A Terrible Handwriter Appears!

[Zavan]

Well, I've finally decided to throw myself into the deep end and just get to it. If you'd like any info about me, then have a look at my introduction thread. Long story short, I've got terrible handwriting and I'm trying to use a fountain pen to improve and make writing a more enjoyable experience. I know there are links to resources around the web already for handwriting instruction/lessons, but I'm left handed, an underwriter, and also pretty god-awful and in need of motivation/instruction to improve. I'd appreciate anything you guys are willing to share with me on this.

 

I've attached a BP sample and a fountain pen example to my post. At the moment, I'm really trying to concentrate on using the arm to write instead of the hand, and I think hope I'm getting there on that front. There's the actual letters to worry about, next. >_> The only other thing to say is that, not so long ago, I got into the habit of writing in allcaps. I don't entirely know if this was a good or a bad thing in the long term, but at the time it appeared to make my handwriting somewhat more legible to others, and this was definitely a good thing for the short term! I've also attached some everyday writing from my thesis, because I think only attaching a sample of handwriting I've focused on will give you guys a false idea of how I write all the time.

 

I'm penning with a Lamy Safari (though this is soon to switch over to a Platinum #3776 Century, I think -- I've read about and am pretty happy with it. The only thing I'm concerned about is that I have big hands and it might be a little too small) with Diamine's Midnight ink, and a rOtring rapid PRO with Visconti's purple ballpoint gel.

 

Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it.

 

 

 

Edited March 6, 2014 by Zavan

[dms525]

Hi, Zavan.

 

Welcome to FPN and the Penmanship Forum!

 

Your all caps script is easy to read. But you are not happy with it. Do you have an idea about the kind of handwriting you would prefer? There are many styles. Most of the handwriting improvement books with which I am familiar teach a script based on formal italic, with the option to advance to cursive italic. But, if you are set on something quite different, other resources would be more helpful.

 

David

[Apprenti]

I don't know much about you, but I'd imagine an italic script would be really good for you to work on. Your letter forms are very neat and concise, which would work perfectly with italic.

 

I'd find myself a cheap cursive-italic/stub/formal-italic and work on that. Then transfer that across to your normal handwriting. You can get italic nibs for your Lamy too I think.

 

Have fun!

Joe

 

PS I received a Platinum 3776 yesterday and it's incredibly good.

[Zavan]

Hi! Thanks for the replies.

 

I was actually looking to adopt an italic style to writing, eventually. I'm not entirely sure about the difference between formal and cursive italics (

) - could you possibly help me clear this up a little bit?

 

Also, being lefthanded, are there any particular resources you could recommend? I tried, not so long ago, to pick up on The Palmer Method, but everything's focused towards right handers. As someone without any formal penmanship skills it's quite hard for me to translate these lessons to a lefthander's perspective.

[Apprenti]

Formal italic nibs are very sharp and sensitive to position and they produce great variation in lines. Cursive italics have slightly rounded edges and write smoother and less sensitively, but they don't give quite the same variation. Lamy nibs are cheap and would probably be a good place to start.

 

I'm afraid I'm not really comfortable answering your left-handed question, so I'll leave that to someone who knows the answer

Joe

[chris.uk]

Hi mate, Sorry can't help much with left handed side of things but just to clarify the italic hand the terms formal and italic refer to the style both of which can be written with a standard italic nib, which if you want to try without spending too much have a look at calligraphy pens in your local art shop you can pic one up for a couple of pounds rather than buying a decent fountain pen just until you know if your going to like it or not. To illustrate the difference the top picture is cursive italic and the bottom is formal. This is not my writing i'm still learning myself and am nowhere near this good yet !

 

[Apprenti]

I'm not sure whether you wanted to know about italic nibs or the hand, but it looks like you have both answers now

[dms525]

Formal italic nibs are very sharp and sensitive to position and they produce great variation in lines. Cursive italics have slightly rounded edges and write smoother and less sensitively, but they don't give quite the same variation. Lamy nibs are cheap and would probably be a good place to start.

 

I'm afraid I'm not really comfortable answering your left-handed question, so I'll leave that to someone who knows the answer

Joe

 

You are confusing differences in nibs with differences in script style. I was referring to the latter. Regarding nibs: Formal/Crisp italic nibs are probably best used for formal italic script. If you are really, really good, they can be used for cursive script as well. Cursive italic nibs can be used for either formal italic or cursive italic script. They are less picky regarding how the nib contacts the paper at the cost of decreased thick/thin line differentiation. Cursive italic nibs are easier to learn with, without a doubt.

 

Formal italic script is like printing. It is only generally slightly slanted and the letters are not joined. Often, they have either no serifs or hook or wedge serifs. Cursive italic tends to be more slanted, and some (but not all, usually) letters are joined. Most often, it is written either sans serif or with swash serifs. Cursive italic can be written more rapidly.

 

David

[dms525]

Here is a sample of cursive italic script. Note that some, but not all, letters are joined. There are "safe" and "unsafe" joins, but these are relative terms. It's really a matter of what pleases you.

 

[JeffPDX2]

The following is my opinion/understanding; I am not an expert.

 

Formal Italic is, to me, not a handwriting style. It is a calligraphic hand, and as such the letters are drawn as opposed to handwriting. Calligraphy letters are usually drawn using wrist/elbow/shoulder, rather than handwriting which is done using the small muscles of the hand. Two different activities, done different ways.

 

Having said that, if you get a cursive italic nib on a fountain pen, and hold the nib at a 45 degree angle to the base line.....your handwriting will take on a very 'italic' feel.

 

I have attached a scan of my handwriting as well as a real quick sample of formal italic (please, forgive my spelling and bad form on the first word of the sentence. I didn't want to do it over again. :-) ) The first is with a fountain pen, the second with a Medium Cursive Italic, the third with a Mitchell #3 broad-edge italic nib. Another poster already covered the difference between cursive italic nibs and italic nibs.

 

BTW: I am left handed. I hold my pen in an over-hand 'hooker' style when handwriting. When doing calligraphjy with broad-edged nibs I use my right hand. I have never seen a ductus that shows shows the strokes for a left handed writer. There are a lot of suggestions on how to handle them; one book often cited is 'Left-Handed Calligraphy' by Vance Studley (second image).

 

Last point: The difference between formal italic and cursive italic is that the latter connects all of the letters, extending the lower serifs up to the next letter and minimizing (eliminating?) pen lifts. Google them and you will quickly see how cursive italic connects using those extended lower serifs.

Edited March 7, 2014 by JeffPDX2

[Zavan]

You're all being really helpful here, thanks.

 

I'd read about the kinds of nibs, though I appreciate you guys specifically telling me of the differences, and was wondering more about how this equates in practice. So formal italic is essentially styled printing, whereas cursive italic utilises some joins and a greater slant. Now, it was more handwriting (over calligraphy) that I picked up a fountain pen for, will there be a tremendous amount of difference in terms of how I practice or which resources I use?

 

I can definitely appreciate what you're suggesting, David! Perhaps cursive italic is ideally where I would like to end up, it seems slightly more practical for what I'll be doing most of, which is writing things for students, taking notes from my own lectures and putting ideas down onto paper.

[dms525]

For most of us, professional calligraphers excepted, we will use cursive italic for notes, correspondence and most everything else. However - and this is important - if you are just learning italic handwriting, start out learning letter shapes, spacing, and the "mechanics" using a broad nib making larger letters and writing formal italic until you have the basics mastered. Actually, cursive italic develops almost automatically as your writing speed picks up.

 

David