5 seconds the nibs are pleading to be released! I even had a Brause Rose nib turn into a Brause Dandelion nib once!

 

If I wanted to get fancy I got one of them electronic ultrasound cleaner thingymajigs but I have only used it about 3 or 4 times as it is a hassle getting it out and cleaning it up afterwards. But every now and then I stick pens, teeth, nibs and so on in there for a quarterly clean up.

 

I dunno about the Spencerian thing altogether. I suppose I am mixing things up a bit and perhaps trying to lean more towards Spency, but truth be told, I can't concentrate long enough to put in the practice so I sort of bumble along, but I am having fun!

 

Some bloke that recently got hitched did a critique for me on something I sent him and he said what he liked is that he can recognise my handwriting, it is not a generic Spence that looks like all the professionals stuff. That was important for me to hear and it encouraged me a lot!

 

I do most of my Penpal letters with dippers. My writing time is my relaxation chill out time and writing with them is a huge stress reliever for me and a time of much fun too! So I also use that time to practice things - which means some folk get a letter that has been rewritten a few times :roflmho: but so what, as I said, I am having fun!!!

[Stompie]

Oh, I meant to ask you - if you like a nice chunky holder then try the carrot oblique holder. I got a straight one and an oblique and they are great!

[MusinkMan]

hahaha...You will be relieved to hear that both sock and nibs are all accounted for. hahaaha. And this wasn't in the clothes washer, it was in the dishwasher. I also am going to try the spit trick...but I am more interested in trying your alcohol techniques. Those sound much more interesting to me. I looked at that carrot holder and thought about it, but it reminded me of bugs bunny. LOl! So I ordered another Century Oblique holder, but I did get the "thicker" version this time...the one that Dr. Vitolo recommended they thicken up. Once I got the dip pen working, the fountain pen's writing suffers by comparison. But they are convenient, that's for sure! And I have some pretty decent ones now so I can get along quite well with them...just wish I could get better. I'm really taking some time and studying at this point; looking for the small details and bad habits I've developed. IAMPETH videos have become my best friend of late. I am trying to train myself to break the habit of driving the pen movements with my fingers. I've done it that way for years, and it really shows in my wobbly/chattery hairlines. I can do the arm movement thing when I think about it, but I keep "forgetting" and lapsing into the old habits. It's enough to p!ss off the devil!

[caliken]

Did you know he was self-taught?

 

IMO being self-taught isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

 

I knows that being taught in person by a skilled craftsperson in Calligraphy and Penmanship, is

the ideal situation, as flaws and errors can be picked up and corrected simply. However, not

everyone has easy access to such an individual.

 

With a bit of patience and perseverance it’s possible to self-teach. In fact, it’s sometimes preferable

as there are some practitioners out there whose work is inferior and who are passing on their faults

to beginners. No teacher is better than a bad teacher!

 

I enjoy the minutiae of lettering and in self-teaching I’ve developed the following technique which

has worked for me. If I’m learning a new script, I often find a few letters that don’t look quite right. I

greatly enlarge (photocopy) the exemplar until the letters are at least 1 ½" high. I find that at this size,

I can examine the letters in great detail and can usually see where I’m going wrong. I know that I

could achieve the same effect with a powerful, hand-held magnifier, but I’m more comfortable with both hands

free when I’m writing.

 

Ken

Edited March 20, 2013 by caliken

[MusinkMan]

Indeed being self-taught is not a bad thing, it is an incredible thing. You are my role model of calligraphy, Ken. When I see what you achieved I am very motivated. I have some slant template guidesheets that I am using behind my page (on a light box). It's quite revealing when I notice that my hand wants to move the pen off axis, but the lines keep me focused. That is my current focus...consistent slant, and consistent "thick" lines. Mine are all over the place and I see it everytime I try to write any kind of paragraph. Gotta stay focused!

[caliken]

I have some slant template guidesheets that I am using behind my page (on a light box). It's quite revealing when I notice that my hand wants to move the pen off axis, but the lines keep me focused. That is my current focus...consistent slant, and consistent "thick" lines. Mine are all over the place and I see it everytime I try to write any kind of paragraph. Gotta stay focused!

 

I know that some beginners are vaugely uneasy about using guidelines as though they were in some way "cheating".

