Invitation To Show Off Your Stuff...

[Stompie]

Do you do the twist with the thumb (particularly difficult I feel) or is there another trick to it? It looks so beautiful and resembles a brush!

 

 

Yippeeeee, I can give schin advice!!!!!

 

schin, I have found an incredibly easy way to do all these strokes that Ken does!!!!

 

 

 

 

use a photocopy machine!

[schin]

Do you do the twist with the thumb (particularly difficult I feel) or is there another trick to it? It looks so beautiful and resembles a brush!

 

 

Yippeeeee, I can give schin advice!!!!!

 

schin, I have found an incredibly easy way to do all these strokes that Ken does!!!!

 

 

 

 

use a photocopy machine!

 

 

Genius!!!!

 

BRB while I find an oblique holder sturdy enough to hold a photocopy machine!!

[thang1thang2]

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/specerian800.jpg

 

Ken, may I ask how can one achieve the beautiful down strokes as the one you did (particularly the B (joining the H) in this second example)? I read somewhere that says to shade it slowly and then quickly twist and flick it upwards with the thumb to achieve the brushlike tail. But try as I might, I couldn't get the stroke to flick properly (it just looks like an upwards curve when I do, I want it to end horizontally) or I could do the flick but couldn't get the swell to be large enough (in which case it looks weak, or cause splatters).

 

Do you do the twist with the thumb (particularly difficult I feel) or is there another trick to it? It looks so beautiful and resembles a brush!

 

I recall a post on the forums where I asked this very question. From what I recall (too lazy to search it up... heh) his method was to use go slowly down and then twist his thumb and wrist a little in a controlled flick so that the right tine was moving faster than the left one (sort of like a column right command in the drill army). It's more lots of practice than anything.

 

I must say, Ken, I love your first image, but the second one looks almost TOO busy with all the capitals and flourishes in there. They're both beautiful, but I probably would've done one or two less capitals in the second. Not that I'm complaining of course, but it almost detracts from the beauty of the "simplicity" of the letters by writing so many interlacing in a single page.

[Columba Livia]

I wrote this without taking the pen off the paper, except coming back at the end to put the top on the P. The caps are approx. 18mm tall:

 

http://i.imgur.com/g6QgrWB.jpg

 

I tried writing this one without any lifts of the pen at all, starting the P with the back part of the top and running that around and into the stem:

 

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

 

Note that the first E is better than the second because I started it inside the upper half, which lets you move your arm and fingers around anti-clockwise to go into the upper half, whereas with the second one you have to go straight into the curve of the upper half without the chance to build up motion.

 

Its certainly an interesting exercise in movement and being aware of how much ink your nib will take before it needs another dip.

 

x-height of the minuscules is 12mm here:

 

http://i.imgur.com/oO25tbD.jpg

 

A practice sheet, this K being done without taking the pen off:

 

http://i.imgur.com/e7owjxR.jpg

 

I used a straight penholder for all of these, in fact, I used this one:

 

http://www.dippennibs.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=JnTHolderSilver

 

I highly recommend it, because it is very versatile in the type of nibs it will accept and it doesn't seem to rust even getting iron gall ink on it regularly. I would give the metal clasp a good rub with sandpaper all over till it has a mat brushed style finish so that it is less slippery though.

 

If you look at 19th century books, it is clear from the illustrations that that was the kind of holder which was in general use then for shaded (hand)writing.

Edited March 7, 2013 by Columba Livia

[MusinkMan]

That's awesome, Columba Livia! I'm absolutely astounded in eveyone's work. Everyone is so Dang Good! Who knew? Sheesh...

 

I'm especially surprised (and delighted) by the number of people on here who are adept with dip pens. I mean, being this is the Fountain Pen Network and all...but I shouldn't be surprised. Dip pens and Fountain Pens are "kissin' cousins" I reckon. Everytime I get up enough nerve to post something I did with a dip pen; somebody like Columba Livia comes along and brings me back to reality.

