Messages

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Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Everyday Handwriting

« on: March 22, 2016, 07:20:11 AM »

Hi! This is my everyday handwriting

Your handwriting is amazing!

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Spencerian Script / Re: Hand Sweat

« on: March 09, 2016, 08:16:08 PM »

I sure hope its normal!  If not...we are probably all in trouble!  Haha! 

Since you are concerned that the sweat is caused by your grip (and, I'm assuming, not the temperature of the room), try holding another object in your non-dominant hand (maybe an eraser or another pen/marker/pencil or even a paper ball) - grip it every time you think your writing hand's grip is too tight.  I use it as a check/comparison - if I clench the eraser and I feel like the grips of both of my hands are equal, then I know (for sure) that I've got to relax my writing hand.

This may be TMI, but I sweat when the room is too hot or I need a break.  Turning down the thermostat and/or going to do something else helps me out.  I can always return to my work later.

Maybe others have better suggestions...

Oh, this makes me feel better.  That certainly wasn't TMI, and this helped me a lot! Thank you Elizabeth!

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Spencerian Script / Hand Sweat

« on: March 08, 2016, 09:11:43 PM »

Hello, I return! However, my return is not with a really serious question-hopefully. When I am practicing, I notice that when I let go of my holder, and open my hand, the hand is moist! I tried loosening my grip, however, this makes it hard to flex the nib. Is this a result of bad hand posture, or is this normal? Thank you!

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Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Is there a correlation between calligraphy skills and everyday handwriting?

« on: February 24, 2016, 04:53:58 PM »

I don't really know, perhaps I've answered too late. However, since I've started learning Spencerian, I realize I incorporate what I've learned into my everyday writing. I try to practice the whole arm movement, which is really hard to perform in school. Otherwise, my penmanship has stayed the same.

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Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Everyday Handwriting

« on: February 15, 2016, 10:48:58 AM »

I thought maybe we could share samples of our everyday handwriting, because this section doesn't seem to have a discussion and samples of our own writing.

You may find this thread from last year of interest.
http://theflourishforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=3543.0

Oh yes!

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Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Everyday Handwriting

« on: February 14, 2016, 06:28:04 PM »

I know I'm new here, however, the community is so welcoming. I thought maybe we could share samples of our everyday handwriting, because this section doesn't seem to have a discussion and samples of our own writing. Please feel welcome and don't be afraid to share!

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Spencerian Script / Re: Whole Arm Movement

« on: February 14, 2016, 05:16:59 PM »

In conducting my own research, I've found an extremely helpful article on the movement. http://www.paperpenalia.com/handwriting.html Check it out if you are unsure!

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Spencerian Script / Re: Whole Arm Movement

« on: February 14, 2016, 12:03:00 PM »

Forgive me if I'm telling you something you already know, Akawaii, but Schin's OpenInkStand Youtube channel is a superb resource, well worth exploring.  Especially the Pointed Pen Calligraphy 101 series which runs to about three hours worth of wit, wisdom and writing demonstrations so far.

Oh yes, I do know that channel! It is amazing and her work is beautiful. I've been tempted to click on the 101 videos, but the length of some of them prevented me from doing so. But now, I think I will click on them. Thank you Andy for all of your amazing help!

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Spencerian Script / Re: Whole Arm Movement

« on: February 14, 2016, 09:12:44 AM »

Whole arm movement is very important.  You can certainly do Ornamental, Spencerian and flourishing without it, but it will be "drawn" rather than written freely.  Eventually, you will reach a point where there will be no more improvement in your writing.  Better to learn properly, right from the start. 

There's quite a bit of information out there about whole arm movement for ornamental styles, but here is a link to a book by C.P. Zaner, that is all about it, reasons to use it, how to do it, etc., etc. 
https://archive.org/details/armmovementmetho00zane

You can see a short video of Del Tysdal demonstrating arm movement penmanship on the IAMPETH website here:
http://www.iampeth.com/video/ornamental-penmanship-demonstration

Unfortunately it's not the best video, but you can see how fast he is writing, and that his fingers never move. 

Flourishing, when done properly, is done incredibly fast!  Like......you can't even believe it's happening that fast and that accurately without any pre-penciled guidelines at all!  I had the opportunity to see a few old masters do it and their fingers never really moved.  They spun the paper around and around as they worked, without even thinking about it, and every line was perfectly placed.  It was mind boggling!  It's possible that I have an old video tape of Del Tysdal flourishing that fast, but if I do, it's on VHS and I haven't transferred any of my videos to digital formal yet.  I need to do that, but I have a real fear of sending them away.  :-/

I hope that helps!

