Videos Of Everyday Handwriting?

[eaccents]

@GClef:

 

OMG. I think I've officially become a stalker!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvnZyhm6TNs

Edited July 4, 2014 by eaccents

[eaccents]

 

 

If you wish to improve your pen-hold and overall handwriting, you'll have to consciously remind yourself these points each time you write:

 

-- The tripod grip can sufficiently hold a pen with minimal force. It's the principle of a 3 point hold. Three points are enough to hold a metal piece in a turning lathe, this is just a pen .

 

-- The fingers don't move, the arm does, from the shoulder. The pen is merely an extension of your arm. The arm does the writing, the pen just lays down the ink.

 

-- Form gets higher priority than speed. It's no use writing fast if the writing cannot be understood. The letters are 'formed' on paper, only then can writing emerge.

 

-- Get in the rhythm. A rhythmic movement is neither slow nor fast, it's 'in flow'.

 

 

The points may sound a bit 'Zen', but that's what is fascinating about the world of art in general. Handwriting is an art too.

 

I think your comment in RED helped me the most in achieving a breakthrough in getting a more loose grip on the pen.

 

Thank you!!!

[pmhudepo]

If you are interested in italic writing, you should check out the videos by Lloyd Reynolds on YouTube. They are copies from old videotapes, and their technical quality is rather poor by today's standards, but they are such a joy to watch.

 

Here is episode 15. This one I found especially good, since he does a lot of writing without instructions -- just watch and enjoy.

Edited July 4, 2014 by pmhudepo

[00Photo]

I have started a youtube channel and hope to do my first full blown pen review this weekend. The videos are mostly me just playing around with camera setup and lighting. The video quality and lighting gets a little better in each video.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9GghjdVl7aFiIiet9G11w/videos

My latest video.

[sotto2]

Hi oophoto:

 

Thanks for your video. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Honestly, I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more without the music. Personally, there is no substitute to me for the sound of what a person is actually doing, combined with the sounds around them. Except for musical performance videos, I can't think of a single vid I've watched where having some kind of music in the background has enhanced the experience for me, personally. IMHO, of course. I would've much preferred the sound of your pen on the page, unless there was a screaming kid in the background. In which case I would rather have heard fingernails on a blackboard.

 

----

 

Before someone says, "Well, if you dislike the music so much, why don't you just turn the audio track off?"

 

Yes, I do that, and it helps; but I prefer the sounds of what the person is doing the best of all. Particularly pen on paper sounds.

 

And this is a pretty cool thread.

----

 

Oh, and oophoto:

 

What is your exact lighting and video set-up there? It's very good. Thanks.

 

[Morames]

Hi oophoto:

Thanks for your video. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Honestly, I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more without the music. Personally, there is no substitute to me for the sound of what a person is actually doing, combined with the sounds around them. Except for musical performance videos, I can't think of a single vid I've watched where having some kind of music in the background has enhanced the experience for me, personally. IMHO, of course. I would've much preferred the sound of your pen on the page, unless there was a screaming kid in the background. In which case I would rather have heard fingernails on a blackboard.

I second this for the most part. Screaming kids are sort of like playing music, if I don't like it I turn the sound off, but that magical sound of pen on paper is alluring to me.

 

00Photo I loved watching your lines gain form, I'm not a talented artist. I'm best with paint by numbers and connect the dots.

 

Also I loved watching proper flex pen usage in eaccents video. I have an Esterbrook SJ with a 9128 nib and a Guru by fountain pen revolution. I prefer the esterbrook, but it's almost too fine to work with. My paper is 28lb Staples laser printer 98 bright, and struggles with it. I didn't think I would need a higher weight paper. Oddly my 90g Clairefontaine is smoother and better to write on.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Morames

[Finalist]

Nib on paper IS music! The youtube Falcon video with over 3 million hits is 50% about that scratch-swoosh sound. Love it

[pavoni]

Nib on paper IS music!

 

+1

 

Pavoni

[eaccents]

I'm not sure I completely understand the idea of only moving your arm rather than your fingers. I imagine the idea is to not move your fingers at all and instead the characters are drawn by moving your whole arm, but I've yet to see that demonstrated. I always see the fingers move to draw each character and the arm moves after every few characters or after each word is complete. Am I taking it too literally, and the reality is the fingers will always move a little?

 

I found this post to be very helpful, especially the parts that I have italicized. Although in every video I've ever seen the fingers DO move but they are not the ONLY source of movement for writing.

Source: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/217007-where-to-start-arm-movement-or-letter-shapes/?p=2282643

"Arm movement" is easier than you think. It is also smaller than you think.

 

Step 1. Hold your hand in the air and pretend that you are waving goodbye to someone. Now use less motion so that it is a smaller "wave."

 

Step 2. Form your hand into your usual pen grip while "waving."

 

Step 3. Plant the middle of your forearm on the desk.

 

Step 4. Practice the waving motion again on the desk. You will see that your arm won't slide across anything. It will just wiggle in your sleeve, the pivot point being the part of your forearm that is on the desk.

 

Step 5. Put your pen into your pen grip and turn your paper so that your writing is at your desired slant.

 

Step 6. Practice many lines and ovals in a rhythmic and meditative fashion.

