What are you working on improving right now?

[AndyT]

I'm using the one from the collection on IAMPETH's site.  It's labeled 'Ornamental Penmanship Capitals by H.P. Behrensmeyer.'  Do you know where I could find other collections?

Ah yes, I know that alphabet.  I've been lucky enough to seem some Henry Behrensmeyer originals, and his work is distinguished by an exceptionally light, delicate touch.  He used a version of that type of P for his signature on the cover of "Lessons in Practical Penmanship", by the way (see below).

I don't know where you might find a collection of Behrensmeyer's work, although there are some nice examples in Blosers "Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship", but there's a fine selection of capitals from plain to ornate in the "New Spencerian Compendium" plates 19-24.  The Madarasz book and Jones' "95 Lessons" are other good sources, as is Zaner's OP book which contains a few upper case alphabets by Lupfer.

[Matthew_R]

I'm using the one from the collection on IAMPETH's site.  It's labeled 'Ornamental Penmanship Capitals by H.P. Behrensmeyer.'  Do you know where I could find other collections?

Ah yes, I know that alphabet.  I've been lucky enough to seem some Henry Behrensmeyer originals, and his work is distinguished by an exceptionally light, delicate touch.  He used a version of that type of P for his signature on the cover of "Lessons in Practical Penmanship", by the way (see below).

I don't know where you might find a collection of Behrensmeyer's work, although there are some nice examples in Blosers "Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship", but there's a fine selection of capitals from plain to ornate in the "New Spencerian Compendium" plates 19-24.  The Madarasz book and Jones' "95 Lessons" are other good sources, as is Zaner's OP book which contains a few upper case alphabets by Lupfer.

That's very helpful.  Thank you, Andy.

A while back, I downloaded and printed some pieces by Madarasz and uppercase alphabets by Behrensmeyer and Zaner.  I keep them with my practice paper and practice something from them when I feel like it.

[Matthew_R]

Decreasing the height of the first part of 'y.'  I'll write 'hy' and flip it, and the 'y'-turned-'h' will have a mountainous small part.

On the plus side, I'm getting a better understanding of the feel of the Spencerian arm-motion.

[Matthew_R]

Right now, 'f' and 'm' (and all sorts of other stuff, of course).

[FlowerCityLetters]

Decreasing the height of the first part of 'y.'  I'll write 'hy' and flip it, and the 'y'-turned-'h' will have a mountainous small part.

On the plus side, I'm getting a better understanding of the feel of the Spencerian arm-motion.

Good luck! I like doing that exercise to look at my y's. I have the opposite problem of the first part of my y being too short haha.

[Matthew_R]

Decreasing the height of the first part of 'y.'  I'll write 'hy' and flip it, and the 'y'-turned-'h' will have a mountainous small part.

On the plus side, I'm getting a better understanding of the feel of the Spencerian arm-motion.

Good luck! I like doing that exercise to look at my y's. I have the opposite problem of the first part of my y being too short haha.

It's a tricky thing.  I think it's interesting how it can look almost perfect the right way up, and so hideous upside down.  It really makes me appreciate calligraphers from the southern hemisphere.  They always have to work on it very hard or else everybody in the northern hemisphere will notice it right away.  I feel sorry for any southern hemisphere calligraphers who receive my pathetic 'hy' combinations.

(Yeah, I used to watch British 'Top Gear.'  Not very fond of it now.)

[Matthew_R]

That seldom-used 'r' (I'm working on ornamental penmanship).  I haven't used it before, and I'm finding the top part deceptively tricky to learn.  I like how naturally horizontal and flowing a compound exit-stroke looks with it, though.

Also, hairlines.  Mmmmm...hairlines...

[Matthew_R]

Consistency!

[Pittipat]

I feel like I am working on everything! Hahaha - lets, see... I need to work on consistency, the slants and those darned ovals.  I find my hand/arm a bit shaky which I guess would mean that I need to do warm ups first? 

[Matthew_R]

Turning my body into an ornamental-penmanship machine.  I changed my hand position, tonight, based on something I read here and saw in 'The Madarasz Book.'  It helped massively with all sorts of things.

[Matthew_R]

Refining my hairlines, again.  I'm finding that when I take care of those, many other problems sort themselves out.  Mmmmm...fine hairlines...

[Moya]

Okay, I've got a new one ... I took a workshop on italic miniscules with Elmo van Slingerland and his pen manipulation techniques and hooooooly craaaaap i need to practice for 300 years! twisting the pen while making a stroke ... it'll kill me.

[wonner]

I am doing exercises to involve more of my upper body, especially shoulder and arm, in my writing.

I have always struggled with having learned to write "with your arm on the desk", and want to develop a freer more gestural style.

Old dogs don't always like new tricks.

W

[FlowerCityLetters]

Arm movement, arm movement, arm movement!

[Andrew H]

Arm movement, arm movement, arm movement!

*Said in a Dalek voice*