However, some of us reach a point where we believe our own publicity and consider our writing to be perfect, often when we still have a way to go. In that situation, this quote from Hermann Zapf can help bring one down to earth. I don't mean this as a depressant but as a gentle counter-balance to the ten points of reassurance.
I really like this quote.
Good or excellent are such relative terms. During the first 6 months or so of my attempt to learn Spencerian were the only moments I thought I was starting to really get the hang of it--not excellent, not even good, but bordering on pretty good. That feeling was fostered constantly by people to whom I sent letters or cards who had never seen good handwriting. I sent a card to a local business owner on the first anniversary of her business and she liked it so much, she put it in a little stand on the counter by the cash register for all her customers to see, and every time I went in there, she said how much her customers liked it, it was so pretty, nicest writing they'd ever seen, and so on. That made me feel good, at least initially, and those comments were supporting a view of my work that I no longer agree with myself. Now, I go in and see that card and cringe. It's really not even pretty good. Dare I say it is pretty bad? Not quite awful, at least.
This change in perspective has come about in part by studying exemplars of the masters and in part by studying the work of those better than me on this forum. The more I study truly good work, the wider I perceive the gulf between my work and good/excellent work to be, which might be disheartening. But also the gulf grows between my first attempts and my current ones, so encouraging. Sort of like increasing knowledge is an expanding universe. As long as I'm going in a positive direction, it's good. My 2 cents for the day.
@Erica McPhee @Ken Fraser And so, here we are, five years later (at least, a few of us).
I still send an anniversary card each year to the business owner mentioned above, having celebrated the eight year anniversary this May. She has all eight cards in a little stand for her customers to see, and recently said she, her staff, and some of the customers wait with eager anticipation the arrival of the card each May. Such a small thing to do to add a little joy to someone's life.
I'll share a couple of things with you I've learned over these years. Five years ago, I judged it (and thus, myself) too harshly. It was not created by a master penman (or even a good one) to a master penman to be judged--It was sent by a beginner using beginning skills to an average person with the hope it would provide a little smile, as a token of gratitude. In this it was, and still is, quite successful. I no longer cringe when I see it.
Was each card better than the last? No, at least in the technical sense. Learning is not linear. There are setbacks along the way. But each was successful in achieving the desired end--to bring a little joy to someone else, and hopefully, to you as the creator as well.
As no one has responded to this thread in two years, let me assure you if you are reading it now for the first time, Erica's points are still valid now as they were five years ago, as is Ken's quote. And as you learn to critique yourself, be also kind to yourself.