 

[eaccents]

I have started a youtube channel and hope to do my first full blown pen review this weekend. The videos are mostly me just playing around with camera setup and lighting. The video quality and lighting gets a little better in each video.

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9GghjdVl7aFiIiet9G11w/videos

 

My latest video.

 

 

Contrary to everyone else (it seems), I am happy with both sound options. I think the classical music is very pleasant, and the scratchy sound of the nib moving across is also pleasing because I can hear the cadence/rhythm of the person's writing.

 

Kudos to 00Photo to the beautiful writing video

[00Photo]

The problem I have with the natural audio in my videos is that I am usually listening to music when I draw, and youtube will automatically mute copyrighted music out of your video or delete your video entirely. I will leave the audio intact on my pen review.

[Finalist]

I found this post to be very helpful, especially the parts that I have italicized. Although in every video I've ever seen the fingers DO move but they are not the ONLY source of movement for writing.

Source: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/217007-where-to-start-arm-movement-or-letter-shapes/?p=2282643

"Arm movement" is easier than you think. It is also smaller than you think.

 

Step 1. Hold your hand in the air and pretend that you are waving goodbye to someone. Now use less motion so that it is a smaller "wave."

 

Step 2. Form your hand into your usual pen grip while "waving."

 

Step 3. Plant the middle of your forearm on the desk.

 

Step 4. Practice the waving motion again on the desk. You will see that your arm won't slide across anything. It will just wiggle in your sleeve, the pivot point being the part of your forearm that is on the desk.

 

Step 5. Put your pen into your pen grip and turn your paper so that your writing is at your desired slant.

 

Step 6. Practice many lines and ovals in a rhythmic and meditative fashion.

 

Wow! The pivot tip is great! I was pivoting way too high so my forearm would have to float which feels odd for details, but your posted tip that the middle of the forearm is the pivot point seems a lot better. Thanks!! Edited July 6, 2014 by Finalist

[eaccents]

Wow! The pivot tip is great! I was pivoting way too high so my forearm would have to float which feels odd for details, but your posted tip that the middle of the forearm is the pivot point seems a lot better. Thanks!!

 

That's the part that was like an epiphany for me too Glad it was helpful!

[Morames]

The problem I have with the natural audio in my videos is that I am usually listening to music when I draw, and youtube will automatically mute copyrighted music out of your video or delete your video entirely. I will leave the audio intact on my pen review.

 

Well darnit, sounds very well though out and I'm sorry I pestered you about it in the first place. I'd be the one covering up,screaming children...if I had anything worth recording. I'm limited in the penmanship etc skills.

[eaccents]

No videos yet? Nobody???

 

Pretty please???

[caliken]

For small handwriting I use fingers only. As lettering increases in size, I use combined movement and for very large letters I use whole arm. None of this is calculated but comes naturally.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtcjvnsIZ2E

Edited September 16, 2014 by Ken Fraser

[zuerincolour]

For small handwriting I use fingers only. As lettering increases in size, I use combined movement and for very large letters I use whole arm. None of this is calculated but comes naturally.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtcjvnsIZ2E

[BookCat]

No videos yet? Nobody???

 

Pretty please???

 

I'm also trying hard to improve my everyday handwriting. These videos of people writing beautiful calligraphy are great to watch, but not very helpful especially to someone (me) who writes in a continuous flow, lifting the pen only between words and at awkward joins, whereas Italic calligraphy appears to be written letter by letter.

 

So a video of your Everyday Hand would help me too.

 

Off Topic: how long does it take for all the practise to work its way into my natural handwriting? When not practising I revert to my usual scrawl. I'm mostly using Rosemary Sassoon's book, "Teach Yourself: Improve Your Handwriting".

Edited September 17, 2014 by BookCat

[eaccents]

 

I'm also trying hard to improve my everyday handwriting. These videos of people writing beautiful calligraphy are great to watch, but not very helpful especially to someone (me) who writes in a continuous flow, lifting the pen only between words and at awkward joins, whereas Italic calligraphy appears to be written letter by letter.

 

So a video of your Everyday Hand would help me too.

 

Off Topic: how long does it take for all the practise to work its way into my natural handwriting? When not practising I revert to my usual scrawl. I'm mostly using Rosemary Sassoon's book, "Teach Yourself: Improve Your Handwriting".

 

+1!

 

Thanks for the videos thus far, everybody!!!

 

Videos of everyday hand are also what I'm most interested in, although one cannot discount the absolute beauty and skill involved in the calligraphy videos! I'll watch both anytime (so post away, calligraphers!), but like @bookcat, right now I'm trying to improve my everyday handwriting by watching and learning from those who do this craft well

 

If I can manage to get that to a point where I think my everyday hand is approaching somewhat pretty (and consistently legible), then I might try my hand (no pun intended) at the higher art of calligraphy

[BookCat]

Videos of everyday hand are also what I'm most interested in, although one cannot discount the absolute beauty and skill involved in the calligraphy videos! I'll watch both anytime (so post away, calligraphers!), but like @bookcat, right now I'm trying to improve my everyday handwriting by watching and learning from those who do this craft well

 

If I can manage to get that to a point where I think my everyday hand is approaching somewhat pretty (and consistently legible), then I might try my hand (no pun intended) at the higher art of calligraphy

 

 

Seems like we're on the same "page".

Will be keeping a close eye on this thread.