Messages

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: What do you think of the IG group Calligraphy Masters?

« on: August 05, 2016, 03:08:04 PM »

I followed most of their original members from the start of the Instagram calligraphy boom so I was highly influenced by them  (they're the reason I got into calligraphy) and as has been mentioned before the group that started it is mostly Europeans so to them the using "Masters" isn't a big deal--the hangup is a very much an American thing.

Most of the original members have a street art/graffiti background which is why their work (mostly blackletter) is so stylized. From what I understood they used Calligraphy Masters as a reference to a personal style more than any classic style. Incorporating it into other types of art and abstracting letters but at the same time working on perfecting their own forms (very much a graffiti artist mentality) just like any other letter artist/font designer/etc. They would even tag each other to see who could one up the others, it was pretty fun to see the evolution of their work.

I haven't kept up since they started the actual group but the page does seem like an aggregate site for many different styles and calligraphers they admire and think are good influencers. You can see their street roots even in their love of weird/unique writing tools and tutorials. The founding members didn't really consider themselves masters of Fraktur or Copperplate or any traditional style, they simply worked on mastering their own styles--they certainly don't really care if people get cranky over the use of the term Master...

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Buying a new oblique

« on: July 22, 2016, 12:39:26 PM »

I agree with Salman, contact Chris directly ([email protected]) and he can help you get something to your specifications. He's great at making sure you get what you want/need, don't be afraid to ask questions.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Hand Carved Ergonomic Holder

« on: March 23, 2016, 12:27:27 PM »

That looks great!

After a year i've started to notice the effects of making ergonomic holders out of harder woods though, the hands don't appreciate it too much o_0

Dremel with a sanding drum.
Although the dust it makes will be a pain to clean up.

Up until recently that's what I did with tougher blanks but I recently upgraded to a much larger solution, outfitted with a dust collection system.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Hand Carved Ergonomic Holder

« on: March 21, 2016, 05:39:06 PM »

That looks great!

After a year i've started to notice the effects of making ergonomic holders out of harder woods though, the hands don't appreciate it too much o_0

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Iampeth 2016

« on: March 16, 2016, 12:25:50 PM »

I woke up late while registration was happening and in a hazy rush I'm not really sure what classes I signed up for

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Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: paul antonio's scope

« on: February 10, 2016, 06:58:16 PM »

Yeah definitely don't force anything...I'd rather just turn the paper or scratch a bit when creating horizontal thicks than force myself to use a straight holder

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Help: My penholder stinks (literally)

« on: January 13, 2016, 12:59:59 PM »

Melanie is most likely correct :/ Sounds like liquid got into the slot and absorbed. However if it's a glued in flange that would be odd unless it was exposed to quite a bit of water.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: If you only have one holder...

« on: December 23, 2015, 12:40:22 AM »

Yep, you just switch them out whenever you want. I have a tin with maybe 20 different nibs that have all been used and that I will go back to when I feel like using a different one, I just clean them with water and rubbing alcohol before putting them back in the tin and I've never had rust problems--dry well of course.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Why do people use vintage nibs?

« on: December 21, 2015, 02:10:51 PM »

There's quite a few discussions about that (however I don't remember where they are) but basically the supply and demand for calligraphy supplies today is not what it was back then. The industrial revolution did away with the demand for high quality penmanship but before the typewriter took over there was such a high demand for nibs that it was very profitable to spend the time and money on perfecting the production of nibs. Nibs were individually hand ground and inspected in many cases.

Today the demand isn't nearly as high so spending too much time on R&D along with quality control isn't much of a priority. Unless calligraphy comes back in a huge way, and we can argue that with the advent of social media it (relatively) has, there's no motivation for nib makers to invest in making a higher quality item that matches products from the Golden Age.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Why do people use vintage nibs?

« on: December 21, 2015, 01:18:52 AM »

There are a few trade-offs but for the most part vintage nibs will write smoother due to that quality control Prasad mentioned along with the attention to detail paid back then. The one thing modern nibs give easier access to is the super high flexibility found in the Principal EF, (modern) Gillott 303 and Brause 66EF to name a few however it comes at a cost of quality control (most modern super flexible nibs are quite sharp as well, nothing a light hand wont cancel out).

The more sought after vintage nibs will usually be high quality control, smooth and high flexibility all in one package while modern nibs usually offer one of those traits.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Why do people use vintage nibs?

« on: December 20, 2015, 08:18:56 PM »

Everyone will have their reasons but I use them because they're great to write with and make my writing experience much better. I'd rather enjoy using them while I can, even if I risk running out and switching to something else, than keeping them stored away and not fulfill their purpose for being created.

Some people collect them and never use them and that's fine, their nibs so they can do what they want.

There's a reason why prices are skyrocketing for the sought after vintage nibs, not only because people want to try them but because they want to get as many as they can before they're too expensive/gone.

I got in before inflation went wild and I've gotten very lucky so I've got no problem using my vintage Spencerian 1's or Gillott 303's because it'll be years before I run out of either but not everyone is as fortunate. There are also cheaper, lesser known, vintage nibs that work great and area relatively easier to collect in gross quantities but everyone wants the dream points...

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: How long have you had your holder?

« on: December 18, 2015, 01:47:39 PM »

Grip size is all personal preference, larger size can definitely help relax a death grip but for some it's just uncomfortable. When you start building a lighter touch it's more pleasant to hold a smaller one in my experience.

My longest owned holders are a set of Unique Obliques (back when he still took custom orders) but the oldest holders I own were made 100+ years ago (Magnusso and Zanerian Fine Art Pen Holder among them).

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Nibaholics Anonymous?

« on: December 15, 2015, 03:18:05 AM »

I can honestly say this has been the most confusing thread I've been a part of lol I can't tell where the theoretical begins and ends anymore

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Maybe a Stupid Question

« on: December 13, 2015, 11:54:54 PM »

I believe the 12 pack contains the pearl 6 pack colors but not the moire ones.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Nibaholics Anonymous?

« on: December 13, 2015, 08:44:30 PM »

Few weeks back I picked up 130 Spencerian 1s for $25 

Smart shopping and a keen eye is all you need.