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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Can we talk about posture, hand position, and nib angle? So frustrated...
« on: April 23, 2014, 01:49:19 AM »
I've been doing pointed pen for about 10 days and now I'm afraid I've been doing it all wrong! I've watched Joe Vitolo's video, and looked at Don and Ron Tate's photo and I'm still have questions.
http://www.iampeth.com/videos/001VitoloScriptPenPaperPosition.wmv
http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/getting_started/Don_and_Ron/don_and_ron_index.html
First, do I "have" to sit square with the writing surface? I came across this teacher who writes that it's acceptable to sit sideways as long as the torso isn't contorted. See this post: http://deannsinghcalligraphy.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-9-2012-copperplate-class-1-at.html
Second, I just realized today that I curl my hand in slightly as I write, although I think the nib axis does line up with my right shoulder. If I don't curl my hand in a little, when I make ascenders, I have to move my whole hand up, rather than just extending my fingers with the pen. Is that normal? Also, if you've seen Joe's video, he has the 55 deg lines pointing to his stomach. To get my nib to line up with the 55 deg line, I have to turn the paper so much that I'm practically writing vertically!
Third, when I'm writing, I feel like I can't see what I'm doing. I'm on the short side, only 5'4", so I know that's part of it. But if I'm supposed to have my whole forearm, including my elbow, on the table, as well as have the 55 deg line point to my stomach, it puts my paper so far away from me! That sounds really stupid, doesn't it? (maybe I need a booster seat! lol)
I could just ask more and more questions, but I guess I really need to see a video or series of photos of someone's whole upper body as they are writing and so far I haven't found one. If anyone can offer me any help or opinions, (or sympathy, heh) I would be so appreciative. Today's practice session was one of those discouraging ink spattering ones.
http://www.iampeth.com/videos/001VitoloScriptPenPaperPosition.wmv
http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/getting_started/Don_and_Ron/don_and_ron_index.html
First, do I "have" to sit square with the writing surface? I came across this teacher who writes that it's acceptable to sit sideways as long as the torso isn't contorted. See this post: http://deannsinghcalligraphy.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-9-2012-copperplate-class-1-at.html
Second, I just realized today that I curl my hand in slightly as I write, although I think the nib axis does line up with my right shoulder. If I don't curl my hand in a little, when I make ascenders, I have to move my whole hand up, rather than just extending my fingers with the pen. Is that normal? Also, if you've seen Joe's video, he has the 55 deg lines pointing to his stomach. To get my nib to line up with the 55 deg line, I have to turn the paper so much that I'm practically writing vertically!
Third, when I'm writing, I feel like I can't see what I'm doing. I'm on the short side, only 5'4", so I know that's part of it. But if I'm supposed to have my whole forearm, including my elbow, on the table, as well as have the 55 deg line point to my stomach, it puts my paper so far away from me! That sounds really stupid, doesn't it? (maybe I need a booster seat! lol)
I could just ask more and more questions, but I guess I really need to see a video or series of photos of someone's whole upper body as they are writing and so far I haven't found one. If anyone can offer me any help or opinions, (or sympathy, heh) I would be so appreciative. Today's practice session was one of those discouraging ink spattering ones.
