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Tools & Supplies / Re: Diamine Inkvent 2022
« on: January 09, 2023, 03:44:43 AM »
How fascinating, @K-2 ! Yes, it absolutely helps, even for a non-paleographer like myself, to write ancient alphabets in order to understand their construction. When I tried writing Secretary Hand for example, some of the letter forms made much more sense to me!
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Tools & Supplies / Re: Diamine Inkvent 2022
« on: January 06, 2023, 12:34:55 PM »
@K-2 Yes, of course – but I am much better at writing Kurrent than at reading it. That’s more in the area of paleography … there are services who offer doing transcripts, but I would have to look them up too. So I’m not sure if I can be of real help there … as it’s usually plain handwriting, and notouriosly hard to read even if written well, because of the many repetitive basic strokes, I have lots of trouble reading old documents too.
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Tools & Supplies / Re: Diamine Inkvent 2022
« on: January 03, 2023, 06:53:48 PM »
Thanks so much for mentioning me, @AnasaziWrites 
! I’m still researching and learning a lot about Kurrent. As you (or one of the others in this thread) said, it was after all in use for centuries and evolved a lot over time! Also it was more or less written with all kind of tools (except brush), from broad edged (quills) to pointed pen and one of its last iterations, Sütterlin, was monoline. There are even some examples done with flat brush for advertising purposes (early 20th century). So there isn’t much you can do wrong, especially as it was basically a handwriting style! Using the long s correctly (in German at least) is a bit of a challenge, but makes for a more convincing look of a piece of text.
I’m actually planning to put together an online class about Kurrent, but until now a lot of unpleasant circumstances have postponed this :/.
Wishing everyone all the best for a better 2023!
! I’m still researching and learning a lot about Kurrent. As you (or one of the others in this thread) said, it was after all in use for centuries and evolved a lot over time! Also it was more or less written with all kind of tools (except brush), from broad edged (quills) to pointed pen and one of its last iterations, Sütterlin, was monoline. There are even some examples done with flat brush for advertising purposes (early 20th century). So there isn’t much you can do wrong, especially as it was basically a handwriting style! Using the long s correctly (in German at least) is a bit of a challenge, but makes for a more convincing look of a piece of text.I’m actually planning to put together an online class about Kurrent, but until now a lot of unpleasant circumstances have postponed this :/.
Wishing everyone all the best for a better 2023!
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Solution for not getting PEN RUSTING.
« on: November 01, 2022, 07:13:44 PM »
I treat my nibs and holders like @Erica McPhee and @AnasaziWrites … I never had problems with rust, except when opening some antique boxes that had some rust as a surprise 
. But maybe is really a question of climate? I am sure a tropical climate might be harder regarding rust …?
Oh, but with standard straight holders, I definitely take out the nibs, as these really do rust in my experience! But it’s a different metal than the flanges of oblique holders! Though I do have some antique straight holders with silver where you can leave the nib in without problems as long as it’s really not dipped too deep, either in water or ink, if that makes sense.
. But maybe is really a question of climate? I am sure a tropical climate might be harder regarding rust …?Oh, but with standard straight holders, I definitely take out the nibs, as these really do rust in my experience! But it’s a different metal than the flanges of oblique holders! Though I do have some antique straight holders with silver where you can leave the nib in without problems as long as it’s really not dipped too deep, either in water or ink, if that makes sense
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Hurricane Ian & My Family
« on: October 05, 2022, 02:45:29 PM »
This must be so heartbreaking, @Erica McPhee . I wish your family a quick recovery and lots of help! Sending lots of love.
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Man Who Did History of Writing?
« on: August 28, 2022, 03:54:26 PM »
"The Golden Thread" by Ewan Clayton is a wonderful book about the history of writing (the western / Latin alphabet kind at least)! Written with passion and knowledge .
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Book recommendations for studying pointed pen calligraphy
« on: August 02, 2022, 09:14:25 AM »
@TeresaS Thanks for your kind words! My publisher is still evaluating options for an English edition … but I guess the English speaking market is a bit saturated with calligraphy books, so maybe it will not happen.
