1
Show & Tell / Re: My Copperplate book – now in English
« on: March 10, 2024, 04:08:03 AM »
Congratulations for the book! 🎊 It really seems like it's a great resource with a lot of hard work behind it! All the best❤️
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2
Kind Critique / Re: Spencerian feedback + size question
« on: March 04, 2024, 02:32:25 AM »I would choose one that resonates with you and then break it down trying to determine what it is about it that appeals to you. Then practice it and see what you would like to incorporate into your own style.
In terms of classes, for decades I have taken any and all classes in whatever style with a variety of teachers as I learn so many tidbits from each one. But classes are expensive and can add up so it’s best to select what seems like it will give you the most benefit. It’s a shame, I can’t find any advanced Spencerian classes for this year either. There is also the possibility of reaching out to one of your mentor’s and seeing if they offer private lessons.
I would also recommending watching Mike Ward (MGWard)’s videos on YouTube. He has practice sessions and they are so informative!
You will find a bunch of fabulous lessons on his website: MrMGWard.
Ornamental Penmanship seems the next step if you want to branch off into flourished Spencerian.
I checked his YouTube, so many fabulous lessons! 😍 Wow
Ornamental penmanship is like the fancy version of spencerian, am I correct?
3
Kind Critique / Re: Spencerian feedback + size question
« on: February 28, 2024, 02:47:17 PM »
@Erica McPhee thank you so much 🥺❤️ I will check the books out! Would you recommend me to pick one and practice it all and after pick another?
As for the class, I saw it, but I don't know if a Beginner's class will do the trick for me now😔 thinking that I have the basics, and with practice I will build the muscle memory needed. I was waiting for an advanced class, but it seems like it won't happen this year, unfortunately. What do you think on that?
@BrightStar thank you so much❤️❤️ It's an ink, the Vermillion ink by kuretake. It's sooo smooth to write with🥺
As for the class, I saw it, but I don't know if a Beginner's class will do the trick for me now😔 thinking that I have the basics, and with practice I will build the muscle memory needed. I was waiting for an advanced class, but it seems like it won't happen this year, unfortunately. What do you think on that?
@BrightStar thank you so much❤️❤️ It's an ink, the Vermillion ink by kuretake. It's sooo smooth to write with🥺
4
Spencerian Script / Re: Succession of m’s and n’s and of u’s
« on: February 28, 2024, 11:13:19 AM »
Oh wow, such a great analysis so far. Never really got in that much detail for spacing, not for spencerian that I am studying on my own, but not for copperplate either, that I took classes. Such a little diamond thread, for consistency purposes 😍 As a third person, that doesn't have anything to offer, I just wanted to add that sometimes, eyes are the best "compass" for spacing. An even spacing throughout, even if it's a bit "off", is sometimes better than an uneven one, even if part of it follows all the rules
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Kind Critique / Re: Spencerian feedback + size question
« on: February 28, 2024, 10:27:03 AM »
@Erica McPhee @BrightStar @tiffany.c.a thank you all so so much for your kind words! Since my last post, I finished the uppercase and slowly started some more "fancy" practice😍 I'm kind of lost now with all the flourishing resources and Michael Sull and Harvest are not meant to teach anything "advanced" for this year (for now at least). So, I have to figure out a lot along the way, while continuing to stick into the basics to "make them mine", if that makes sense.
6
Kind Critique / Re: Spencerian feedback + size question
« on: February 06, 2024, 08:47:19 AM »Hi,
I can't offer any advice, sorry, but I can tell you that your 'new calling' is very pretty.
Thanks a lot Mark! 💖 I still have a very long way to go, I am still in the very beginning of it, but I am loving it so far very, very much 😍 definitely worth all the time
7
Kind Critique / Spencerian feedback + size question
« on: February 05, 2024, 04:42:17 PM »
Hello everyone,
Hope you are well! I recently started Spencerian and finally finished the lowercase letters yesterday!
For today's practice, I tried some words. What do you think of it so far? I am mostly worried about my spacing and my 'n' connection in the words 
Also, a quick question. What's the "most used" x height in spencerian? That one is 6mm. Is it a good one? For envelopes and artwork or I should go smaller?
Thank you in advance! :*
Ps. The sure thing is I love it so much so far! I think I found my script 😍
Hope you are well! I recently started Spencerian and finally finished the lowercase letters yesterday!
