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Topics - AnasaziWrites

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121
Spencerian Script / Spencerian Shading
« on: April 19, 2016, 11:15:12 AM »
The subject of shading in Spencerian has been mentioned elsewhere. Here is some information on it from Spencer and his sons for those who have an interest.

The first plate is from an 1857 edition of Spencerian or Semiangular Penmanship, as Spencer taught it at that time (that is, in his lifetime, his later years). Many observations can be made, one of which is the shading of the small miniscules a, m, n, r, s and so on. Other plates in this edition show no shading on these letters, other plates just a few are shaded. All written by Spencer.

The next four pictures are from an 1866 edition  of Spencerian Key to Practical Penmanship by H. C. Spencer (a son of P.R.). It seems the sons attempted to codify what shading in Spencerian was after P.R.'s death. All the small letters lost their shading except an occasional a.

The last plate shows how Spencerian was taught in 1903 (from Gaskell's Compendium of forms). The shades on the small letters had returned (or were never successfully banned from Spencerian).

All the versions had shading on the larger letters and capitals, some versions had no shading on the small letters or modest shading on some of them. All the versions are attractive to my eye, but I generally favor modest shading and subtle shading on the small letters. It's easy to overdo.

122
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Michael Sull Sighting
« on: April 16, 2016, 02:46:40 PM »
For those in the area, Michael Sull is in Atlanta today and tomorrow at the Atlanta Pen Show.

http://atlantapenshow.com/


123
Completed/Past Exchanges / Dear Diary Advanced Exchange 2016--Results
« on: March 21, 2016, 06:08:42 PM »
This thread will be a place to post the results of this exchange at the appropriate time, which will be after the exchange closes plus a little on March 31. No posting of results 'till then, please, other than acknowledgements of receipt. This is so much fun.

124
The Library / For Spanish calligraphy books for sale
« on: March 10, 2016, 01:10:17 PM »
http://www.uniliber.com/titulo/METODO%20DE%20CALIGRAFIA/?p=1

calligraphy books for sale in Spanish.

125
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Counterfeit?
« on: January 29, 2016, 10:52:59 AM »
It sometimes amazes me the uses to which calligraphy is put. Signatures have long been used to qualify something, usually written, as genuine. The other day, my wife was looking at my watch and said she noticed there were a couple of smudges on the dial. On close examination, they were not smudges, but rather small engravings of the Maker's name in copperplate (it appears), put there to foil counterfeiters of the watch. What a great idea. The signatures were done by hand, as they differ slightly. The x-height is about 0.2 mm., and one needed to get the watch in just the right orientation (highly reflective) to see them.

I decided to see how small I could write (perhaps a career as a watch engraver?--Not!). Couldn't get to 0.2 mm, but came close. Starting with a Gillott 604ef (top signature) with x-height 1/10th inch (about 2.5 mm), which I might use to sign a letter, next down is 1/18th inch (0.7 mm) which I generally use to write return addresses on envelopes, next is 1/24th inch (about 1 mm) which I use for return addresses on some postcards. After that, I switched to an Esterbrook 355 Art and Drafting nib, which, I think, is my sharpest nib, x-height 1/50th inch (about 0.5 mm)--not bad form if you don't magnify it and quite legible. The last line of two signatures is at about 0.33 mm and 0.25 mm--recognizable as my signature, but very sketchy as penmanship. Guess  won't be hired by Brequet.
I think I could go smaller, but would need a finer nib. Any suggestions?
Anyway, a fun exercise, and always fun to see where copperplate crops up.


126
Word of the Day / John Hancock, Happy National Handwriting Day
« on: January 22, 2016, 03:22:08 PM »
January 23 is National Handwriting Day, and also the birthday of John Hancock, whose signature is perhaps the most famous. So, for the word of the day, let's see your "John Hancock" (your signature, if you will).


127
Open Flourish | General Discussion / PIA Catalog cover
« on: January 08, 2016, 02:06:37 PM »
Pardon me if this has been posted elsewhere (if so, I can't find it), but the 2016 Paper & Ink Arts catalog features one of our own--Schin. Not only is it her writing, but, if I'm not mistaken, her drawing of the entire cover (some of those items look awfully familiar). Nice going, Schin.

128
Word of the Day / Artisitic
« on: January 08, 2016, 01:31:07 PM »
This word just begs to be calligraphed. Try your hand at it. This is an imitation of the word on the cover of At Home with Artistic Penwork, Book 2, Artistic Writing, c. 1947, by Stephen Ziller of the Tamblyn School of Penmanship.
(x-height is 3 mm, Brandauer 516 nib with Yoke Pen C. Japan ink)

129
Word of the Day / Penmanship
« on: November 13, 2015, 02:07:51 PM »
Let's see your penmanship.
-------------------------------------


130
General How To's & Projects / Writing Straight on Opaque Paper/Envelopes
« on: November 13, 2015, 12:12:40 PM »
Writing in a straight line on opaque paper (where a lightbox and guidelines beneath the paper won't work), and where drawing pencil lines and erasing them is too time consuming or impossible to erase without disturbing the paper (or they can't be seen, as on some metallic papers), this method works for me.

