Messages

16

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Illumination with PVA

« on: January 26, 2023, 08:18:09 AM »

As I recall, the more expensive brands of PVA worked a lot better than the less expensive PVA.
When you mention 50-50 and 60-40 -- it sounds like you are thinning it.
In the two classes I took - we did not thin the PVA and it worked fine.
Maybe try straight PVA - and the humidity will be your friend in that it will not dry too fast.

I'd also recommend trying letters rather than big blobby shapes.
The thinner strokes of letters will be friendlier to getting the smooth rounded shapes.

17

Tools & Supplies / Re: Writing on unglazed gingerbread?

« on: November 16, 2022, 09:21:28 AM »

A couple more thoughts -- if you have never worked an event - be prepared for people asking lots of questions.
It can be distracting to spell and center - while having a conversation - and if people are asking the same question over and over
you might want to have some yardstick on hand - so that you can make a table tent to answer the question before they ask.

For example - if they need to let the cookies dry for a half hour - you could write that -
Or if they will pick up the cookies right before they leave -- that would be useful information.
Or - are they allowed to eat the cookie immediately --
Or maybe the hostess expects them to eat the cookie --

It can be difficult to anticipate how the guests involve themselves in the activity.
I did a 2-day event at the Mall of America in the Twin Cities - where people could choose from a selection of styles which I would letter on bookmarks --
some styles took longer than others -- and one style was so time consuming and also so popular - I had to pull it
so that I could get more done, faster.

I also had to make a sign - and give it to a person who was in line - at the end of the line.
The sign said that the scribe would be taking a break -
and the person holding the sign was kind enough to explain tol people that he was the last one to be getting a bookmark - until the scribe returned from a break.
It was an unanticipated part of the process - but worked out nicely.

Depending on how long your event is -
you might want to figure out how you will take breaks.
Even sitting for two hours of non-stop activity can be hard on your body
and you might not realize it at the time --
It is helpful to stand up and stretch every 20-minutes - at the very least.

18

Tools & Supplies / Re: Writing on unglazed gingerbread?

« on: November 16, 2022, 08:01:35 AM »

Several years ago - I was hired to write names on tiny 2"x1 1/2" cards to be inserted into silver picture frames -
during the cocktail hour at a wedding.
It was a Russian wedding and since I had addressed the envelopes, I knew that I would need people to write their names down for me. So I brought some notepads and pens - and they would add their names to the list.

Some of the people really enjoyed watching me write - other people were more interested in just writing their name down - and heading over to the bar. You might want to offer the option of people leaving their names with you by providing some notepads where they can write their names. This will also help with names with unusual spellings -- I find it much easier to fit some names - when I can see it on paper - rather than just visualize it.

I was writing with a pointed nib - so space was not an issue -- but seeing the names helped me to center them.
You might do some practice names - like Elizabeth and Christopher - to illustrate to the guests that there is a limit to how many letters you can squeeze onto a cookie - 9 or 10 - and give guests the option of having a monogramed cookie - where you write their initials - beautifully - with a flourish.

If you have samples of monogramed cookies - some people with shorter names may prefer that option as well.

I, too, have done a fair amount of piping with royal icing - and keeping the tips covered with wet paper towels will keep them from drying and clogging. You might want to have two sizes of tips on hand - and use the larger tip for names like Amy and Ben - and the smaller tip on longer names.

Here is my favorite tip -- ask the hostess for the guest list - so you know what names you will be doing --
If she insists that you only do first names - and she doesn't like the idea of monograms -- at least you can practice the long names that are on her list.

I find that showing people an actual example of what difficulties you are facing is better than just telling them. When people winced at the price I charged for envelopes done with nibs and ink - I would pull out an envelope, nibs and ink -- and say - "It is not the penmanship - it is the amount of time it takes me to do each one." People have no idea how much slower it is to write with nibs and ink - and usually - by the time I had written their name on the first line -- they would say, "Ok, ok. I get it" and they didn't even want to watch me finish the envelope.

