Messages

46

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

« on: May 29, 2016, 06:22:13 PM »

Well, thank you again for giving me guidance and spending (wasting ?) your time with me.

Erica's videos are right here in the Pointed Pen Nirvana section; Schin's Youtube channel is called OpenInkStand and contains some of best in depth pointed pen advice you'll find anywhere.

Yes, I watched both Erica's and Schin's videos, they were very helpful indeed. Problem is from saying to doing is a loooong way sometimes. Anyway, this time I tried to pay less attention to letter forms and tried to lighten my grip and to keep the nib pointed the right way. In a nutshell to get used to the nib, the pen holder, the posture, the grip. Quite a lot to think of at the same time. It's like learning to walk again, or to drive. And yes, to write...
I'll post what I came up with and please excuse the missing words or spelling errors. Your analysis is very important for me.

47

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

« on: May 29, 2016, 01:21:49 AM »

Hi all!
I've tried my hand on some words as jean and AnasaziWrites suggested, but I begin to have the feeling that I won't be ever able to produce nice flowing script in this style.... Anyway, I'll post some of my practice pages and hope I'll get some answers on specific issues - such as why letters are not symmetrical, should they be "slimmer" or more rounded, what is wrong with the script in general etc etc.
Something I noticed: in order to get my nib aligned to the slant I have to rotate my paper much more than I've seen in videos and pictures on the internet. Could be something wrong with my grip and hand position? Or I should consider using a metal flange oblique pen holder? The one I have is a plastic one, "Speedball" I think it's called. My nib point is not centered to the middle of the holder itself, but to the right of it. Could that be a real problem, or it's just a matter of how you should hold it?

48

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

« on: May 26, 2016, 11:29:19 AM »

Thanks @jeanwilson for all your replies. I'll try joining letters and see how that goes. Now that I'm comparing my (only) 2 images I can see that the last one is ...pathetic. May be it's because in my mind I didn't really "trust" this type of practice. No, it's not the right term ("trust") and I CAN comprehend that practicing "forms" rather than "letters/words" is beneficial. It's perhaps my way of doing it - I think I can't really get my mind into thinking that those forms are parts of letters after all. For me -right now- they are just forms, and a bit meaningless....I will try joining letters as you said and it might work better. And hope my whining about from above doesn't offend anybody.
And Andy, thanks a lot for clarification about cross drills.

49

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

« on: May 25, 2016, 06:38:12 AM »

Thank you, Andy, for the info. It was very helpful and as a result I finally found some decent paper to practise on. I bought a couple of pads (that are not bleeding at all, some Herlitz ...smthg) and some sheets of paper designed for "writing" which they aren't bleeding either (so much  ).
Also found that the ink is also of high importance. Same paper bled with a different ink. And if some beginners are reading this - I emphasize that the combo paper-ink is of high(est) importance. This advice I've read it too in the forum, but never imagined it is of such importance. So, beginners be aware.
As for my "work" I thought of posting some of it though it doesn't look pretty at all, but I am eagerly waiting for critiques. And thanks in advance for all of you who are kind and willing enough to spend their precious time and knowledge here.

PS : What exactly are "cross drills"

50

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

« on: May 22, 2016, 05:05:00 AM »

Hello again.
First, many many thanks for the replies you posted so far. Turns out I did the right thing signing up here. This is the right place to be for me. So THANK YOU again ..
Now for the 'fun' part:
- I finally got my first nibs  and started using them. Result: a whole different matter from what I thought initially. I followed jean's advice and started working on basic strokes. Correction: "intended basic strokes".  They were ...far away from what I thought of. And I feel like plunging in one second from Mt Everest into the bottom of the ocean... Of course, that means nothing more than that I have to ...well, swim back to surface. We'll see.
- and for some technical details: those "cut-off" tops and bottoms are a pain. I read the theory behind the process but it doesn't work (yet). Still working on my pressure - it's not even. Not to mention the "muscular movement" which I've read quite a lot of but it turns to be something very very difficult to master. I also have a question in this respect: how important is this kind of movement after all? I mean, isn't it the final result which matters rather than the way to achieve it?
- another big (BIG) issue for me is ink and paper. It is very very difficult to find calligraphy paper around here. Not to mention inks. I only found Parker Black and Pelikan Brillant Red, but they are both used for fountain pens. They work however, though I suspect they are a bit too fluid... Paper is some 120 gsm coloured paper. Of course, I've chosen light colours. Still digging online stores for good and cheap paper and ink.
- as for the nibs: I am very surprised that almost everybody praised the Nikko G but I find it quite stiff. I have to apply quite a lot of pressure to shade, although the hairlines are fine and delicate. Leonardt Principal EF on the other hand became my favourite. I also tried a Gillott 303 which I find it scratchier. Way too scratchier. Or may be I just have to try another one - the current one might be damaged..

51

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

« on: May 18, 2016, 05:37:39 PM »

Hi All!
I've been reading as much as I could from this forum (which is ...wow!) and some other links posted here and there and now I finally manage to pass over my fears ( ). So I took the advice I've seen here (somewhere) and started writing with a simple fountain pen. It is my first written page in copperplate and I am very anxious to hear your opinions - what to practice and how,  what letters seem OK, the spacing a.s.o.
The x-height is 6 mm - I understand this is a good way to start for a beginner, mistakes in letter forms are more visible. Ratio is 3-2-3. I will try Vitolo's guidelines too and see which of the two are more comfortable for me.
So, anyway, I hope I'll manage to upload the image. Thank you.