Using an envelope as an example,

1. place envelope atop a guideline sheet, aligning the lower edge with any straight line such that you can see guidelines on both the left and right side of the envelope. (If the piece is so large as to cover the guidelines completely, tape two sheets together side by side to create a larger guideline sheet)

2. place the laser level such that it follows a guideline across the envelope. In this example, I'm aligning it with an x-height line.

3. Write your first line along the laser light. (By lucky coincidence this particular level shoots a beam 1/16th wide, so I confine my miniscules to the width of the beam if I am writing this size).

4.  Move your work up up one guideline, keeping the guideline sheet and laser positioned as originally. This keeps you writing in the same position. Write your second line. Move your work up a line, write your third line, and so on until finished.

5. You're done, or ready for a new envelope, with no marks on the finished envelope.

There is a device called a SliderWriter which does a similar thing, but is more expensive ($60 on Amazon) vs. about $15 for the level. You're also limited in the size of your work with the SlideWriter--about the size of an 8.5 x 11 inch sheet, whereas with the level, any size is possible, even wall size or a wall itself. Also, the Slidewriter has a big footprint on your desk--the level is small, and can be positioned any distance from your work, as long as you don't block its light.

I'll often use the level without the guidelines at all, just making sure the light is parallel with the bottom of the envelope, but if you want exactly equal spacing between the lines, use the guidesheets.

131
Open Flourish | General Discussion / At what speed do you write?
« on: November 10, 2015, 02:52:56 PM »
In another recent thread the topic of how fast one writes came up as a side light to the main topic, so, as this aspect is of interest in it's own right, I thought I would ask this question here (and not add another skew line to the other thread).

Speed was described as Schin speed or Calzolari speed or something in between. There are probably speeds even outside of this range I would guess. In any case, both Schin's and Barbara's calligraphy is excellent and lively, Schin writing with a speedy, Madarasz clip, and Barbara with a much more deliberate pace.

I would love to hear, or preferably see, from others how fast they write, and hear how speed affects their writing.
I'm on the slow end of this scale, finding the faster I go, the worse it looks. The attached picture of a line I wrote a few times this morning took almost exactly two minutes each time. Explains why I don't write as many letters as I might like, and why it takes a non-viably (commercially) long time to write an envelope.  If I had to address envelopes for a living, I'd starve to death.

Anyway, try writing out this line and see how long it takes you and at what speed your best results occur, and post it if you like. Even better, if you can make a video of you writing (or have a link to one already), would love to see that.
Any thoughts on speed versus quality would be welcome too.

132
Word of the Day / Pantomnesia
« on: October 14, 2015, 03:08:07 PM »
Wish I had it.

Please excuse the shaky hand--way too much coffee today.

Let's see how you write it.

133
Completed/Past Exchanges / Ornamental Signature Exchange Results
« on: October 05, 2015, 09:22:28 AM »
-------------------- SPOILER ALERT --------------------


Anyone wishing not to see the results of the Ornamental Signature Exchange (perhaps you haven't received them all yet), read no further. As I am on the entire list and will receive something from all the participants, with Erica's permission, I will post the results here in the order I have received them.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As of November 4, 2015, I've received 21 of 23. As many people put effort into the envelope as well as the enclosure, I'll show both. Missing as of today are  Dale and Kmcleodcalligraphy (Katherine).
As I can not like my own posts, I would say here I like them all.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first two are from Eunice-k
The next two are from Inked botanicals (Alba)
The next two are from Colorofchrist (Connie)





134
Open Flourish | General Discussion / A Need of the Soul
« on: August 19, 2015, 12:07:03 PM »
Last night, I mailed my latest submissions for the favorite book exchange. Every envelope had mistakes, every card could have been done better. Nonetheless, I was happy. Not great art by any means, but the best I could do at the moment. I was hoping it would at least bring a smile to the recipients, and maybe a pause in their lives to consider the message.
 This morning, reading the letters to the editor in today's Wall Street Journal concerning the decline of a liberal education, I spotted this little letter--an insight as to why writing beautiful letters is so satisfying.


135
Tools & Supplies / David and Goliath
« on: August 05, 2015, 06:19:48 PM »
My never ending nib sorting project has revealed quite a range of sizes for nibs.
Here are three, left to right,
Esterbrook 344 Mammouth Falcon, Spencerian #1 (for comparison), and Hunt 104 Finest drawing.

Am also working on a comparison project with writing samples, but this has turned out to be rather a large project. More on that later.

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