Kathy

OH MY. THE LINK YOU SENT OF THE VIDEO  It just makes me want to keep on practicing, which I am. All of your additional responses have really helped me a lot. Thank you to all of you so much! And Happy Valentine's Day!

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Spencerian Script / Re: Whole Arm Movement

« on: February 13, 2016, 12:21:12 PM »

I think that my shoulder gets sore because I am more or less hiking up the shoulder to make sure that I am lettering using the whole arm, not with just my fingers & wrist!  I can see a dramatic difference in my lettering, but I'm a bit wobbly since I'm so new to this form of lettering!  I hope I can get this down!!

Indeed! When I try to make letters, without the finger movements, the letters are wobbly. I am absolutely amazed by how some people can write so flawlessly, and swiftly, while I am so slow. Practice makes perfect I guess. By the way, what is Periscope?

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Spencerian Script / Re: Whole Arm Movement

« on: February 13, 2016, 12:19:02 PM »

Thanks for opening this discussion Akawaii, I wonder have you been watching any scribes on periscope?

I only ask because I have been, and in the last 24 hours have watched 2 conflicting scopes on the subject of arm and finger movement which have made my brow furrow in confusion!

Specifically, 1 scoper said you MUST use whole arm movement because, amongst other things, fingers, wrists and elbows can only draw a straight line for a limited time before curving, which was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me actually

Then another said finger movements are essential as shapes such as the compound curve (I hope I got the terminology right here) are impossible to execute without them...this also makes total sense!

Soooo, I'm not really sure what this brings to the discussion other than, I join you in your confusion, 

But the responses here are very helpful, thank you.

Exactly! I am very confused!

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Spencerian Script / Re: Whole Arm Movement

« on: February 13, 2016, 09:34:59 AM »

I'm not an expert but we should probably clarify with what I know so we have a point of reference- I was definitely a finger writer for years and years before my accident (and before calligraphy). I became an arm writer largely out of necessity (my injury was a pretty severely crushed right hand complete with multiple broken fingers and torn tendons). That said, if you're doing manuscript styles with broad edge it's typically accepted that most of the practitioners out there are finger writers- however, I was able to produce fairly decent, or at least I think so, foundational and italic with arm movements.

I eventually moved into pointed pen where I am now and, over the last half year or so, practicing very regularly, I've come to really love pointed pen scripts (in my case mostly Spencerian and Copperplate) in a way that I'm not quite sure I ever did with broad edges. Muscular movement, as I understand it (from reading multiple books and watching lots of videos) is based on a movement that starts with the pectorals and shoulders and sort of ripples down into the forearm with the fleshy part of the forearm acting as the primary pivot point. There are, of course, lots of little tricks and quirks that individual practitioners have come up with on their own (I've seen really interesting pivots on knuckles and pen twists among other things) but the theory is very much the same- that your motion is generated further up on the arm and shoulder and therefore it saves your fingers and hand from fatiguing.

If you want some of my sources or just to talk shop about the theory of how it works feel free to PM me as this is a topic I've become very invested into for my calligraphy pursuits. Like I said, I'm not an expert by any stretch, but I think I'd at least be able to point you in a direction.

Thank you so much Entropy, Andy, and Janis for all of your help! If you are using whole arm movement, would your forearm and shoulder feel exhausted, rather than your fingers? Additionally, would you need a large work space to practice this arm movement? Many thanks to all, and I am so happy you guys have included sources. See you!

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Spencerian Script / Whole Arm Movement

« on: February 12, 2016, 07:57:24 PM »

Hello! Is it really true that you need to use your whole arm? I really do not know if I am using my arm properly (that's something I never thought I would say). Please help, any advice is appreciated!

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Spencerian Script / Re: Practicing?

« on: January 26, 2016, 05:40:35 PM »

It's been suggested that one should spend more time reading about their pursuit as they do practicing it. I agree!

Yes!

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Spencerian Script / Re: Practicing?

« on: January 20, 2016, 03:31:52 PM »

Thank you all for your help once again! I have just ordered the Spencerian copybooks and hope to get them by next week. I've just gotten serious about learning Spencerian recently(past week), and have accomplished, or somewhat accomplished the lower case letters a-n. If any of you are wondering which book or source I am using, I believe it is Michael Sull's "Learning to write Spencerian". Once again, thank you! I think I can accomplish one hour of practice a day after exams which will end on Friday, and I will keep all of your advice in mind. Thank you very much, I appreciate it!.