Flourish Forum

General Categories => Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship => Topic started by: Nicola on September 06, 2018, 02:53:59 PM

Title: Exemplars for a simple script
Post by: Nicola on September 06, 2018, 02:53:59 PM
Hello to all...

I'm looking into learning a simple script however after starting my research I'm as confused now as before I started!!!

There is American Cursive, Business Penmanship, the Palmer Method and Spencerian.  Are there any others?(!)

Are any of these good beginners scripts? 

Then I was looking at exemplars and found Kelchners Complete Compendium of Plain Practical Penmanship and the Champion Method...are there any others I should look at?

I truly admire the simple elegance of Dr Josoph Vitolos work so that is my inspiration...and I intend to enter the world of fountain pens so it must be a script compatible with FP usage so Spencerian is probably out...

Title: Re: Exemplars for a simple script
Post by: himasf on September 07, 2018, 03:19:27 AM
What is confusing?
How do you want your handwriting to look? Find an exemplar with that look.
Have you tried asking Dr. Vitolo? I think he writes with fountain pens.
As for the books/methods, just pick one. If you don't like it, move on to the next.
Everything is compatible with fountain pen. You just need the right fountain pen  ;D
Title: Re: Exemplars for a simple script
Post by: A Smug Dill on September 07, 2018, 04:29:30 AM
Everything is compatible with fountain pen. You just need the right fountain pen  ;D

I'm not sure about the validity of that blanket statement, but I do appreciate that a fountain pen can be fitted with a nib that Joe Random-Passer-By cannot necessarily buy on the spot wandering into a pen store, that has certain features and/or can produce certain effects desirable in calligraphy/lettering. Whether that requires custom/manual modification to a nib, or just ordering a nib that is never already factory-fitted in an SKU, is a different question.
Title: Re: Exemplars for a simple script
Post by: InkyFingers on September 07, 2018, 10:23:24 AM
A simple script that would work for every FP and every nibs you can possibily find is italic.

Since you are a Dr Vitolo fan, follow him on IG.  He posts his exemplar there and on the zanarian.com.

American cursive (aka Business Penmanship) have many manuals.  Each person is drawn to a particular penman.  The instruction are all the same, differ only in technique of teaching.  Some will find Palmer's Budget more detailed, some find ECMills more refined, some find Dr Vitolo flourished BP interesting, and still other wants to write their own manual.

FP ia a tool.  You can do monoline handwriting or ornamental, drawing etc... It takes practice.  You can collect as much tools as you like or use the simpliest tool to do the one thing you want...chirography.
Title: Re: Exemplars for a simple script
Post by: Erica McPhee on September 08, 2018, 11:22:30 AM
I'm a fan of the Palmer Method and Ornamental Penmanship. Here are two free resources:

 Palmer Method (https://archive.org/details/palmermethodofbu00palmrich)

 Zaner Lesson in Ornamental Penmanship (https://archive.org/details/ZanerLessonsInOrnamentalPenmanship1909)
Title: Re: Exemplars for a simple script
Post by: AAAndrew on September 12, 2018, 08:29:57 AM
And let me point out that Spencerian can certainly be written with a monoline fountain pen. (Non-flexible) You just don’t have the swells.

Look around, find exemplars that appeal to you. Feel free to compile your own. My writing is essentially Palmer but I don’t like certain of their letters so replaced them with ones I did like. (Can’t stand the Q) There is no penmanship police to get you in trouble for not using the “official” letterforms. I’ve also discovered my writing is more legible when I write more upright, so I added that to my style. Play with it, explore, have fun, and don’t sweat figuring out what is “right.” 

Title: Re: Exemplars for a simple script
Post by: Andrea K on October 08, 2018, 01:43:16 PM
I like the look and ease of the Palmer method.   
Title: Re: Exemplars for a simple script
Post by: Lyric on July 25, 2020, 07:34:42 AM
Did anyone suggest Edward C. Mills Modern Business Penmanship?

Where are you with this now?  Would be nice to see.  :)