Messages

1

Broad Edge Pen Calligraphy / Re: So, I need help using my "chiseled edge" calligraphy markers.

« on: October 11, 2021, 08:06:40 PM »

I'm sorry, Erica. I really thought I replied to your question last night- obviously, that is not the case. As to what brand these markers are, they are "ArtSkills." I tried italic with them, but I am so used to my Pelikan, I simply cannot get used to how these feel. They are "chunky."

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Broad Edge Pen Calligraphy / So, I need help using my "chiseled edge" calligraphy markers.

« on: October 10, 2021, 09:18:07 PM »

Hey there guys and gals! I figured I'm long overdue with my yearly post, and seeing as how l managed to find a box of these chiseled set of markers, it gives me the perfect opportunity to ask you all what type of letterforms I am supposed to be creating with them. These markers, truth be told, are more or less "junk". I'm not saying that because I am at a loss as to what they are supposed to do, but I am saying this because there are plenty of other markers on the market that serve the same purpose, in a much better fashion.

I kind of expected these to be like the Kuretake oblique nib markers, but, they're not. They are also not like the Pilot Parallel markers, as the chiseled edge is cut at roughly a 45° angle. They really just fail to do any one thing great, so I'm wondering if I'm missing something. I grew up learning with "Elegant Writer" broad edge markers, and sadly, these markers are not even a close second.

So, will someone please explain to me how I should be using a broad edge marker that is cut at a 45° angle?
.

3

Tools & Supplies / Re: What Doesn't Pilot Sell Their Parallel Pens In Chain Stores?

« on: August 14, 2021, 10:53:43 PM »

Thank you, both of you, for sharing your experiences. I forgot to mention Meijers as being a place I searched, and I'm not sure why, seeing as how JoAnn, Hobby Lobby, Staples, and Walmart are all in the same little plaza here. I don't think I could throw a rock from one of their parking lots without hitting a car in one of the other parking lots.

I guess this isn't exactly the type of question that will have the Nobel committee knocking at my door for solving, but I wind up with a question like this bothering me until I find a solution to. I guess I will just contact Pilot, via email (assuming they have a contact us email address), and see what they say.

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Tools & Supplies / What Doesn't Pilot Sell Their Parallel Pens In Chain Stores?

« on: August 14, 2021, 06:55:56 PM »

I've tried Hobby Lobby (where I originally bought the set of four pens quite a few years ago), JoAnn Fabric, Michaels, Staples, Target, even Walmart, and not one of the stores carries these pens in-house. Is there some sort of exclusivity agreement that I am unaware of, or is this Pilot's plan to increase demand by making them available, same day anyhow, to no one? For every 25 things I walk right past in Hobby Lobby that I can't imagine being more popular than a Parallel, I may walk past 1 thing that is. Heck, they even started carrying those Speedball brand oblique holders, which I get may be appealing to someone just starting pointed-pen, but for the rest of us, they're more limiting than anything.

I forget, is there a cartridge that is compatible with the Parallel? I dont do much broad edge calligraphy, so pardon me for being a moron.

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Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Is Copperplate Script, Done in Pencil, Still Copperplate Calligraphy?

« on: March 22, 2020, 12:37:24 AM »

I'll admit to frequently nerding out to some YouTube videos about all things calligraphy. Recently, I've come across quite a few videos where the calligrapher is using a plain old #2 pencil. There are also a few videos of people using 0.7mm mechanical pencils. All of them look great, but the ensuing comments after each video is downright nauseating, and wreaks of condescension. Everything from "the x-heights are incorrect" (to be fair, they're not), to "are you sure youve got the right slant for that script?" So, I got to thinking about a post I made many years ago, as to who is to say what is, or is not, proper calligraphy. Naturally, I remembered that I am a member here, so I wanted to get your opinions.

1. Is Copperplate script, done in pencil, still considered Copperplate script if the angles, shading, and spacing are correct? Why, or why not?

2.  Why is it that a script with a 55° slant is one script, but a script written with the exact same shading, and even spacing, but written at a 40° slant magically transforms the script to something else?

6

Favorite Resources / Re: Yoke Pen Co

« on: February 04, 2019, 08:43:44 PM »

Now I feel silly. I just wrote a question asking why we can only purchase our nibs at JNB and PaperInkArts before I remembered to check this thread.
The only time I had Vintage Hunt 22s, I purchased them from a glass installation business that used to carry some art supplies. I was super fortunate, and nagged a box of 12 of them for $3.50.
Thanks for the links, everybody. I'm off to check them out now.

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Tools & Supplies / Why are there so few suppliers?

