Author Topic: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!  (Read 5179 times)

Offline NikkiB

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Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« on: February 26, 2014, 07:47:08 AM »
Hi there,

I've been practising as often as I can using Erica's fab tutorials and I thought I would post my most recent practise sheet for critique.  I can see lots of errors but it's always helpful to have another eye especially an experienced one! What do I need to work on most?

Thank you for your advice!  :)
Nikki x

Offline ewigginton

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2014, 09:30:10 AM »
Looking good!!!!!

Offline Perfectsettings

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2014, 09:33:33 AM »
Agreed!  It looks awesome.  Good for you. 
Daisy
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Offline Nickkih

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2014, 10:27:51 AM »
Awesome job!!!! I love it  :)
Mom, Grandma, and Calligrapher

Offline Roseann

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2014, 10:47:05 AM »
Hi Nikki,
I really like your letters.  If I can help a little, I would say to be mindful of your lead in strokes.  For example, the end of 'w' on wizard needs to have a lead in stroke to the 'i'.  Same for 'waltzes', the 'w-a'.
The same for the 'i' in ivory.  There should be more lead in stroke from the 'i' to the 'v', and the 'v' to the 'o'. Same for 'vow'.
Also, lead in strokes should be slightly curved, not straight. 
I hope this helps. 
 
Roseann

“The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”   R. L. Stevenson

Offline Marilou Marshall

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2014, 12:27:28 PM »
Keep up the great work! Your passion and perseverance shows!
LOVE what you DO!
pinterest.com/maloumarshall/

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2014, 04:39:24 PM »
Wow - you're doing great Nikki!  :) It looks like you really have the shape of the letters down and now it will just be developing a rhythm to smooth out the edges, so to speak.

Just a couple of suggestions. Watch the end strokes, particularly on your g's at the end of a word. They should come up smoothly just as if there were another letter there and finish with a "connector" stroke that doesn't connect to anything. But it should have a little curve to it. Yours are just a bit straight and so end abruptly. (Look at lazy, dog, heavy, waltzes, jigs, quickly, and amazingly.) You just want to bring it up a touch further and curve it ever so slightly. This is one of those "finishing touches" so don't be discouraged - it will definitely come with time.

Also, work on the shape of your letter c's. They should start just a touch over to the right a bit more so they are more oval shaped. I would also concentrate practice on bottom loops (y's, j's, g's).

Overall, your slant looks great - nice and consistent - and line heights are good. Your letterforms look great! So just keep practicing and working on the c shape, bottom loops, and exit strokes.

 ;D
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Offline NikkiB

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2014, 06:57:40 PM »
Thank you for your advice and encouragement!

I will certainly work on the areas you mentioned Rosanne and Erica.

I am not sure how to do the connective stroke for my Ws and Vs, is it that they should be a little longer and more curved? A visual would really help but I appreciate this is time consuming.  I did have another look at Erica's lesson on Vs and Ws and at the practice words and I think I know what you're suggesting but I just wanted to check.

Thanks again!  :)
Nikki x

Offline Linda Y.

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2014, 09:44:52 PM »
really nice work, Nikki!

Offline NikkiB

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2014, 08:12:22 AM »
Ahhhh! Lightbulb moment!

I was missing the lead in stroke on my Vs & Ws! Thank you for pointing that out Rosanne, I hadn't noticed, I've not been doing that for a while, I may need to relearn the letter form, lol!   ::)

edit: hmmmm, just checked again and the lead in strokes are there (without the curves, but I can work on that) so I guess I'm still confused... Help!  ;D
« Last Edit: February 27, 2014, 08:15:15 AM by NikkiB »
Nikki x

Offline Roseann

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2014, 10:27:03 AM »
Hi Nikki,

Can you try to 1. come back down a bit on the last stroke of the 'w', and then 2. come out with a slight upwards to the right for the lead in to the next letter.
Please visit the IAMPETH video page IAMPETH and watch:

Lowercase Letters Group II, Part 1 of 3, i,u,w
and
Lowercase Letters Group III, Part 1 of 2, v,x
« Last Edit: February 27, 2014, 06:10:55 PM by Erica McPhee »
Roseann

“The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”   R. L. Stevenson

Offline Linda Y.

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2014, 12:44:05 PM »
I'm a bit confused too - when we say "lead-in strokes," for instance the letter "w," are we talking about the START of w? Sounds like to me we're talking more about the "connector stroke" for w, which is at the END?

If so, then strokes should be where the arrows are... (please see Mr. Lupfer's example below)




Offline Roseann

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2014, 12:55:25 PM »
Yes Linda!  That's perfect.
Roseann

“The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”   R. L. Stevenson

Offline NikkiB

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2014, 03:10:12 PM »
Linda, Rosanne,

Thank you so much for the links they explained it perfectly.

I am really grateful that you took the time to help me out xxx
Nikki x

Offline NikkiB

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Re: Sooooooo...how am I doing?!
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2015, 10:04:04 AM »
It's been a long time since I posted for a critique, I started and stopped and started again, I have been practising for several months now and, looking at my previous effort, I'm not sure if I've made much progress! I fear may not have been practising with purpose...

I had a go at self critiquing but to me it all looks bad, lol! Tell me what I need to do to get better  :-\

Thanks!
Nikki x