I got lucky! My daughter got married in 2013. She was in a very large sorority at the University of Texas (UT). She was marrying a boy from the largest fraternity at UT. There was not enough money in North America to fund this whole enterprise! I knew that I couldn’t prepare the food (who can cook enough food for 350 people??). I couldn’t arrange the flowers. (I’m auditory, NOT visual!). BUT, the one thing that I thought I could do, was calligraphy. I had very pretty, ornate handwriting (cursive script.). I found Eleanor Winter’s’ book on Amazon. I ordered it & used it like a text book. I started on page 1 & just worked my way through the book, front-to-back. I learned Copperplate from that book!! I know that there are professional calligraphers on this Forum. I respect that. They HATE Eleanor Winters’ book, considering it to be “amateurish”. I “get” that! But her book, plus the Speedball Handbook, taught me how to script Copperplate. I’m certainly no “professional”. I’m just a hack! But, my clients like my script. It’s not my main source of income, but it’s nice to have as a little extra “supplement”.
Thanks to
@Erica McPhee, I also learned how to mix gouache as ink. Now, I can letter whatever you want in the color of your choice. (Thank you, Erica!)
So, anyhow, there are people who will disparage you & Eleanor Winters’ book. Ignore them. YOU DO YOU! You learn what works for you! You can win this!
Janis
P.s.,
Calligraphy DESTROYED my script handwriting! I now have chicken-scratch handwriting. I guess that the Universe wants to stay “in balance”? It’s a trade-off! Hang in there!