Messages

16

Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 1

« on: January 12, 2017, 09:58:19 AM »

Hi @neriah - I couldn't hold myself to say your script looks really good. I like it.
It is not the answer(s) you are expecting since you have quite a lot of questions ( ) and I am not able to answer all of them. What I want to say is: this is exactly what I did when I started this type of calligraphy. Also looked closely to Baird's letters and did the same with measuring lines, widths, slants etc. "Study as much as you practice" - they say - and I think this is the way. So I like to see you are studying...
I'm sure Salman will bring some light on most of your uncertainties and will guide you through. As far as I know, the height of ascenders / descenders differ from artist to artist and I think it's all a matter of preference (I hope I'm right), and in the end consistency is what matters and the balance of the whole (please someone right me if I'm wrong).
And I also draw lighter shades  though sometimes I see members here with thick shades and get concerned whether mine are OK or not... Anyway, keep practicing. And studying.

17

Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 4

« on: January 09, 2017, 08:38:12 PM »

Thanks a lot for the thorough feedback.
Read it again and again, compare it with my sheet, watched your video (again and then again...) and, still, the "s" is killing me . I started working on its form even before your feedback cause I saw it wasn't right. At one point I even started to make "rotated ovals" - don't know if this term exists! - just to see how does an inverted "c" would look like. Then I even took my pencil and drew the letter at the beginning of each row.... Finally I've decided to, well, take a break. It began to making me mad so I decided it is wise to let everything cool down.
I'll only post my last rows of practice (the rest of the pages are just ...ugly) and wait for your opinion.

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Contemporary and Modern Calligraphy / Re: Vivaldi Script

« on: January 09, 2017, 01:02:47 PM »

I rarely praise. But, man, this is insanely ...out of this world!

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Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 4

« on: January 08, 2017, 03:54:09 PM »

OK, here I am on group 4 - thanks Salman for your time/patience/effort. It is so important to have a tutor who can explain the 'why's and the 'how's...
I had quite a bit of free time and practiced more than usual (my time seems to always be limited when there are no holidays) and here is my practice sheet. Several comments on this one: lately I became very sloppy and didn't bother much about the x-height so I started to work on smaller x-height. After watching carefully my writing (and seeing my careless/wobbly lines) I decided to get back to a larger x-height. And this sheet has a 7.5 mm height. Obviously letter forms are not at their best and I don't know why but now I have some problems with my ovals... As you can see many of them are leaning forward. Another aspect was the width. I know Prasad  posted some info regarding this aspect somewhere around here but I still have a question: what is better - to go for a slender oval or for a fatter one?
 
Oh, and I've watched your video for group 4. I've noticed you hold the pen quite up on the holder. Is it your regular grip or is it something that - I don't know - has to do with the camera setup or...? Or I'm just seeing wrong..?

...and no, I haven't written the sentence yet -> will wait till I have a "Go" from you and after your feedback.

PS I also draw some guidelines for different x-heights and different ratios and saved them as pdf. So if there are members in search for something like this - just ask. I'll be more than happy to help (it's the least I can do).

20

Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 1

« on: January 03, 2017, 02:28:12 PM »

Hi, Ann. Sorry for jumping in - I sure am not a specialist, but there is one thing I can tell for sure: regular printer paper is not good. Especially when starting learning this beautiful art. At first I thought it will work anyway, but very soon after that I discovered that I have to get some quality paper. Now all my practice is done on Herlitz notebooks (with printed grid beneath). I am not recommending this particular brand for you to use. I'm just saying you should invest in some quality paper. For me this was the first step (then came the ink and nibs - well, at about the same time  ).
Keep practicing and ...enjoy.

21

Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 3

« on: December 26, 2016, 04:59:55 PM »

OK. First of all
Merry Christmas to all the forum members.

Next comes my work which is not my best but it is the latest. So here it goes.

22

Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 2

« on: November 26, 2016, 05:29:34 PM »

Thanks, Salman, for the valuable feedback. Here goes another upload though I must confess it was a crazy week (the next seems to be the same) and I couldn't practise as much as I would have liked/wanted/needed. Anyway, I really hope you can see there where I cannot... And right me!
Have a lovely weekend.

23

Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 2

« on: November 12, 2016, 03:23:57 AM »

Here's my second upload after practicing (not as much as I would have liked) during the week. From far above, like from an airplane, it looks good  ...
Waiting for some feedback as usual. And a question for Angie: what nib/pen are you using? Seems like I can't do so thick shades and wonder if it's my nib or something...
Thanks!
PS Oh, don't mind last row - was just trying to see how shading works. More or less...

24

Broad Edge Pen Calligraphy / Re: Going Gothic

« on: November 09, 2016, 12:00:02 PM »

I just went through the whole album... It is absolutely amazing!!! Thank you for sharing. A loooot!

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Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 2

« on: November 05, 2016, 11:06:50 AM »

Got the time myself too so I'll post my work for lesson 2. Looking forward for some feedback. Thanks.
Have a lovely weekend everyone.

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Kind Critique / Re: Seeking critiques on my first (shy) copperplate

« on: October 29, 2016, 05:20:21 PM »

Fooling around... And practicing... And so on...

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Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 1

« on: October 24, 2016, 05:33:38 PM »

Thanks for your reply. Yes, well, those question marks are where I thought the letters looked good (better than others anyway) but wasn't really sure. Now you made that clear to me.
I'll post my latest worksheet - is there any progress or not? And a question: how long should I be practicing at such large scale? X-height on that pad I am writing on is about 7.5 mm (which gives me a total of 1.5 cm ascender height  ). It looks huge to me... And to my hand, of course. Although I understand now the theory behind it.

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Kind Critique / Re: Seeking critiques on my first (shy) copperplate

« on: October 22, 2016, 04:08:05 AM »

Thank you @Estefa for your kind words. I mean I know I owe you a lot... And yes, I really really like the nibs. And the ink...

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Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 1

« on: October 22, 2016, 03:59:47 AM »

Thank you for the reply and for the to-the-point instructions. I'll post my practice sheet of today (which is not better than the first, or just a tiny bit) but this is not to put pressure on you to answer back or anything. I know how busy I am myself with every day life, with our "Sisyphean existence" (thanks @jeanwilson for the phrase) and so I don't hurry people. Not to mention that I am very impressed by how much time and ...effort (after all) you guys put on teaching and guiding us. So I guess I have everyone's consent that one way to thank you is to try our best on our struggle(s) here. Well, I continue to feel profane when posting my clumsy "work", but, hey, I'm a baby. Starting to walk...
OK. Now for the practice sheet: the tapering thing is just killing me. I really don't know which of the letters are OK from this point of view, so I kindly ask you to point out which are those (if any  ).
Next thing I want to say is that I am still working on my grip and on the way I hold the pen. Found myself thinking about it while writing and sometimes letters are not consistent because of that. I guess. And I also found out that keeping the nib at a lower angle helps in making thicker shades easier (yeah, I just invented the wheel).

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Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 1

« on: October 21, 2016, 05:15:25 PM »

OK. Here's my practice for lesson 1 (as promised). I know it's not much, but maybe it's enough for you to have an idea about my mistakes. I mean apart from my wobbly ascenders and from my lower loops at "j" (which I still don't know how to get better at). Thanks in advance anyway.
Some technicals: L Principal nib, oblique holder and "own"made walnut ink ( ), herlitz paper.