Messages

1

Tools & Supplies / Re: Colored Sumi Ink for Pointed Pen

« on: September 09, 2018, 01:37:33 AM »

I got a 20% off coupon from Blick so I decided to give gouache a spin. Their prices on W&N are pretty decent even without the coupon.

Someone needs to come up with special blinders for going into art supply stores. If I hadn't decided beforehand why I was going in there, I would have come out much poorer! 

2

Tools & Supplies / Re: Colored Sumi Ink for Pointed Pen

« on: September 05, 2018, 02:26:24 PM »

Someone else suggested the same thing to me, so at least there's probably a consensus of experience in favor of gouache. I definitely will keep that in mind. I am sure there's much more of a palette choice with gouache too.

There's always that bit more work involved, isn't there? Back in the day, I was mixing my own developer for B&W film. Some things don't change.

3

Tools & Supplies / Colored Sumi Ink for Pointed Pen

« on: September 02, 2018, 05:49:23 PM »

I am finally getting back to my pursuit of doing calligraphy after being forced to move a couple of years ago. I began working with my dip pens late at night before bed for a few weeks and the magic and thrill has come back. I'm a southpaw and it's been a bit of leap to use an oblique.

Anyway. I am absolutely in love with Moon Palace. What I want to know is that if I use a colored ink stick and grind it right can I expect to match the lovely character of Moon Palace in the different color. I expect the mixing will be a hurdle but that's always so with a liquid. It needs the right blending and that might be a practice to achieve. Any recommendation for sticks would be appreciated as they last so long and I want to make a wise choice. I'm looking for a rich blue and brown to add to my palette of inks.

4

Letter Pixels / Re: Scanner for calligraphy

« on: January 05, 2017, 01:06:35 PM »

Great. Thank you Bianca.

5

Letter Pixels / Scanner for calligraphy

« on: January 05, 2017, 02:17:48 AM »

Before my Christmas budget sidetracked, I was seriously looking at getting a scanner. My first use would be to digitize a whole lot of photographs. But I also want to use it for calligraphy. Would the Epson V600 be satisfactory for the latter? I don't expect to be doing anything giant size.

6

Tools & Supplies / Re: Easel/Table Suggestions

« on: June 27, 2016, 01:07:09 PM »

I'm not in Silicon Valley, but the same sort of conundrum applies!

Really great advice and leads. I've got more than enough info now to find what I need. Since I am using italic and pointed, I probably will get something adjustable along the way.

Thank you all so much!

7

Tools & Supplies / Re: Easel/Table Suggestions

« on: June 26, 2016, 06:51:58 PM »

I think there's a special version of gravity for calligraphy people. Liquid tilts sideways before going downward. 

I've been thinking about a table that might fold up. The issue I have is that things that are out of sight tend to be put out of mind.

8

Tools & Supplies / Re: Easel/Table Suggestions

« on: June 26, 2016, 01:14:38 PM »

Thank you both.

Johnston's rig looks like a pretty steep inclined surface, doesn't it? Or perhaps it was just a pose for a photographer to look more  intense I'm most certainly sure he was!

I forgot (in my distress) that I do have a small old-fashion portable writing desk--the kind with storage beneath the front-hinged writing board. It has a slight incline. Is that completely ok rested on my lap, or should I keep it on a regular desk to be used? The only basic downside is that it doesn't have much integrated adjacent room for pens and such.

9

Tools & Supplies / Easel/Table Suggestions

« on: June 25, 2016, 11:01:31 PM »

Just when I thought I could spend lots of summer hours practicing calligraphy, my landlord decided 25 years of being a good tenant wasn't worth spit when he could get three more Benjamins a month from a new tenant. So I am scurrying around packing, selling, tossing and looking for a new apartment. I've got a large desk that no longer makes sense  so I'm trying to figure what might work in the corner of a smaller desk. The folding easels look good, but I don't know enough to make a smart choice. Much of my day is computer related, but I want to be able to practice without needing a separate table.

Any ideas?

10

Introductions / Re: New kid from Illinois

« on: June 07, 2016, 02:07:23 AM »

Thank you so much Amy!

11

Introductions / Re: New kid from Illinois

« on: June 06, 2016, 12:04:51 PM »

Do you have a contact reference for the classes I'm in the NW burbs and can get to Chicago.

12

Introductions / Re: New kid from Illinois

« on: June 04, 2016, 08:32:42 PM »

Thank you, June. I am glad to find a place where I can learn more about the craft.

13

Introductions / New kid from Illinois

« on: June 02, 2016, 04:20:33 PM »

Just a thank you and hello:
I'm a longtime pen enthusiast who is learning calligraphy out of a struggle with what chemotherapy did to me. I love pens and writing by hand, but chemo damage to my nervous system wreaked havoc with writing(and a few other things). I don't intend to go quietly. I would have settled for some dabbling with fountain pens, but I been smitten with learning to use pointed pen and like the challenge of doing things that are difficult. Other challenges include being left-handed and the curse of failing handwriting class.

So far, it's very gratifying as I learn and my penmanship is much better.