Topics

1

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Non-metallic but shiny ink

« on: May 22, 2016, 03:43:34 PM »

Hi All,

How's it going, everyone? 

Does anyone know of a gouache brand or brand of ink that leaves a slightly raised texture on the paper and is a little bit glossy? I don't want the shininess of metallics and would like the options of different colors.  Or maybe there's something that can be added to regular gouache that will give it this quality?  I'm thinking of something similar to the satin sheen of oil paint.

Thanks,

Debbie

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Iampeth 2016

« on: March 12, 2016, 11:20:34 AM »

Who is signed up?  I can't believe I'm in! 

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Help!

« on: February 10, 2016, 06:51:00 PM »

Hi All. 

I've been asked to do 60 names on black, 3" x 3" mini-canvases (of course it's in a hurry  ) and I'm wondering if anyone has experience working on tiny canvas and what tools and materials you might have used. She doesn't care much about what style the writing is but asked if I could do something similar to the invitation which is an all lower case with short ascenders, font.  If you used a paint brush, what brand? 

Thanks so much!

Debbie

4

Broad Edge Pen Calligraphy / 16th Century Pattern Book for Scribes

« on: October 13, 2015, 10:34:58 AM »

Hi Everyone,

I've just completed another wonderful online class with Harvest Crittenden on Illuminated Letters--not the main thrust of conversation here in the FF!  The class took me away for the moment, from what I truly love to do and that is pointed pen work.  But the more I delve into it, the more interesting I find some of the ancient forms of calligraphy and manuscript writing.  Much of it is not to my liking (actually, I like looking at broad edge styles, but don't find the same sense of pleasure in doing them as I do from watching the flex of a pointed nib) but then I'll see something that knocks my socks off, like this 16th century Pattern Book for Scribes.  There's much here that we can use today, whether illuminating or not.

On the same site, I saw the second one--a little less amusing for me, but maybe for you... Hopefully some of you will enjoy perusing these two books:

http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/16th-century-pattern-book-for-scribes/

http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/the-proper-art-of-writing-1655/

Debbie

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Japanese Calligraphy

« on: March 23, 2015, 08:29:38 AM »

Hi Everyone.  Does anyone know Japanese Calligraphy?  don't remember how I came across Esteban Martinez, but he is a Japanese Calligraphy teacher with a new online class starting in a few days.  It appears that it will be quite different from the way Harvest teaches her online courses and I have no idea how well he well ye teaches or how much the course will cost but I thought there might be others in the FF that would be interested.  Anyway, here is a video he just posted about the class. 

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Since it's Valentine's Day...

« on: February 14, 2015, 12:01:38 PM »

How to write a really good Love Letter:
 
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/02/a-modern-guide-to-the-love-letter/385370/?lang=en&utm_campaign=10today&flab_cell_id=2&flab_experiment_id=19&uid=2082898&utm_content=article&utm_source=email&part=s1&utm_medium=10today.0212&position=4&china_variant=False

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Broad Edge taken to new dimensions.

« on: February 04, 2015, 09:16:33 AM »

I came across this talented calligrapher who adds a 3rd dimension and thought I'd share it with broad edge fans.  http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/02/new-3d-calligraphy-experiments-by-tolga-girgin/

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Beautiful Envelope Contest - There's No Place Like Home

« on: January 14, 2015, 08:53:30 AM »

This just in from the Ornamental Penmanship Group on Yahoo.  I KNOW some of you are definitely up to this challenge! 

Create an envelope to illustrate what HOME means to you and address it artistically--that's the challenge of this year's Graceful Envelope Contest. Deadline is March 30; there is no entry fee.

Winners will be chosen based on artistic hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme -- "There's No Place Like Home" -- and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).

More information is at http://www.calligraphersguild.org/envelope.html where you can also view glorious winning envelopes from past contests!

And if you'd like additional inspiration, check out the Washington Calligraphers Guild's latest issue of Scripsit, which reproduces 141 winning Graceful Envelopes from the last six years as well as comments from contest jurors. See http://www.calligraphersguild.org for ordering info and a list of the artists represented.

