Messages

1

Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: How to combine calligraphy practice with kids around?

« on: February 13, 2017, 10:47:00 AM »

Then after bed time, the 8pm to 12am shift has always been very productive for me, though not great for my sleep habits!

Same here.
For a bit I was doing a lot of bedside practice... better than nothing.     Now, it's easier, like everything else.

Good luck and keep practicing!

2

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Dip nibs for novice

« on: February 13, 2017, 10:42:57 AM »

I have three G nibs:  the Zebra, Tashikawa and Nikko.  They are great for beginners so I recommend either one (if you can find a good supplier, in America I think I got them from Paper Ink Arts).  Although they share the G label, they are not identical, but they behave roughly the same. I work with watercolor ink and sumi ink and they are great in both cases.

Curiously (unlike Janis), my experience with the EF66 was not a good one.  I suspect I got a dud.   The Gillotts are good but as mentioned they are a bit harder to control.

Good luck!

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Pretty Cool Fence & Awesome Article!

« on: January 31, 2017, 09:59:17 AM »

I'd love to see it with my own eyes.

I'm fortunate to live about 2 miles away from "The Wall." Took pictures today--Totally awesome.

*begins planning trip to the Big Apple*

Have fun in New York. The Wall is, however, in Atlanta.
@schin

   
Mouahahahahaha

Well, so much for an improvised trip to Trumpland.   Atlanta's too far for me, thanks a lot for sharing the pictures.
@schin :   Congrats once again, very very awesome!

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Pretty Cool Fence & Awesome Article!

« on: January 27, 2017, 03:01:54 PM »

INCREDIBLE!  Congratulations @schin !!     
I'd love to see it with my own eyes.

*begins planning trip to the Big Apple*

5

Design & Layout / Re: Doyal Young, inspirations?

« on: January 24, 2017, 11:23:19 AM »

Thanks for posting this.   I appreciated this article as I have a strong interest for typography (the transcriber of the video typed "topography" , in fact twice!, which caused me to laugh out loud).  Didn't know this Young fellow, very typical typographer, very concerned with fine details, balance, legibility, elegance, so yes lots in common with calligraphers!   Speaking of geeky typographers, I like the blog of Tobias Frere-Jones because he is one of the true ultimate nitpickers.  https://frerejones.com/

6

Show & Tell / Re: Webster Lake's loooong name

« on: January 20, 2017, 04:20:19 PM »

Oh man I just had to google this...
“You fish on your side; I fish on my side; nobody fishes in the middle.”     

BTW lovely handwriting, I love the white on blue!  Good stuff!

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: 2017 goals & resolutions

« on: January 06, 2017, 03:26:54 PM »

6) Increase upper body strength and functional movements so I can conquer the monkey bars at Tough Mudder this year!

Oh I just had to look this one up... Aw yes, mud!  We love mud!      It looks similar to the Spartan Race (which I have yet to try myself).
Good luck with your resolutions!    Training both body and soul!

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: 2017 goals & resolutions

« on: January 06, 2017, 03:23:02 PM »

5. Complete one of the 4 screenplays I am writing.

@Erica McPhee :  Awesome!  If you need proof reading, PM me.

Writing is a challenge, but getting published, now that's something I'd like to make happen in 2017 !
(I have a completed novel sitting there, waiting patiently...)

And about that cello:   so cool!   Beautiful sound, but such a difficult instrument to learn!
So here's my wish for you:   learn the cello...............in a soundproof room    (well,
I hope your calligraphy room is soundproof)       

9

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

« on: January 06, 2017, 03:12:54 PM »

I also find it helpful to hold a pencil, eraser side down, in my opposite hand to balance the pressure. This helps the brain recognize where you are applying pressure.

@Erica McPhee :  Erica, I find this trick most intriguing.  Are you using the eraser bit in the opposite hand so it touches the paper, or for any other particular reason?  I use that hand to hold the paper, with my fingers.  I might find it strange to have to change the way I hold the sheet if I hold a pencil.  Are you saying it's as if you were drawing with both hands at the same time?  (I don't recall seeing a thread about this before on FF, maybe I missed it in the "strong grip" threads.)  I don't have a grip cramp issue (yet), but I'm curious.    Thanks!

10

Show & Tell / Re: Flourish in Poetry

« on: January 06, 2017, 03:02:15 PM »

Amazing!   This is going to be a Great 2017 from the looks of it!
Looking forward to see all the weekly variations.  It can be quite a challenge
not to repeat oneself in this sort of exercise.  Have fun!

11

Word of the Day / Re: Terrible pun of the week

« on: December 08, 2016, 04:30:28 PM »

Here's one for you.  Just found this on a watercolor forum:

"I started an origami business, unfortunately it folded."
 

12

Kind Critique / Re: First post on first attempt using a nib

« on: December 08, 2016, 10:12:55 AM »

I have had good results with the G's when I started so I heartily recommend them (and in fact I still prefer using them to this day, I mainly do watercolor calligraphy and the G's are optimal for me).  I use the Zebra G, the Nikko G and the Tachikawa G.  Small differences between them, but who cares?  ;-)

I found using the oblique holder to be a somewhat "advanced" thing to do, I would stick to the straight holder at first, although you will find on FF many people who will readily defend the use of oblique holders when starting (e.g. neriah's comment above), and rightly so.   

Good luck on your copperplate journey!  The tutorials on FF are really really really good!

13

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: it's a bit early...but I am feeling it

« on: December 05, 2016, 04:13:44 PM »

Thanks for the (early) kind wishes and elegant spiral execution!  Lovely!

And best wishes to you as well!
May we all have an excellent calligrafunky 2017 !

14

Tools & Supplies / Re: Colored ink suggestions?

« on: November 28, 2016, 10:55:51 AM »

@ericp!  Have you ever tried adding gum Arabic to your gouache?  That adds a nice shine...although, it can extend the drying time (in my experience).

Yes I am aware of the GA trick, thanks for mentioning that.  I agree that the shine does make a difference.

I've also found that GA helps with smudging once it does dry. Somehow I couldn't avoid smudging the gouache when I erased lines until I started adding GA.

Another thing I forgot to mention about gouache (having tried it again this weekend about a long, dry spell) is that it does smudge as you write (not just during drying as you rightly point out), which is, frankly, quite annoying when you cross T's or X's or any simple flourish for that matter.  (I don't know if GA would alleviate this.)

I was also a bit disappointed with the hairlines too (using a Nikko G).  My memory doesn't serve me well because I can't recall which magic nib I used to work with gouache.  Oh well I'll find it sooner or later.

15

Tools & Supplies / Re: Colored ink suggestions?

« on: November 28, 2016, 10:48:14 AM »

Watercolor:  yes!   Not very popular among the FF community, but I am just a huge fan!  (In fact if you search for watercolor here, you're bound to see a rant of mine somewhere.    )  I use pretty much any nib.  Awesome range of colors.  Doesn't matter the brand, but go for tube and not cake sets.  It's so much easier to fill a dinky and dip your nib than to brush-load the nib.

I have some of the Dr Martin watercolors that come in little bottles with droppers and they are very nice with nibs.
Available from John Neal Bookseller  - johnnealbooks.com

I105-HALF. Hydrus Fine Art Watercolor 1/2 oz Sets

The Ecoline series is quite nice as well.  The colors are lovely and very saturated however they apparently aren't lightfast (if we're talking about calligraphy that is meant to be exposed to light then this should be a concern).