Topics

1

Tools & Supplies / Ink brands...Help?

« on: March 22, 2017, 09:40:10 PM »

I've never tried speedball calligraphy ink or liquitex professional ink...I'd like to hear feedback from anyone who's tried these...They're on sale and with a student budget I don't want to buy them without knowing they're going to be worth buying...

2

Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Two birds with one stone

« on: February 06, 2017, 01:27:46 AM »

Have you ever done your homework or handwritten notes in calligraphy? I'm kind of stuck on it now, haha!

So here's to being a medical student and calligraphy student at the same time!

3

Tools & Supplies / Is it just me or do I need a different nib?

« on: January 05, 2017, 10:11:36 AM »

So I was using a Nikko G nib and I was doing okay I guess, I was splotching a lot and I thought it was because I'm using 20lb paper (broke student) for practice and then I dropped the pen with the nib in the pen (T.T).  So obviously I changed the nib (same nib) and now I'm finding it excruciating to get the tines to split.  I mean I do my 10-15 minute drills/warm ups which don't have as a thick downstroke as my prior nib and my hand already is feeling the pain from just trying to get the tines to split.  The paper is less splotchy now (which makes me think maybe my nib was just getting old (after a week?? O.O) but the cramping and the pain isn't exactly ideal for writing I suppose.  I can't even get into my practice phrases without needing to take a break.  Perhaps it might just be that I grip pens tightly, but I feel like I'm gripping the dip pen significantly more tightly than I would a normal pen.  Is it just me or do I need to swap out to a more flexible nib?

4

Find a Pen Pal / In Search of: Pen Pal Critique

« on: January 04, 2017, 10:16:31 AM »

So I'm new to calligraphy particularly modern and brush, I haven't touched copperplate or spencerian yet, but I would like a pen pal about once a month.  I'd like to send you something to encourage me to practice throughout the year if it's not too much for you either.  I'm a veterinary medicine student so I might get carried away once exams pop up but I'm hoping that with a pen pal I'll be forced to practice.  Anyone up for the challenge? Hehehe.

5

Tools & Supplies / Ink Ops!

« on: January 04, 2017, 04:54:09 AM »

So I bought an unknown ink (I'm in the Philippines and at the time this unknown ink was the only one available) and it was super watery.  To the point where even when I was at the end of what I had on my dip pen would even bleed.  So I added a bit of powdered gum arabic (I know I should have added liquid) just adding a bit at a time and shaking vigorously before using.  Now it's splotchy.  So now it's grey in places with spots of black.  Is there anyway to save it?? I can add pictures if need be...