« on: February 04, 2019, 08:34:02 PM »

I understand that the calligraphy supplies market is extremely niche, but I still can't help but wonder why, in the US at least, we only have PaperInkArts or John Neal Booksellers to choose from when we w
Pant to order nibs.
The only exception I have ever found was completely by accident, and I managed to pick up 12 Vintage Hunt 22s, for the absurd price of 3.50 for all 12. This was at a store that sells and installs glass, but used to have a very, very small art department in it for some reason.
I know that the hobby shops, like Michaels and Hobbylobby sell those "kits" with a straight holder, and maybe 3 more nibs, but that's not what I'm asking about.
Is there some sort of agreement between companies like Gillot, Hunt, and the rest of the nib manufacturers stating they will only sell to those two places?

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Favorite Resources / Re: Yoke Pen Co

« on: February 04, 2019, 05:52:50 AM »

I know this has been a "dead" thread for awhile, but I just wanted to pass along that he is a great guy, as well as a great pen holder maker. Seeing as how he and I are both in Indiana, I reached out to him to see if he happened to have any info as to where I could purchase some Vintage Hunt 22s. Even though he had no inside knowledge as to where I may want to look, we struck up quite the conversation about nibs, and how it is best to buy in bulk once you find the nib you know you will use all the time.
I know that didn't add anything to the topic, but I like to give nice people, and helpful people as much credit as possible.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Dumb Question Regarding Dried Ink

« on: October 04, 2017, 02:56:56 AM »

Sorry, Estefa, I did not even bother contacting McCaffrey's because I thought it could only possibly go one of two ways. Either being told, "sorry, the ingredients are a proprietary formula", or, "it's $7.00 ink. Buy a new bottle." Granted, the last scenario would most likely never happen, but for whatever reason, I didn't want them (people I wouldn't know from Adam, nor would they know me) to somehow view me as a cheapskate.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Dumb Question Regarding Dried Ink

« on: October 02, 2017, 09:36:34 PM »

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately, I had tried distilled water, but four days later, all I had is a little bit of colored water, with a big glop of dried, gummy ink in the middle. I was wanting to know how to reconstitute the ink mainly because of the "I made the problem, I should be able to fix it" mentality. I'm finding that approach doesn't work in a lot of things.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Dumb Question Regarding Dried Ink

« on: October 01, 2017, 06:18:53 PM »

So, I managed to leave a small bottle of McCaffrey's Penman's ink slightly less closed than it should have been. I know the ink is only 7.00, but being a glutton for punishment, I'm curious if it is possible to reconstitute this ink. As it stands now, the "ink" is more or less one big chewed up gumball, and useless.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Will Calligraphy Ever Have "New" Scripts?

« on: September 30, 2017, 07:26:39 PM »

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks about these type of things.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Will Calligraphy Ever Have "New" Scripts?

« on: September 24, 2017, 06:46:45 AM »

Ahh, you are quite correct! My apologies.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Will Calligraphy Ever Have "New" Scripts?

« on: September 23, 2017, 07:57:02 PM »

I've been looking at a lot of calligraphy sites lately, including supplier websites that offer nibs, in, holders, etc, and they all have sections for specific types of Calligraphy. The two most prominent being simply labeled as "broad edge" & "pointed pen", and it made me start thinking more than I should. When I looked at the histories of the different pointed pen scripts a long time ago, and saw how Spencerian was named after it's creator, I wondered "how long did this guy write like this and how was he able to have his own system of writing accepted as a standard?" I know modern calligraphy has become a pretty popular thing, but do you guys and gals think we will ever have a "new" standard for any of the calligraphy scripts? For example, if I practiced Spencerian, and couldn't get it 100% correct in it's technical standards, why couldn't I eventually just call it "Calligriophilian Script?"
That's kind of a dumb question, but when you think about it, we really haven't had any new Scripts for a long time. I know Computers have programs that can create all the scripts we can produce, but has it caused complacency, or is there no reason to try to try to innovate?

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / IAMPETH revisited

« on: September 21, 2017, 01:06:30 PM »

A couple of nights ago, I got into a somewhat philosophical debate that centered on the title of "Master Penman." I realized that I couldn't find the exact criteria needed in order for someone to become a "Master Penman", aside from being able to show mastery and proficiency in at least 3 scripts. This led me to look at some of the other well-known calligraphers that are not IAMPETH certified as being a Master Penman. Then it dawned on me that there really were no posted breakdowns that said what exactly makes one Penman more or less qualified than any other calligrapher. Which led me to question the overall significance, or lack thereof, to being labeled a Master Penman. I love the IAMPETH site, and I really enjoy the free-to-read PDF's Dr. Joe Vitollo posted of early penman's instruction manual. I have learned a great amount over on their site, but I keep wondering why some were chosen to be labeled "Master Penman", and jf the title carries any weight outside of calligraphy centered groups. Is Master Penman something you would list as a previous, or current, job title?

I am honestly just confused as to why so many great calligraphers, many of whom post here frequently, are not labeled as Master Penmen/Penwomen. Is it because they simply could not attend the meetings, or drop a large sum of cash for enrollment into this program? It seems somewhat silly that, given the number of great calligraphers around, there are still relatively few designated as Master Penmen.