Messages

46

Introductions / Re: Greetings from New York City!

« on: December 30, 2013, 01:14:16 AM »

Hi Ana! I'm Katia nice to have you here.

47

Kind Critique / Re: It's not coming easily to me!

« on: December 30, 2013, 01:13:01 AM »

find an exemplar that you really like and trace it on a lightbox. This will help you tremendously. Sometimes what we think we are doing is very different from what we are really doing. Anytime I need to freshen up my letters, I do this. And I'm often surprised at how much it improves my letterforms.

This is what I was going to suggest too! It really helps to trace letterforms for me, especially when I was first learning Copperplate and just could NOT get the 52-55 degree slant and kept reverting back to my own handwriting. My teacher said all my letters were "standing up"

Tracing from exemplars really helped with my letterforms and consistency. I'd suggest tracing from traditional Copperplate though, like the ones Erica has provided, or if you find some from the past IAMPETH master penmen's that you like, by all means, print them out and trace. The students from the old Zanerian schools of Penmenship probably did the same, copied and traced exemplars from the masters.

I'm pretty sure you will see an improvement! Keep us updated!

Wow I should do this!

48

Introductions / Re: Mabuhay! from Manila, Philippines

« on: December 29, 2013, 10:33:47 PM »

Thanks for the warm welcome, Linda, Roseann and Emily!

I somewhat have an eye for typography, mostly digital, so when I discovered calligraphy, it has a unique charm for me; it being handmade and how the letters vary depending on the words. It's truly an art that cannot just be duplicated since everyone has a style.

49

Kind Critique / Re: Basic Strokes

« on: December 29, 2013, 04:44:49 PM »

I really love using a Rhodia pad (dotted) for practicing! Dating the sheets is a GREAT idea; I'm gonna start doing that. I do note at the top of each page which nib and ink that I used!!

Love Rhodia pad too! On dating the sheets -- I've thrown out most of my practice sheets out of frustration. LOL

50

Kind Critique / Re: It's not coming easily to me!

« on: December 29, 2013, 04:41:50 PM »

Hi Ellen! It's 5:30am here in Manila and I haven't slept because I'm practicing for envelope addressing too! 

I find it important to rinse my nib every now and then just to make sure I'm not having ink stuck somewhere in between. Also, a trick I read somewhere was to dip the nib in gum arabic, wipe it clean, then dip in clean water, and wipe it clean before you restart--makes nib flow smoother and lessen the pressure you need to release for the ink to flow. 

I do better when I'm practicing, but my nerves also give me that shaky outcome when I'm on an actual envelope. *sigh* If it matters to anyone, I have a glass of wine while I write when I feel like I'm overflowing with concentration mixed with impatience. And a good playlist from 8tracks.com won't hurt too.

Virtually sending a You-Can-Do-It,
Katia

P.S. I find the capital T and H (along with F) particularly challenging!

51

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: GOUACHE

« on: December 29, 2013, 04:26:33 PM »

Hi Emily, thanks for your reply! But yes, I did try it with gum Arabic (which helps great with "watery" inks, in my experience – I mean for example fountain pen inks), but that made the blotting even worse. I use the Calligraphy Gouache from Schmincke, and I think maybe this is more optimized for use with broad nibs. But that is just a guess … but for the moment I really gave up on this. I made myself a Christmas present in form of the whole Ziller inks sortiment, and they write so nice and smooth, are great for mixing … for example I managed to mix a really covering red by adding a few drops of white, so I could write on a dark plum coloured card board with red. For me this is a nice alternative to gouache!

I guess we're on the same boat, Estefa. I have tried gum arabic too, adding little by litte, to no avail. I have brushed this idea off for now and bought Dr Martin's Pen White (?) instead.

Emily, what brand are you using for gouache, if I may ask?

Thanks,
Katia

52

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: GOUACHE

« on: December 29, 2013, 12:58:41 AM »

I found this today at Marshall's for $5.99. Good for a newbie?

Is anybody having difficulties using white gouache?

I tried to use white to hoping it will help me create an opaque calligraphy on dark paper but somehow it just won't flow. I have no difficulty mixing or using other colors and getting the right consistency for me, (I'm using the same Reeves gouache set!) but when it's just white, I'm highly unsuccessful.

Is it just used for mixing?

53

Open Flourish | General Discussion / What's your workstation like?

« on: December 29, 2013, 12:49:13 AM »

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of setting up my workstation really soon and I'm trying to come up with inspiration. I currently work in a center table with floor pillows--not the most comfortable scene if you're doing hours of calligraphy--as I have not bought a worktable yet. My apartment is so small that I decided on going Japanese-style with my furniture a few years back.

Please post photos if you can

54

General How To's & Projects / Re: How to make a DIY Lightbox?

« on: December 29, 2013, 12:30:49 AM »

Thanks for the replies. Yes, meant the ones we could use for tracing, or put the guidelines under so we don't need to line every envelope

Hey, that's good, maybe I should check out Christmas lights now. I'm sure they're on sale already Thank you!

55

General How To's & Projects / How to make a DIY Lightbox?

« on: December 28, 2013, 06:42:10 AM »

Hi! I'm from the Philippines where calligraphy is just getting reborn, and as such, there are no lightboxes available in the local market. If I get it from Amazon, it's gonna be very expensive (customs and special handling). Anybody ever done their own lightbox? Mind if you share your tips, considerations or a how-to? LED? Thank you!

56

Introductions / Re: Hi! I'm Erica McPhee of Paperwhite Studio

« on: December 28, 2013, 06:34:53 AM »

Hi Erica!

Thank you for putting this together. There are only a few calligraphers in the Philippines so there's no one much to ask. This is an excellent website/forum! I think calligraphy--and all things handmade--is making a comeback due to everything being digitally made. Life and its cycles!

All the best,
Katia

57

Introductions / Mabuhay! from Manila, Philippines

« on: December 28, 2013, 06:30:30 AM »

Hi, I'm Katia and I'm 27. I do not classify myself yet as a calligrapher because I only started late October. 

I grew up with a printing press as a family business and was exposed to good letter layout (typography). I did not, however, take up anything related to art/design in college, instead I studied tourism and became a flight attendant for a short while. Anyway, I used to doodle letterings when I am bored in class during middle/high school.

Last May, I [digitally] designed a modern wedding invitation for a good friend as a favor. Then in October, I was brainstorming ideas for another friend's wedding invite for April when I stumbled upon a Filipina calligrapher's page and I thought I should try it out since envelope addressing would go hand in hand with invitation designing. And now... I'm hooked.

I am so giddy because I just got my first customer today--only two months into the hobby--for envelope addressing for a wedding in Hawaii (couple is in NY, and are Filipinos)! I love how forums are still alive and is an avenue for great calligraphers like you to inspire and help Please, if I haven't followed you on instagram, let me know what your username is! (Mine is @thedesignhobbyist)

Okay, that wasn't a short introduction.. 

xoxo
Katia

58

Pointed Pen Tutorials / Re: Contemporary/Modern Calligraphy How To Tutorial

« on: December 28, 2013, 03:31:35 AM »

Thank you for this, I started self-studying on the iampeth websites and like many newbies I can't go away from following those lines! Much appreciated!