How to get my lines straight

[Carina_I]

Hello,

I just started calligraphy (today) and I noticed my lines are very . . . uneven. I try to draw a straight line, but it ends up all crooked and shaky -- even when I use the slant lines. Does anyone have any suggestion on how to fix this?

Thank you

[HappyHaley]

Do you mean your guidelines? Or your lettering? If guidelines, I like to use a Linex liner so interliner spacing is perfect and quick. If lettering, it just takes time and practice to get control of your muscles.   

~Haley

[seanlanefuller]

I've only just begun, but I know the finish, grain, weight, etc. of the paper have a big impact on my lines.  What paper are you using for practice?

[Bianca M]

If you mean the lines that you're actually drawing with your pen (upstrokes, downstrokes, etc.), you're not alone!  I think a lot of us start off a bit (or, like me, a lot) shaky.  For your first day, that is not unusual.  So, ditto what Haley said about getting the muscle control down.  Hopefully your paper is nice and smooth, because of what Sean mentioned, but really, you're likely to be a little wobbly on even the smoothest sheet on your first day (and beyond).  Keep at it! 

Edit: I should mention that your arm movement and how you're holding your pen will impact your steadiness over time.

[seanlanefuller]

I've only been doing pointed nib calligraphy for a couple of weeks, but I had an epiphany tonight.  I should have realized it to begin with.  It was probably even mentioned in one of the tutorials here, but it probably didn't sink in because I wanted to see how to draw the letters.  I think I was holding the pen wrong.  The nib should be aligned with the slanted guidelines.  You just have to rotate the pen holder to get the oblique nib to align with the guidelines.  It definitely made an improvement for me.

[Bianca M]

Yes, there is definitely discussion in the forum about how to hold your pen, and posture, etc.  Probably more than one or two.  This one has a great video by Harvest Crittenden of how to position yourself, posted by Kelly/kmedina (see four posts down): http://theflourishforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=3512.0  - really, this is a worthwhile watch for those starting out.

[Carina_I]

Thanks everyone for all your wonderful suggestions! I'll watch the video, Bianca. And thanks Sean for the suggestion of lining up my nib with the paper.

[Andrew H]

Carina, don't twist your hand position to align with your guidelines. You should lift your arm—with penholder—above your desk then let it drop naturally down in front of you, centred between your shoulders. Then turn your paper so your guidelines match the angle of your nib.

This video by Joe Vitolo explains it well:

https://youtu.be/1CqzUU3wdXs

Also, a lot of the problems with shakes come from writing hesitantly. When you first start your brain doesn't understand the forms you're trying to produce so you can't write confidently and naturally, this leads to shakes because you're trying to think about the stroke and write at the same time. I've had a lot of issues with shaky hands since I started. Don't worry, it'll get better!

[InkyFingers]

start with warm up exercises...here's one.

[Carina_I]

start with warm up exercises...here's one.

Bruh. This is awesome. But I don't have access to a newspaper. Drat. Oh well, there are several books in the library . . . ha. Just kidding. I'll figure something out -- I know!! I'll just print a document and trace the lines like you said. Thank you InkyFingers!

[InkyFingers]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quality-Laser-Edge-Level-Straight-Line-Guide-Leveler-Horizontal-Measure-Tool-/121514658508?hash=item1c4ad68acc:g:r9wAAOSwofxUiTQR

how cheap can it get, to get your lines straight?  Laser Guide Line.  Buy 1 no... buy 10!!  no more pencil marks.

[AnasaziWrites]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quality-Laser-Edge-Level-Straight-Line-Guide-Leveler-Horizontal-Measure-Tool-/121514658508?hash=item1c4ad68acc:g:r9wAAOSwofxUiTQR

how cheap can it get, to get your lines straight?  Laser Guide Line.  Buy 1 no... buy 10!!  no more pencil marks.

Don't forget--you get what you pay for. Mr. Cheap is dead.

http://theflourishforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=3890.0