Working live at events is so much fun. Guests gush over the work.
Hopefully you have a chance to take some photos of your cookies and let us see how they turn out.

19

Favorite Resources / NOVA programs

« on: August 31, 2022, 09:15:25 AM »

I'm not sure which topic to use --
I guess NOVA is a resource
If you have Passport, you can probably access these programs any time.
I'm not sure which time zone WETA is in -- I copied this from another group.


NOVA is airing a two-episode exploration of the history of writing on WETA and other PBS stations this Wednesday and next. Among the participants in this 2020 documentary are renowned calligraphers Yves Leterme and Brody Neuenschwander.
 
Airing this Wednesday, Aug 31 at 9pm:
"A to Z: The First Alphabet"
Researchers uncover the evolution of writing and the story of the alphabet, dating back to millennia-old carvings in an Egyptian turquoise mine.
 
Airing next Wednesday, Sept 7 at 9pm:
"A to Z: How Writing Changed the World"
How the development of writing played a vital role in shaping world history, from the invention of paper to the printed book.

20

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Man Who Did History of Writing?

« on: August 29, 2022, 09:50:25 AM »

thanks @RoughDiamond
Jackson's documentary is excellent

I found the name I was looking for - Scott Cleland.
Sadly - nothing pops up on YouTube that is the calligrapher Scott Cleland - there are other Scott Clelands.
I saw a video many years ago - and it was so good.

21

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Man Who Did History of Writing?

« on: August 28, 2022, 07:46:16 AM »

Does anyone remember the name of the man who lived in Minnesota and had a wonderful presentation on the history of writing - geared for kids but equally interesting for adults. I believe there was a YouTube video of one his presentations. Sadly - he passed away. Seems like he was only in his 40s - maybe younger?

Maybe there is someone on the forum who belongs to the Colleagues of Calligraphy, the St. Paul/Mpls guild - who could ask one of the old timer members of that guild. And then maybe we could find the video on YouTube.

22

Broad Edge Pen Calligraphy / Re: Script to go with illuminated letters

« on: August 27, 2022, 08:49:17 AM »

I agree that foundational would look very nice.
Italics would work well - but, I'd vote for doing an upright version - no slant.
I would also choose a proportion that had a fairly light-weight nib-width - to keep it open and airy.

Another option that would be my first choice is Ronde Script.
There are several versions - just Google it.
It is upright - and has plenty of options for loops that would complement the initials.

23

Introductions / Re: Hello From A Newbie

« on: August 21, 2022, 07:03:59 AM »

A wonderful resource for copperplate/engrosser script is Joe Vitolo's free ebook and videos.

http://www.zanerian.com

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: cursive spencerian proof

« on: July 11, 2022, 07:40:54 AM »

For a 5-yr old, that is remarkable. It is way too soon to expect them to capture the subtle nuances of Spencerian.

Ideally, they develop an interest naturally and they choose to refine their penmanship on their own.

If they do not show an interest then you might try to entice them into more consistency. When people recall the horrors of penmanship teachers (often times nuns) who forced students to open hours upon hours refining their strokes, they are sometimes bitter about the whole process - so, it's probably best to let the student progress on their own. Introducing them to nibs and ink when they are older might be a way to encourage them to go back to the original exemplars and refine their style.

For now -- be sure your child is aware that they are doing a fantastic job. Help them find ways to use their penmanship that engages them on other levels. There are lots of fun tutorials on how to make books, etc.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: end of word extension

« on: June 27, 2022, 07:31:16 AM »

Exactly!
This is why I encouraged people who felt like it after learning how a broad edge nib works and how a pointed nib works to just try every style in the Speedball Textbook - on their own - between classes.
Often times people would find one style that just seemed to feel better than the others - and that often led to better progress.

Very few people are drawn to uncial as a first style - but it's a much better first style for the broad edge nib than italic. It helps the student learn how the nib makes the various shapes. So many people think italic is good for a beginning style - and it really isn't - because of the angles of each stroke as well as the degree of slant.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: end of word extension

« on: June 26, 2022, 08:15:06 AM »

Flowers and leaves - another way to practice flourishing - but not connecting them to letters.

