Messages

1

Spencerian Script / Re: Shading letters

« on: January 12, 2018, 05:25:00 PM »

Thank you AnasaziWrites - this is perfect.

I had never seen it written anywhere. I noticed that majuscules were always shaded, but i couldn't find a pattern for the minuscules other than ascenders and descenders. The other parts of the letters always seemed sort of random.

I really appreciate you taking the time to post this information and i am saving this information for future reference. 

2

Spencerian Script / Re: Shading letters

« on: January 12, 2018, 03:12:29 AM »

Thank you Katie! That is exactly what I was looking for. 🙏

3

Spencerian Script / Shading letters

« on: January 11, 2018, 07:26:50 PM »

Are there specific rules on which letters (miniscules and majuscules) are shaded?

4

Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Hand and pen position for business penmanship

« on: December 19, 2017, 11:25:38 AM »

In reading Edward C. Mills book, Modern Business Penmanship on the IAMPETH web site, the author says in the Position of Hand section that "...the wrist is nearly flat, thus bringing the penholder over to the left so that it points about over the right shoulder. (bold is mine).

I always canted my wrist to the right, causing the pen to point somewhere to the right of my shoulder, certainly not over it. I also rested my hand on the side. So I've been doing it wrong all along. Dammit Jim!

I'm not doubting E.C. Mills' instructions, but I would love to hear comments from those here as to their hand and pen positions.

Thank you all in advance.
Steve Racz

5

Introductions / Re: Hello from Hungary

« on: December 30, 2016, 07:06:06 PM »

Welcome to a fellow Hungarian (last name Racz). I wish my parents had taught us to speak the language. My mother grew up in a coal mining camp in the early 1900's and the other kids made fun of her because she spoke a second language (really she was the smart one!). She said she just wanted to blend in so she didn't put that burden on us kids.

I know we still have relatives in Budapest somewhere.

Anyway, welcome to this great forum!

6

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: using finetec for many envelopes

« on: December 03, 2016, 09:56:02 AM »

Estefa - thank you so much!!! 

7

Introductions / Re: Hi from Steve in New Jersey

« on: December 03, 2016, 09:22:53 AM »

Thank you all for the warm welcome.
tiffany.c.a - agree - i've been lurking and this forum has so much to offer. When is started in the 70s (pre-internet, pre hobby-lobby, etc.) the only place i could find supplies was my local hobby shop. i think they had 4 colors of speedball ink and a few nibs.

Prasad - chancery cursive italic, copperplate and a cool new font by Kathy Milici called Gratitude Script. To the layman i can do a "great" job on these but to serious calligraphers I am beginner. I get inspiration from Instagram but it is humbling and shows me how far i have to go.

Starlee - Most signs i made were hand carved incised letters with chisels an then gilded with gold leaf. Very little painting of letters and then they were "fill-in" type painting. In my opinion brush lettering is quite different than pen lettering. Brush pens have some similarity. Real sign painters are as awesome as top notch calligraphers. A brush is more difficult to control than a pen. I'm sure you guys know that John Stevens started as a sign painter. There are still sign painters doing beautiful work with a brush and paint but they are becoming more scarce since the 80's with the advent of computer cut vinyl letters. To my eye there is nothing more beautiful than a hand painted sign or hand painted vehicle lettering. There is a large sign convention in Atlantic City in early November every year. There is an area called the Bull Pen where you will find the masters doing their brush lettering and pinstriping. It is fascinating to watch the magic these guys do. The rest of the convention (99.9%) is dedicated to the technological advances in all things sign related.

8

Introductions / Hi from Steve in New Jersey

« on: December 02, 2016, 05:49:34 PM »

Hello All,
I am a 70 year old grandfather who fell in love with letters in 1963 when I had a mechanical drawing class in high school and we had to annotate out drawings,

Even before that in grade school in the 50's i couldn't settle on how my handwriting should look Many of the girls slanted their letters backward and used little circles instead of dots for their "i". I found that i could mimic handwriting styles. I don't remember it being called the Palmer method but i can remember the large banner across the blackboard that had all the capitals and small letters written out perfectly.

I did some calligraphy in the 70’s and then stopped until my grandson got married last February at which time I addressed their wedding invitations.

My wife and I went on a bike tour in Vermont in 1986 and i was blown away but the beauty of the carved, gilded signs. I attended a few workshops and, when i retired, made signs for about 4 years until they started making the wood heavier.

I now do web development but I missed the hands on creativity of calligraphy – so I’m back!

With calligraphy i am more or a technician than an artist. I can do a reasonable job of a few alphabets but i struggle with layout and design.

9

Open Flourish | General Discussion / using finetec for many envelopes

« on: December 02, 2016, 02:47:11 PM »

I'm going to use finetec to address my Christmas envelopes. How do i make "large" amounts of ink or what is the best way to do this.

Thanks,
Steve

10

Tools & Supplies / Re: Formula for thinning Dr. Ph. Martin's Iridescent silver ink for Nikko G nib

« on: January 13, 2016, 01:40:06 PM »

Perfect - Thank you Michael! 

11

Tools & Supplies / Formula for thinning Dr. Ph. Martin's Iridescent silver ink for Nikko G nib

« on: January 12, 2016, 03:12:41 PM »

Right out of the bottle i can't get Dr. Ph. Martin's Iridescent silver ink to flow from a Nikko G nib.

I have been tinkering around with adding distilled water however if someone has a ratio of water, gum arabic, etc. could you please post it.

Thank you!
Steve

12

Tools & Supplies / Re: Recommendations for large paper for making envelopes

« on: December 29, 2015, 03:18:53 PM »

Thanks MonicaA!

I have never even bought scrapbook paper, but i will now.

I was surprised that i tried using Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte because i had it on hand and it bled badly. Admittedly the paper is for an inkjet printer so i learned a lesson that inkjet ink does not equal calligraphy ink... 

13

Tools & Supplies / Re: Recommendations for large paper for making envelopes

« on: December 29, 2015, 04:42:31 AM »

Thank you Elizabeth O. !

14

Tools & Supplies / Re: colorerd paper for envelopes

« on: December 24, 2015, 06:31:32 PM »

You can make envelopes large enough to fit 5x7 inch cards from 8.5x11 inch paper. I made the envelopes for this exchange using 24lb Southworth paper in US Letter (8.5x11) size: http://salmankhattak.net/blog/2014/08/02/2014-summer-exchange-cards/ - they are easy and quick to do :-)

Let me know if this is something you want to try and need more detail than in that post. I will be happy to post a more detailed description of the process.

Regards,
Salman

Love those envelopes Salman - i am going to try making them. I have one of those "envelope maker machines" and it tells me i need much bigger paper than i really do. Now i see your really cool alternative - Thanks!

15

Tools & Supplies / Re: colorerd paper for envelopes

« on: December 24, 2015, 04:30:30 PM »

Thank you SMK, Raayynuh, MomofFour and Kim C.

Apparently i don't know how to set up notifications for replies to my posts so i just saw these...

Thanks again!
Steve