 

But I'm going to get this...you mark my words, I'm going to get proficient at it before long! My main problem is that I'm just not that artistic. I look at all these magnificent works...Ken and Schin and Columba here (and basically everyone), and it occurs to me that you guys have that special "touch"...that graceful flourish is somehow inherent in your brains. I don't mean that you did not work hard to develop your skill, that's a given. But what I see is more than just technical ability...there is art here. Expression and a "flow" that looks so natural and spontaneous. Am I wrong about that? I don't think that I am, I think we all have a certain potential that we can reach. Some folks' potential is greater than others I reckon. But we can all get d@mn good at lettering if we work on it, that I am sure of.

[Stompie]

and it occurs to me that you guys have that special "touch"...that graceful flourish is somehow inherent in your brains. I don't mean that you did not work hard to develop your skill, that's a given. But what I see is more than just technical ability...there is art here. Expression and a "flow" that looks so natural and spontaneous. Am I wrong about that? I don't think that I am, I think we all have a certain potential that we can reach. Some folks' potential is greater than others I reckon. But we can all get d@mn good at lettering if we work on it, that I am sure of.

 

I tend to agree with you there. An artisitc talent that not all of us have and whilst we can imitate to a point we just never get that finishing touch that some folk seem to have!

 

 

 

schin, order one from Texas, everything is bigger in Texas!

[Stompie]

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj229/Popsjill/pens/DSCN1268_zps4f53b490.jpg

[Stompie]

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj229/Popsjill/pens/DSCN1270_zps5dbe6313.jpg

[koofle]

You're all crazy(talented). Enough to inspire me to get some Spencerian Practice Sheets!

 

Meanwhlie, I will distract you all from my lack of skills with the following niche that I just made up (it might exist already, for all I know!) - internet photos of cats that also happen to have fountain pens.

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

[MusinkMan]

Edited March 7, 2013 by MusinkMan

[palansil]

All the great examples in this thread have inspired me to post the results of my latest italic calligraphy practice session (completed 15 minutes ago). The text is from "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran. I'm interested in any comments and critiques you may have. My own criticism is that I need to work on spacing.

 

Hopefully this thread will last long time and there will be many many more examples of great calligraphy and handwriting.

 

 

 

http://home.comcast.net/~palansil/Practice_Page.jpg

[MusinkMan]

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj229/Popsjill/pens/DSCN1268_zps4f53b490.jpg

 

Oh do tell me about this Stomp! Do you like it? I have been looking at several of these vintage Victorian dip pens on ebay, with the pearl handles and all. I wondered if they performed well, although I figured that they must since they are from a time when fine penmanship was important.

 

I like the writing sample a lot, it looks like it has tremendously good flex, and fine hairlines. I want one. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get one. Whatcha think about it, bro?

[MusinkMan]

All the great examples in this thread have inspired me to post the results of my latest italic calligraphy practice session (completed 15 minutes ago). The text is from "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran. I'm interested in any comments and critiques you may have. My own criticism is that I need to work on spacing.

 

Hopefully this thread will last long time and there will be many many more examples of great calligraphy and handwriting.

 

 

 

http://home.comcast.net/~palansil/Practice_Page.jpg

 

Nice Italics there, palansil! It really looks fantastic. If you want me to nit pick it, the thing that jumps out to me is the inconsistency of slant (which is the same thing that I struggle with, so I understand and maybe that's why it jumped out at me). Especially on the capital Roman letters. But hey, that's just one of those things that you and I have to work on. Overall, tremendously good work and pleasing to look at! A lot better italics than I can do, that's for sure. Thanks for posting it up! Hey, I love your "double L's". Those things always give me FITS when I try to do italic or Chancery Cursive-type lettering. (Double "F's" also). Verrrry nice!