The first envelope at this link has a lovely little flowery motif.

https://www.theglampad.com/2022/04/letter-writing-and-the-changing-face-of-stamp-collecting.html

IG is full of fun decorative elements - this is just the first one that popped up when I did a search for *flourishing.*

https://www.instagram.com/theletteringpad/

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: end of word extension

« on: June 26, 2022, 08:04:16 AM »

For what it's worth - there is a compromise when kids discover flourishing and want to try it.
It is wonderful practice - to make the flourishing strokes as borders or other decorative elements - but not attached to the letters.
Kids a more than willing to keep the flourishing and the lettering separate at the beginning.

To deny kids the fun of dancing with the pen until they achieve some arbitrary *mastery of the basics* can be so discouraging that they give up.
Encouraging the study of the flourishing strokes is a perfect counterpoint to the regimented lettering.

Every kid is different and will progress at a different rate. Their interest may ebb and flow - if they lose interest in Spencerian - they might want to try something else. The Speedball Textbook is a wonderful way to let them explore many options - and they may find themselves coming back to styles that seemed too hard when they were younger.

People my age - especially the ones who learned penmanship from nuns - recall what a unpleasant experience it was for some people. Everyone was forced to follow the same path - and some ended up with beautiful penmanship and others were filled with resentment - which is unfortunate.
It would be a shame to squash an interest in penmanship by not allowing the student to explore the decorative aspect.

I will look for the examples I have of Spencerian borders - and add a link.
Maybe someone has some simple bird flourishes for younger students that they could post.

Here is a link to a cupcake that would be so much fun for a kid to try -

http://pushingtheenvelopes.blogspot.com/2020/02/hb-to-mr-wilson-from-kater.html

Learning how to make symmetrical motions is good for building muscle memory.

28

Spencerian Script / Re: Handwriting Analysis & Personality Mood Study

« on: June 20, 2022, 08:35:59 AM »

This is great, Starlee, (or Star?)

If anyone would like to participate - please send me a direct message through FF
and please give me:

Your actual name.
A regular email for communicating directly

Once I get my list of participants - I will send directions to everyone and give them my mailing address.

Feel free to offer suggestions if anything comes to mind.
These will have to be actual letters on paper mailed to me.
Electronic images won't work.

Soooo much fun.

29

Spencerian Script / Re: Handwriting Analysis & Personality Mood Study

« on: June 19, 2022, 12:06:07 PM »

@Starlee - I could collect some examples of writing  - you would not know how many people participated - and you would not know the skill level --I am more interested in samples that are intended to be penmanship - but are influenced by styles of calligraphy - like italics, Spencerian, Palmer, and the endless variations that people can come up with - after studying a script style.

I regularly correspond with 20+ people who are fond of penmanship - so I could ask each of them to send me a sample - or two or three -- if they have a variety of ways of writing.

Would it be better to have everyone write the same text? And how much text would you need? I assume you would want something that included all 26 lower case letters - right?

Feel free to say no - if you do not have time to do this.... I will not be offended.

30

Spencerian Script / Handwriting Analysis & Personality Mood Study

« on: June 19, 2022, 07:46:59 AM »

I wish someone could find a handwriting analyst who would be interested in looking at 24 *people* - for free. I'm not curious enough to hire someone.
I would like to submit 6 examples from 4 people - people like me who have studied many different calligraphy styles - and can morph them into styles that look like everyday penmanship. Each of the 4 penman would then write three samples while in a pleasant/positive mood - and then three while thinking about things that fill us with frustration/anxiety/dread/rage - whatever.
I'd be curious to know if the analyst would figure out that all the samples came from just 4 people - and whatever else they had to say.
Does anyone even know if there are still practicing handwriting analysts?
It seems like companies used to use them when hiring.

And @Zivio - - in the book The Cult of Personality - do you recall if it debunked the MMPI?
I haven't heard of that survey in a long time.