For today's practice, I tried some words. What do you think of it so far? I am mostly worried about my spacing and my 'n' connection in the words Also, a quick question. What's the "most used" x height in spencerian? That one is 6mm. Is it a good one? For envelopes and artwork or I should go smaller?
Thank you in advance! :*
Ps. The sure thing is I love it so much so far! I think I found my script 😍
8
Tools & Supplies / Re: Dip pen friendly ink & paper combination.
« on: January 13, 2024, 12:16:15 PM »For broad edge, some of the highly regarded papers for pointed pen do not work well. Things that can happen are wavy spots where the ink is or the paper easily tears when a stroke crosses a place with ink.
I only do broad edge and Rhodia is my preferred practice paper currently.
LOLOLOL!
This post on Practice Paper has been read over 119,000 times.
My updated favorites are:
1. Rhodia Notepads, blank, orange or black cover
2. Kokuyo Japanese inkjet paper, 64 gsm, white degree 80%
3. HP Premium Laser Jet, 32#, 100 brightness
Still Walnut ink or McCaffrey’s (even though it’s rough on the nib).
Hello both!
Relevant (or not?
) with that thread, but for practice, does it happen that you have used the Rhodia paper on top of a book to trace the letters?I very recently ordered Michael's Sull book "Learning how to write spencerian" (yep, taking spencerian seriously
), but I can't find very easily transparent paper here thick enough to hold the ink without bleeding. I was wondering if I can use rhodia paper on top, I can certainly find some.Thank you in advance
9
Spencerian Script / Re: Flourishing in Spencerian
« on: January 07, 2024, 07:31:40 PM »
Hello @Zivio and @Erica McPhee, so sorry for the late reply, life got pretty crazy lately
Thank you so much for your response and reference @Zivio! You are so right! I, too, took the flourishing class with Suzanne, but as you said, she only demonstrated in copperplate, so I thought some things must be different. Except from the script itself of course
(we learnt a ton of flourishes in the class, didn't we? Now it's practice time )
Thank you too, Erica, for the shading tip! Makes a lot of sense! :* (also, I loved so so much your spencerian in the Christmas cards :*)
As I'm looking on some calligraphers's spencerian work, I noticed that the "heavy" flourishes and the "weight" of it, is mostly on the capitals and the exit strokes. Not so much on the middle of the words/phrases. Does it seem to be a thing or just personal choices?
Thank you so much for your response and reference @Zivio! You are so right! I, too, took the flourishing class with Suzanne, but as you said, she only demonstrated in copperplate, so I thought some things must be different. Except from the script itself of course
(we learnt a ton of flourishes in the class, didn't we? Now it's practice time )Thank you too, Erica, for the shading tip! Makes a lot of sense! :* (also, I loved so so much your spencerian in the Christmas cards :*)
As I'm looking on some calligraphers's spencerian work, I noticed that the "heavy" flourishes and the "weight" of it, is mostly on the capitals and the exit strokes. Not so much on the middle of the words/phrases. Does it seem to be a thing or just personal choices?
10
2024 Exchanges / Re: An Important Message About Exchanges
« on: January 07, 2024, 07:20:19 PM »
I wasn't initially planning to sign up for that exchange (I'm not that valentine person ) but @AnasaziWrites is so so right. Nothing beats that physical envelope and card and the time someone puts into that, even if it took 5 minutes or 5 hours to make. Also, it's so precious to make someones day a bit better with something beautiful 
I am new to all that exchange thing (only 3 times with the FF and one more with another group), and I was hoping for more to come with all the lovely people here. (was expecting that "The road less traveled" exchange so much @Erica McPhee :[). But the decision, is so accepted. I hope, Erica can still organize some exchanges here and then. All that, is so beautiful to let it get lost <3
Until we exchange again, I'll say <3
) but @AnasaziWrites is so so right. Nothing beats that physical envelope and card and the time someone puts into that, even if it took 5 minutes or 5 hours to make. Also, it's so precious to make someones day a bit better with something beautiful I am new to all that exchange thing (only 3 times with the FF and one more with another group), and I was hoping for more to come with all the lovely people here. (was expecting that "The road less traveled" exchange so much @Erica McPhee :[). But the decision, is so accepted. I hope, Erica can still organize some exchanges here and then. All that, is so beautiful to let it get lost <3
Until we exchange again, I'll say <3
11
2024 Exchanges / Re: International Cyberscribes 2024 Exchange
« on: January 07, 2024, 07:12:06 PM »
@Erica McPhee thank you so much for introducing us into that Erica, just signed up! It will be a good challenge to see the month to month growth of the year, apart of the beauty of all of it, of course
12
Spencerian Script / Flourishing in Spencerian
« on: December 14, 2023, 09:58:05 AM »
Hello everyone!
