I think I am ready... New Spencerian Compendium

[InkyFingers]

Thanks Andy.  I will do more of the pull push drill.

[InkyFingers]

[InkyFingers]

[Rednaxela]

Inky, what I think I saw in your flexible nib samples is you struggling a bit with pressure control. I'd say keep writing with those flexible nibs, trying not to shade at all. I suspect this will make you adjust your technique towards the (even) more classic method, which will eventually make it easier for you to execute your Spencerian.

Perhaps even better, see if you can write with an extra fine, flexible dip nib, like a Blanzy 2552 or a Perry 27, or something similar. These nibs are totally merciless and will show you exactly where your room for improvement is. In any case this is the reason I currently do my Business Penmanship practice with these myself.

Also, you might want to switch to wider ruled paper, think .5 inch line spacing. This will give you a bit more room to dimension your letters vertically.

Finally, I would personally not switch to an oblique at this moment, unless you really want to work on your shading too, something I would park for a while.

Hope this helps!

[InkyFingers]

An Elegant Hand ... Louis Madarasie have a routine warm up every morning....that I like to adopt. 

Here's an update.  no more push pull?

[Rednaxela]

Looking very nice Inky!

Always push pull though, always push pull.

[InkyFingers]

Feeling better with my trials with Spencerian... now onto shading.

I am having trouble with shading...  Where should the weight be? (Center for straight pull, towards the center of the curve or away from the center of the  curve) and how to excute it!
I've seen some of Dr. JVitolo on spreading the thines and I am still a bit fuzzy.  He's demo is for Engrosser/English Round. 

Any special technique on how to distribute the weight of the shading?

Thank you.

Just messing with angles....the higher the angle, the smaller the letter needed to be.  It's all about legibility and readability.

[InkyFingers]

Here's up update.  I liked it when I do the drills first.

All comments and recommendation welcomed.  The practice drills are from "Dashy Writing"

[Rednaxela]

Excellent move Inky! Keep up the great work!

[InkyFingers]

Thank you.  I feel that by taking a full step backward as was suggested.  I have leaped forward.

I have done all the ovals, push pull with the gliding on the fingernails.  However, I am not comfortable
when writing in this position yet.  I will try.

[Rednaxela]

Just start with one letter: the i. Retrace the downstroke a couple of times (push-pull), then swing to the right. Retrace another push-pull, and swing. And again. Don't lift. And put your i's about an inch apart.

Then do the same thing for the u, then the m, and then the n. -> minimum

Hope this helps.

[InkyFingers]

Mission accomplished. Gliding on 4/5 nails doing push pull.

[Rednaxela]

Those last minimums are looking really good!

[InkyFingers]

[AnasaziWrites]

Coming along very nicely.