--Lorraine Swerdloff
Contest Coordinator for the Washington Calligraphers Guild

PS: Flyers for guild newsletters and schools (the contest encourages student entries in three grade categories) can be downloaded at http://www.calligraphersguild.org/PDF/2015GracefulEnvCall.pdf
__._,_.___

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Wonderful News!

« on: January 12, 2015, 08:28:14 AM »

Well, it seems the general public are being encouraged to take up the pen again.  In case you missed it: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/11/benefits-of-writing-letters-and-postcards_n_6425540.html?1420995394&utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / The strangest nib I've ever seen

« on: January 03, 2015, 09:03:32 AM »

Can anyone tell what this nib might have been made for?  It's marked Sveriges (Sweden) 030ef and has a fair amount of flex.  I found it in a mixed box of nibs that a local vintage fountain pen collector had. 

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Desks and Chairs that keep you away from the chiropractor

« on: July 22, 2014, 08:27:08 PM »

I've greatly enjoyed seeing work spaces from all that've shared (I guess I only shared mine on IG...note to self...).  But from the pro's, what do you use for a work surface?  Is it slanted or flat?  And how about the height of the surface to your seat?  What have you found to be the best combo of chair and desk?  If I'm going to keep doing this, I have to find something that doesn't hurt.  My island and chairs are not right and my desk and chair combo aren't any better.  I'm looking for model names, brands, etc. 

Would this work, or is this the idea I need to look for?  http://www.samflaxsouth.com/Prod-39-1-3119-129/berkley-drafting-combo.htm

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Something very calming and beautiful

« on: July 02, 2014, 10:39:44 AM »

I've watched this at least half-a-dozen times.  I hope you all enjoy... 

http://www.thegchannel.com/tag/emily-canter/

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Who are the people who do Calligraphy?

« on: June 10, 2014, 08:33:03 AM »

In reading a post by LoriM, I decided to go ahead and ask the community if you would be interested in knowing, "Just who are the people drawn to calligraphy?" 

I'm thinking of creating a Survey Monkey survey to answer that question for any of us interested and would appreciate your questions that you think would answer that.  With the free survey Monkey, we can ask only 10 questions so your input would be great.  Some questions I've come up with may not be the best, but so far:

Do you know your/What is your Meyers Briggs type indicator?
Do you have dogs or cats, or both?   
Are you a trained artist?
When not doing calligraphy do you print or write in cursive?
Is this a hobby or do you hope to, or already use calligraphy as an income generator?
Do you listen to music when practicing calligraphy?  What kind? 
What is your best time of day for practice? 
How many hours do you practice per day, per week? 

We could do a second survey on methods and techniques.  We're seeing people from other countries join the Forum (heaven knows how many check in without joining!) where classes are unavailable.  A second survey offering answers to methods and techniques questions might be especially helpful to them.   

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Suggestions & Ideas / Reply Button on an older thread

« on: June 04, 2014, 07:36:31 PM »

As the Forum grows, there are many of us who are new to calligraphy as well as to the Forum.  Since so much information has been buried deeply in these threads over time, might there be a REPLY button to reply to a specific comment, rather than to the entire thread? 

15

Kind Critique / First critique request on the forum

« on: May 27, 2014, 07:49:03 PM »

In the absence of an interactive 'class' I'm thrilled to be able to ask for any pointers or direction from you folks.  Classes in Atlanta are just too few and far between!  So, right now I'm mostly having fun with trying to discipline myself to study and practice but sometimes without guidance, I can put my energies into the wrong thing--and it might be something subtle or easy to remedy.  I did read the self-critique article and just feel some guidance might take me up to the next level--about 1mm up.   

For example, something I can see... With downstrokes of say a minuscule "d", they look square when I do them but they dry rounded, sometimes.  Why is that, what can I do about it (without touching up) and how/why is it undesirable to be rounded?  But anything else you see or are willing to share, I'd be grateful to read. 

Thanks! 

Debbie