I recently started flourishing in Copperplate and at the same time, veryyy slowly, the basic strokes of the Spencerian script. Hopefully, will be able to get to the letters soon enough. I was wondering if the same rules, placements, flourishes I have learnt in Copperplate aply also the same at the Spencerian. Like, in Spencerian, will I flourish in the exact same way? And only the script is changing? Or Spencerian script has any special "tips"?
Thank you in advance
I recently started flourishing in Copperplate and at the same time, veryyy slowly, the basic strokes of the Spencerian script. Hopefully, will be able to get to the letters soon enough. I was wondering if the same rules, placements, flourishes I have learnt in Copperplate aply also the same at the Spencerian. Like, in Spencerian, will I flourish in the exact same way? And only the script is changing? Or Spencerian script has any special "tips"?
Thank you in advance
13
Design & Layout / Re: Logo tips
« on: November 05, 2023, 05:17:35 AM »Thank you!
Oh this is so exciting! I spent a couple years dedicated to logo designing for a web company. It was one of my favorite things to do. Here are some tips:
1. Start with a list. List out all the adjectives you want your logo to represent. What kind of calligrapher will you be, what niche will you focus on - weddings, graphics, greeting cards, etc. Maybe it’s all of the above, or maybe you know you want to focus on wedding envelopes or what have you. Your logo should speak to your client. For example, I just designed a logo for my new business (which will be announced later). So I wrote:
Whimsical, fresh, modern, fun, sweet, Beatrix Potter vibe, delicate, timeless. My first draft was too “wedding-ish” (and this business is not about weddings at all). So I revamped it and was satisfied with the end result.
2. Begin your drafts with pencil, not a calligraphy pen. Sketch out what you want your design to look like. Try several different quick sketches before starting the artwork. This will save you time in the long run and prevent hours of practicing letters without a design direction.
3. Speaking of design direction - have a trusted friend or another calligrapher who can be honest and help give you art direction. Even the best artists need someone to look at the design with a fresh eye.
4. After you think you are done - put it away for a day or two. Then tape it to a blank wall and step back to look at it. Does it look how you want it? Are there things that jump out at you that you can change?
5. Look at the white space around the design. Is there a shape of the logo that is well proportioned?
6. Don’t be afraid to refresh your logo after a few years. We all continue to grow in our art and will eventually outgrow our logo. I have seen some calligraphers that are doing incredible work but their logo is from 5 years ago and doesn’t reflect their improvements.
I hope that helps!
Thank you so much Erica!
Sorry for the late reply, you truly helped a lot! The thing that scares me the most (and prevents me from even starting), is that I will create a "mediocre" logo, that will follow me on my journey. Like, in the bad way. I have heard that the logo is the first, and most important impression, and with that you have to "win" you client. Do you think that's true?
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Design & Layout / Logo tips
« on: October 28, 2023, 02:53:46 AM »
Hello everyone!
Did I say I loveee the new Flourish forum logo??
Watching that awesome logo, I was thinking that may it's time (oh well, around in that year I guess), to start making my own logo for my little calligraphy corner. It may be still in the very beginning, but hey, everyone deserves a good logo right?
What are your tips on logo making? What should I be careful for or pay more attention to?
Thank you in advance
Did I say I loveee the new Flourish forum logo??
Watching that awesome logo, I was thinking that may it's time (oh well, around in that year I guess), to start making my own logo for my little calligraphy corner. It may be still in the very beginning, but hey, everyone deserves a good logo right?
What are your tips on logo making? What should I be careful for or pay more attention to?
Thank you in advance
15
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Happy 10 Year Anniversary Flourish!
« on: October 28, 2023, 02:48:01 AM »
Wow! Happy 10th anniversary! I am not here for long, but I can definitely feel and see all the wisdom and love for calligraphy that has been shared all these years! To another ten and more years!!
P.S. Loveee the new logo! Such a great work!
To another ten and more years!! P.S. Loveee the new logo! Such a great work!