Messages

31

Tools & Supplies / Re: Nib storage boxes

« on: October 27, 2015, 10:56:45 AM »

For non-traveling nib storage I love bead storage boxes, these guys in particular. They don't seem great for small beads though...tops seem kind of flimsy but they're perfect for even the longest nibs.

I hate you right now…

32

Completed/Past Exchanges / Re: Ornamental Signature Exchange Results

« on: October 26, 2015, 08:38:38 AM »

Brilliant! I've been looking forward to seeing these. Fantastic work from everyone! 

33

Tools & Supplies / Re: Nib storage boxes

« on: October 26, 2015, 08:12:20 AM »

I ordered some nibs recently from Blots here in the UK and they came in one of those tins. I hadn't seen them anywhere else, very useful size!

34

Kind Critique / Re: drills drills drills. and a few letters

« on: October 26, 2015, 08:09:45 AM »

Hey! Your letters are starting to show a lot of promise, nice work

As far as over/underturns go, they should be mirror images of each other. A good way to work on this is (at the start of a line) to turn your paper upside down and draw an overturn to the best of your ability, then turn the paper back around; this is now your underturn exemplar for that line. Keep working on getting both of these closer to an external exemplar, as your own work will only reflect your current ability; but this is a good way to keep both forms similar to each other. This will also help to open up your double turns too, the underturn exit to these is also tight.

One of the most important aspects of drills is to always be appraising the work you've just done. At the end of each line of practice pause and compare what you've just done with your exemplar, are your ovals (for example) too wide, too narrow, off slant, too boxy etc? You can even mark things you notice in pencil. Then go on to your next line armed with that knowledge and try to improve upon one of the things you picked up on in your previous line. This ensures you're not just reinforcing problems. It's more beneficial to do even just one line of drills where you've carefully considered your forms than a whole page repeating mistakes.

Finally, if you don't already, date your practice sheets! It's fantastic to look back over them and see how far you've come.

35

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: What's karma?

« on: October 26, 2015, 07:46:55 AM »

I think most people click the karma ('applaud') button if a post you make is particularly helpful and contributes useful information to the forum (at least that's how I've always thought of it!). If I think a post is funny, kind, complimentary etc I tend to use the 'like' button.

36

Tools & Supplies / Re: Quality control with Gillott 303s and 404s

« on: October 23, 2015, 02:49:45 PM »

There have been a lot of complaints bout the quality of Principalities recently too unfortunately. I've just ordered 50 303s, so I'm preparing to be disappointed!

37

Tools & Supplies / Re: Rusty Nibs

« on: October 23, 2015, 02:47:19 PM »

Could Coke wash off/be neutralised the same as vinegar? I'd be concerned you'd end up with a sticky sugary mess on your nibs that corroded them over time.

38

Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Did a dumb thing…

« on: October 23, 2015, 02:44:42 PM »

Yes, but did you create a completely unnecessary forum thread complaining about your own stupidity!?  

39

Coffee & Nib-bles / Did a dumb thing…

« on: October 22, 2015, 11:59:48 AM »

I am such an idiot, I was looking at my recent unread posts and I clicked all the ones I was interested in, then noticed the "Mark all read" button and thought I might as well click that thinking it would only mark the recent unread topics posts as read.

…Nope. Every topic on the entire forum is now read. And I used to like looking through ancient unread topics when I ran out of fresh ones. 

Ah well, live and learn! Hahaha 

40

Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: How to get my lines straight

« on: October 22, 2015, 11:32:29 AM »

Carina, don't twist your hand position to align with your guidelines. You should lift your arm—with penholder—above your desk then let it drop naturally down in front of you, centred between your shoulders. Then turn your paper so your guidelines match the angle of your nib.

This video by Joe Vitolo explains it well:

https://youtu.be/1CqzUU3wdXs

Also, a lot of the problems with shakes come from writing hesitantly. When you first start your brain doesn't understand the forms you're trying to produce so you can't write confidently and naturally, this leads to shakes because you're trying to think about the stroke and write at the same time. I've had a lot of issues with shaky hands since I started. Don't worry, it'll get better!

41

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Ergonomic Everything & Muscle Strengthening!

« on: October 22, 2015, 11:24:29 AM »

I get really tight shoulders and things from climbing, and have a shoulder impingement on the left side, so hunched over a desk doesn't help!!

Foam rollers are the cat's pyjamas though Also, tennis balls are amazing for rolling out the knots in your shoulders; when you find a tight spot and release it it feels awesome!

42

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Legible "calligraphy" and Asemic Writing

« on: October 22, 2015, 07:12:04 AM »

Now, that is a very interesting topic for discussion.  It could easily be argued that a truly illegible piece of good calligraphy has a better claim to being "art" than one which can be read without difficulty.

Hook baited ... let's see if I get a bite. 

I agree… 

43

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Your Instagrams

« on: October 22, 2015, 05:22:44 AM »

I just realised that I don't think I ever actually posted my IG in here despite having commented many times!

@andrewdh (or click the link in my signature).

44

Introductions / Re: Hello! Teenage beginner calligrapher here!

« on: October 22, 2015, 04:49:59 AM »

Hey Carina, welcome to the forum!

You can certainly practice copperplate forms and pressure variation with a pencil, but if that's all you have you'll probably become frustrated quite quickly! If you can at all afford it you can get started quite cheaply with a Speedball plastic holder and Zebra G nibs:

http://www.paperinkarts.com/spdobl.html
http://amzn.com/B006CQW428

You'd be amazed how much you improve in the next two months with those basic tools

If you absolutely can't afford any supplies until Christmas use your pencil practice time to really concentrate on understanding the basics:

• When and for how long you apply pressure on each letter
• What are the basic shapes that the letters are built from: The overturn, underturn, double turn, ascender, descender, oval.
• Maintaining a consistent slant in all your letters
• Equal spacing between your shades (downstrokes).

Calligraphy is 80% understanding and study, 20% execution; so if you spend the next two months working on your understanding you'll have a brilliant foundation when Christmas comes around.

You're going to love it!

Andrew

45

Tools & Supplies / Re: Rusty Nibs

« on: October 22, 2015, 04:30:59 AM »

That sounds easy - thanks for the tip!

Oh! I almost forgot the most important bit! Once they've soaked in the vinegar overnight, put them in some water with some bicarbonate of soda and give them a swirl about, this will neutralise the vinegar so it doesn't eat away at the nibs over time.