[Stompie]

LOL, it is the nib that makes the difference regarding flex Bro, not the holder. This is not an all in one pen in that the nibs are interchangeable. I am still looking for a good all in one pen. Greg Minuskin has them up from time to time but man, you gotta be fast to get something from his site

 

This was a gift to me from a Lady friend who saw it at a car boot sale. It 'holds' nice in my hand and also, when feeling Victorian, it adds to the ambience!

 

Get one, I dont know about ebay, I try not buy anything from there but I am sure if you have access to antique or 2nd hand shops you will find one.

 

Bear in mind though, compared to an oblique, you do not see your writing as well whilst writing. An oblique just seems to help that much more and of course your nib lies down closer to the paper with an oblique.

[Stompie]

palansil, very nice!

 

I would agree with musinkman there on the slant issue and also yes, the spacing, but great work!

[MusinkMan]

LOL, it is the nib that makes the difference regarding flex Bro, not the holder. This is not an all in one pen in that the nibs are interchangeable. I am still looking for a good all in one pen. Greg Minuskin has them up from time to time but man, you gotta be fast to get something from his site

 

This was a gift to me from a Lady friend who saw it at a car boot sale. It 'holds' nice in my hand and also, when feeling Victorian, it adds to the ambience!

 

Get one, I dont know about ebay, I try not buy anything from there but I am sure if you have access to antique or 2nd hand shops you will find one.

 

Bear in mind though, compared to an oblique, you do not see your writing as well whilst writing. An oblique just seems to help that much more and of course your nib lies down closer to the paper with an oblique.

 

...and all this time I thought it was the handle... LOL! Just kidding. Seriously, I know very little about these but stumbled across some while looking for FP's on ebay. Most come with the original old box. I looked at the nibs (most of them have the original nib on there)...the tines look long and narrow on virtually all of them, so I'm almost positive they will spread and flex like crazy. On most of them the tines were crossed, so I don't know if that's "normal" for these, or if they are all in need of adjustment. I just think they look very cool, and if they write well, might make a nice little addition to the pen box. :-)

[palansil]

Nice Italics there, palansil! It really looks fantastic. If you want me to nit pick it, the thing that jumps out to me is the inconsistency of slant (which is the same thing that I struggle with, so I understand and maybe that's why it jumped out at me). Especially on the capital Roman letters. But hey, that's just one of those things that you and I have to work on. Overall, tremendously good work and pleasing to look at! A lot better italics than I can do, that's for sure. Thanks for posting it up! Hey, I love your "double L's". Those things always give me FITS when I try to do italic or Chancery Cursive-type lettering. (Double "F's" also). Verrrry nice!

 

Thanks MusinkMan and Stompie! I do want you to nitpick as that's how I'll get better. It's funny how your writing looks worse after you take a picture of it and post it.

 

I recently switched guidelines to one with a line for slant. So slant is something I'm working on. Also capital letters. I think the steeper pen angle throws my slant off.

[MusinkMan]

 

Thanks MusinkMan and Stompie! I do want you to nitpick as that's how I'll get better. It's funny how your writing looks worse after you take a picture of it and post it.

 

I know man...same here. I'll pen something that I think is really nice, but after I photograph it I see nothing but flaws! Even after that when I walk by and see the original on my desk it still looks nice...but the photos, I don't know. They seem to hi-lite everything that is wrong somehow. I guess it's like you said; that's how we get better. I'm the same as you, I want to know what's wrong and how to fix it. Otherwise I'll just keep repeating the same mistakes over and over until those mistakes become habit, and then I have to "unlearn" the habit before I can start developing the "correct habit".

 

I'm finding out that really good writing is not something that is easy for me. The "early gains" come quickly, but then I reached this plateau where further improvement requires hard work and lots of practice...just to fix the "little things". As they say, the devil is in the details. It's a good thing that we enjoy doing it, because if it were drugery we would all quit after a week! LOL

[Stompie]

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj229/Popsjill/pens/DSCN1275_zpsfaf71519.jpg

[MusinkMan]

What did you get there, Stompie? New pens and new ink both???? Must have been a really good day! Looks nice, bro!