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General Categories => Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship => Topic started by: Jehu on May 03, 2021, 08:11:45 PM

Title: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: Jehu on May 03, 2021, 08:11:45 PM
Hey folks,

From internet searches I know that a lot of people recommend E.C. Mills' Modern Business Penmanship to learn and practice business writing/monoline Spencerian.

But how is it to be used? It just seems to be a series of examples and exercises with no guidance on how to put them to practice. Are we just meant to go through each plate one-by-one in sequence? Am I missing something?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: Erica McPhee on May 07, 2021, 11:03:53 AM
Yes, this is an excellent book. And yes, you go through each page, one by one. It walks you through beginning to end. Start from the very beginning where it begins with pen hold. Then the warm up drills (which are integral to developing muscle memory). Then the strokes, then the letters.  ;D
Title: Re: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: Jehu on May 09, 2021, 04:16:06 AM
Thanks, Erica, much appreciated. That answers my question! Any thoughts on how long one should spend on each plate?

Title: Re: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: jeanwilson on May 11, 2021, 07:03:15 AM
The amount of time you need to spend will depend on how well you do on each page.
Every person has a different learning style.
Some people like to race through and try everything and then go back and focus.
Other people are more methodical and like to master a page before moving along.
And still others will move forward a few pages and then go back to the beginning and do some refresher work on the basics.
If you post a photo of your work next to the page you are working on - and ask for feedback -
you might enjoy getting tips from people who are further along on the learning curve.




Title: Re: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: Jehu on May 11, 2021, 06:36:48 PM
Thanks, Jean. That's a great idea -- maybe I'll do that.

I'm still working through the Spencerian copybooks (I've just started Book 5), but I suppose there's no reason I can't start dabbling with Mills, time permitting.

Thanks again, both of you.
Title: Re: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: Lyric on May 21, 2021, 01:54:44 PM
Thanks, Jean. That's a great idea -- maybe I'll do that.

I'm still working through the Spencerian copybooks (I've just started Book 5), but I suppose there's no reason I can't start dabbling with Mills, time permitting.

Thanks again, both of you.

Are they really very different, Jehu (the Copy books vs. MBP by Mills)?
Title: Re: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: Jehu on May 23, 2021, 06:29:48 PM
Format, yes; stylistically, no.

But that's exactly what I'm after, as I come to the end of the copybooks: Other good resources in a similar style, to continue my development.
Title: Re: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: GretchenC on May 14, 2022, 10:32:32 AM
Another fantastic source for Mills' instruction is Penman's Art Journal, available (and searchable) on Archive.org   Some of the articles are geared more towards beginners, others are towards more advanced students.  Because many of these series were monthly publications, I think there is a bit more explanation in them than in the book (which I also have).   There is also an absolutely astounding series of over 300 plates (I think actually over 400!) in the PAJ, Vol 23.   It starts with very basic movement exercises, and then proceeds into letters.   I think that this is an invaluable supplement to his two books, and provides further examples of his writing, various connections, drills, etc.   I was excited to discover all of this last night.  :)
Title: Re: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: Erica McPhee on May 14, 2022, 02:30:33 PM
Thank you @GretchenC for mentioning that fabulous resource!  :)
Title: Re: Has anyone used Mills' 'Modern Business Penmanship'?
Post by: AnasaziWrites on May 14, 2022, 04:43:28 PM
To answer the original question, yes. I have the book (copyright 1916). It has 75 lessons, containing very nice exemplars, but haven't used it a lot, as I haven't done much with business penmanship. Highly recommended though, if you're looking to learn it.