This is nonsense IMO. The use of horizontal, vertical and slanting guidelines are a perfectly legiitimate way of building a memory of any particular style of script. After many years of practice, I can now write Copperplate at a fairly consistent 55 degrees slope without guidelines. However when writing the Madarasz Script example, I used sloping guidelines as I'm unfamiliar with the slope of 47 degrees. If I continue writing this style, I will happily continue using guidelines until the slope angle is sufficiently imprinted on my memory.

 

I think that you're absolutely spot on with the practice routines you're using.

 

A little tip : If you still find that you're straying off the slope lines, try making your slope guide with the lines closer together.

 

Ken

[Flake]

Well this completely reaffirms my need to start my copperplate back up.... :embarrassed_smile:

[caliken]

Almost embarressed to put my stuff on here after Ken and others! :embarrassed_smile:

 

BUT, I am having fun so here goes!

 

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj229/Popsjill/pens/DSCN1311_zps5b1c4ba5.jpg

Being unfamiliar with the Hunt 22 & 99 nibs, this little review/demonstration is very useful.

Thanks for posting.

 

Ken

[Columba Livia]

What kind of feathers did you use? I have read that goose feathers are the best. I want to try this sooooo bad! Dude, thanks so much for posting this up. Really nice and super fascinating!

 

I used turkey feathers, which I bought from here:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261173429604?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

They are a real steal at $11 inc. P&P for 10. Turkey feathers seem to have thicker and more ovoid barrels than goose quills, but are more durable. I use a number 16 scalpel blade for nibbing them, and a safety razor blade (the old double sided sort) to make a slit.

 

The Calligraphers Handbook has the best and more comprehensive section on curing and cutting quills, and the New Spencerian Compendium on IAMPETH also, in the lettering section, has a good bit. I was following the 'handbook for tempering and the compendium for cutting.

 

I don't think I will use quills all the time, but its well worth having a go with them because they are so responsive and sensitive. It made me carefully consider and reassess how I was holding a broad nibbed pen, how much pressure I was using and how I was sitting.

[thang1thang2]

 

That's more or less correct. However, I used acrylic for the basic colour as it's waterproof and makes overpainting with gouache, much easier.

Ohh, so close. I should've guessed that you would have used something heavier for the base. I forgot that gouache isn't waterproof. :embarrassed_smile:

 

 

There you go, Stompie! I, too, am "trying" to get serious with the dip pen. That thing is a little devil, it is. Have you tried Ken's "trick" of running your nibs through the dishwasher? I tried it, and it works. I don't have the little cage-contraption that Ken has, so I tied my nibs up in one of my white socks, and let it rip. Be sure to take them out and dry them as soon as the cycle is over though, because the sock stays wet and will begin to rust your nibs.

 

I shall have to try the sock thing! That sounds perfect for my needs. I need to make sure that I get everything off my nibs and start narrowing down all my flaws and get the stuff back to par. But, if only I could get myself to start practicing an hour a day... I have the time, I just need to organize my life better instead of wasting it goofing off. I'll get there!

 

Did you know he was self-taught?

 

IMO being self-taught isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

 

With a bit of patience and perseverance it’s possible to self-teach. In fact, it’s sometimes preferable

 

I enjoy the minutiae of lettering and in self-teaching I’ve developed the following technique which

has worked for me. If I’m learning a new script, I often find a few letters that don’t look quite right. I

greatly enlarge (photocopy) the exemplar until the letters are at least 1 ½" high. I find that at this size,

I can examine the letters in great detail and can usually see where I’m going wrong

 

 

There are actually magnifying glasses that are quite large that you can prop on mounts that are made for this sort of purpose (having two hands free while examining very small things in great detail) but that large size thing sounds like a good idea. I'm going to see if I can develop my italic a bit more since I'm hoping to teach it (or at least introduce it) and a gothic style to about 10 kids for a "honor day" [think boyscouts sort of thing]. Hopefully I don't scare them off

 

Now, as for a question I have, let's say I have about 3 hours to introduce kids to the italic style and a gothic style and I give them all their own nibs to practice with (I got some excellent 3.5mm markers that give nice and crisp lines, and I'll have properly lined paper for them to practice too). What type of gothic script would you recommend me introducing them to? I would think the simpler the better, e.g. no bastarde or fractur or anything like that...

[MusinkMan]

Chancery Cursive :-)

[thang1thang2]

I didn't know chancery was a gothic style...

[MusinkMan]

Hang on thang...you said you wanted to teach them an italic style and a gothic style unless I misunderstood. Chancery would be a good italic, and a simplified form of quadrata formata might make a good Gothic.