Demonstration of my Ornamental Penmanship

[syed sha abulhassan Quadr]

https://youtu.be/wwqiXQMA2mw
Hey guys this is a video showing how I work on  a new Capital stem step after step improving on it. 
It's real time speed no fast forward etc. 😊

[Rednaxela]

Thank you so much for sharing @syed sha abulhassan Quadr, that was an absolute joy to watch!

I like the way you grip your holder. You keep a very straight index finger reaching quite far down the staff it seems. Did this grip come naturally to you, or did you have to work a lot on it? I'm trying to move further towards your technique but so far I can't seem to get it to feel comfortable enough to carry on with it.

[syed sha abulhassan Quadr]

Thank you so much for sharing @syed sha abulhassan Quadr, that we as an absolute joy to watch!

I like the way you grip your holder. You keep a very straight index finger reaching quite far down the staff it seems. Did this grip come naturally to you, or did you have to work a lot on it? I'm trying to move further towards your technique but so far I can't seem to get it to feel comfortable enough to carry on with it.

Thanks allot 😆
Actually I have worked on it,  I have researched allot and made my ergonomic grips holders that helps penmans to achieve traditional Grip.  And they also give comfort in writing. 
There is a video of my ergonomic holders on YouTube,  just search syed's ergonomic holders.  You can see the grips.  And how to hold them.  I still make them but on order only, coz it take allot time and hardwork on it. 

My advice to you is just try to hold traditional knuckle up grip. 

[Stephen Starling]

What nib did you use? It seemes to flex from thin to very thick so easily, especially compared to the only nib I've tried: the Nikko G

And thank you for sharing!

[syed sha abulhassan Quadr]

What nib did you use? It seemes to flex from thin to very thick so easily, especially compared to the only nib I've tried: the Nikko G

And thank you for sharing!

@Stephen Starling thanks.  I used hunt 99 which is my favorite nib and in my experience it the most close to gillotts No. 1 principality. 
Give best shades and curves. 
But it is scratchy unlike Nikko G.  Nikko needs to be applied more pressure to get swells. .

With kind regards
-Syed-

[Rednaxela]

Hi Syed,

Your ergonomic holders look great, a very interesting video indeed!

This is how I currently hold my oblique pen.



Relatively knuckles up, but with a bent index finger, and the thumb a bit high up the staff. Today I experimented putting my thumb against the flange, and the amount of control gained was massive. Not sure where to leave the end of the index finger though. It seems to rest on the edge when stretched. Alternatively I could place it on top of the flange but that isn't really ideal either. Maybe I should carve myself an ergonomic holder too. Or not worry about a bent index finger.

Anyway, your videos are wonderful, thank you so much for sharing, and please keep them coming!

[syed sha abulhassan Quadr]

@Rednaxela your grip is right.  That is perfect grip for spencerian script,  index finger is just to give support to thumb and middle finger.  Zaner use to snatch pens from his student's hands to see that they are holding right.  He said not to hold tight,  hold very light pen should just barely rest on thumb and middle finger and support the pen with index finger. 
You can make more free movements this way and for shade just tighten the grip right when you want shade and release to get that thick and thin hairlines.
Madarasz used to keep index finger at very end of pen.  I prefer same 😊

Your friend
-Syed-

[Rednaxela]

Thank you for your advice Syed!

I'm going to work on this grip tightening technique. BTW I use a Blanzy-Poure 2552 nowadays which is a lot more flexible than the one you see in the picture. Nevertheless I'm still struggling with easy flexing. Good to know that at least my grip is not too far off.

[syed sha abulhassan Quadr]

@Rednaxela
Try using more finer nibs.
Like Leonartd principal,  gillott 303, Esterbrook 357,hunt99.
These all are my favorite. 

[Rednaxela]

Thanks Syed, I certainly will at one point.

However the fact that the 2552 is recommended in this article makes me believe it's user error rather than a tools issue. I mean reading that, I should be able to flex with ease using a 2552, shouldn't I?

[syed sha abulhassan Quadr]

@Rednaxela
Yup it is a great nib  I have a couple of them but haven't used from long,  Ill try it today and check how much pressure must be applied.  😊
-syed-

[Rednaxela]

That would be great Syed. I'd be most interested in your findings!

[Rednaxela]

By the way, the other day I made a new holder that should help me keep my fingers at the right places.



It's not the most beautiful pen in the world, but it does seem to work.

[ash0kgiri]

Hi @Rednaxela

Thats a wonder for sure. If I may ask you what wood did you use for this?

- Ashok

[Rednaxela]

Hi @ash0kgiri, thank you so much!

It's beechwood. I don't have a lathe, and beechwood can be had in round sticks of various diameters here, which gives me a nice starting point. Also, when finished with diluted India ink, its grain tends to come through in a sort of sparkling way. The wood is light and sturdy and can be carved quite easily. All in all I quite like it as a pen staff material.