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Book recommendations for studying pointed pen calligraphy
« on: July 19, 2022, 07:00:40 PM »
Thanks a lot, @Erica McPhee – my book is now also available in Japanese . But sadly not (yet?) in English …
. But sadly not (yet?) in English …
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Book recommendations for studying pointed pen calligraphy
« on: July 15, 2022, 04:26:03 AM »
I also recommend @sybillevz’s wonderful website https://pennavolans.com/, where she has collected links to virtually hundreds of historical copybooks (with short introducting explanations), and is also a fantastic ressource for accurately redrawn letter variations (for a fee). There are also several articles regarding the development of the English Roundhand and Co. … sorry, it’s not a book though!
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2022 Exchanges / Re: My Flower Power Exchange 2022
« on: May 29, 2022, 09:36:23 AM »
They are so beautiful, @Erica McPhee !! I'm treasuring mine for sure!
!! I'm treasuring mine for sure!
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Writing on gold leaf
« on: February 17, 2022, 07:59:33 AM »
… I totally agree with @jeanwilson that she should provide you with a practice piece to test your method and technique!
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Writing on gold leaf
« on: February 17, 2022, 05:37:13 AM »
What an amazing project, @Aries M ! It reminds me of religious icons like found in the orthodox christian traditions. I have seen many icons in churches in Crete that involved backgrounds of gold leaf with lettering / calligraphy on top of it. That is very different from the technique of first applying the gold base like done in Western christian manuscripts for initials (like others said). But this is usually done for one, often big and elaborate initial, not for bigger amounts of text. I don’t know how the calligraphy is applied on the gold in the case of the Greek or Russian icons, but I am pretty sure it is done after laying the gold.
In the German section about icons on Wikipedia I also found this technical order: 1) Choosing and preparing the wood, 2) Applying a base on the wood so that it can take colour and / or gold leaf, 3) Drawing of the outlines, 4) Gilding of the parts that should be gold, 5) Painting of the icon, 5) Applying of details etc., lettering on gold or colour, 6) Varnishing the icon.
There were more steps involved, but that is the basic sequence. There are still today icons made in the traditional technique. Sadly, I don’t know and a quick search hasn’t told me how the lettering on gold is done exactly. I suspect oil or tempera paint with a brush (so that the gold is not destroyed with a hard writing tool).
I guess getting in touch with a Greek or other Orthodox icon painter would answer this fascinating question best …
I found this lady on IG: https://instagram.com/greekiconographer?utm_medium=copy_link
She has some examples of writing on gold, and she mentions using egg tempera. Maybe scroll through her feed to find out something!
In the German section about icons on Wikipedia I also found this technical order: 1) Choosing and preparing the wood, 2) Applying a base on the wood so that it can take colour and / or gold leaf, 3) Drawing of the outlines, 4) Gilding of the parts that should be gold, 5) Painting of the icon, 5) Applying of details etc., lettering on gold or colour, 6) Varnishing the icon.
There were more steps involved, but that is the basic sequence. There are still today icons made in the traditional technique. Sadly, I don’t know and a quick search hasn’t told me how the lettering on gold is done exactly. I suspect oil or tempera paint with a brush (so that the gold is not destroyed with a hard writing tool).
I guess getting in touch with a Greek or other Orthodox icon painter would answer this fascinating question best …
I found this lady on IG: https://instagram.com/greekiconographer?utm_medium=copy_link
She has some examples of writing on gold, and she mentions using egg tempera. Maybe scroll through her feed to find out something!
29
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Female scribes through history
« on: January 19, 2022, 02:12:25 AM »
I’m going to miss it too. @K-2 – travelling just for something like that just doesn‘t work at the moment 
.
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Female scribes through history
« on: January 18, 2022, 10:48:26 AM »
There is currently an exhibition in Köln (Cologne?) about female scribes in medieval times … I’ve ordered the exhibition catalogue and will let you know if it’s worth buying!
https://museum-schnuetgen.de/By-Womens-Hands-Medieval-Manuscripts-from-Cologne-Collections
https://museum-schnuetgen.de/By-Womens-Hands-Medieval-Manuscripts-from-Cologne-Collections