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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Is a lightbox worth it?

« on: February 03, 2019, 10:29:05 AM »

I have no problem with guidelines and I use them constantly with my lightbox. I see no virtue in constantly creating and rubbing out pencil guidelines and like others I have a collection of various widths and angles printed off.

BTW there are some early examples of formal writing which is produced between parallel horizontal lines. The lines serve to keep the writing straight and don't impede the lettering in any way. There was obviously no attempt to remove the lines later and they became part of he overall design.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: The Evolution of the Alphabet

« on: February 03, 2019, 10:15:11 AM »

How interesting. Thanks for posting!

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Why did you start calligraphy?

« on: February 03, 2019, 10:10:11 AM »

At school, around 1950 when I was twelve years old, I took German as a second language and can still remember the impression the first text book made on me. I couldn't understand how none of my classmates shared my appreciation of the beautiful lettering which was my first intro to Gothic Blackletter. Five years later, I bought a copy of the newly-published "Italic Handwriting" by Tom Gourdie and was totally hooked. At that time, to the best of my knowledge, there was no Society or Guild for calligraphy in Scotland so I was self-taught by necessity.
In 1960, I was called up for National Service in the army. During my first Winter in Germany, I wrote my Christmas cards in which I now recognize was a mutilated form of Foundational, and to my amazement, I was engulfed by requests to write Christmas card envelopes. Even charging minimal amounts I was able to go several weeks without drawing my army pay. After my discharge in 1963 I continued my progress and started to work part-time as a jobbing calligrapher. I eventually became full-time in January 1992 and spent some of my time at the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh as a calligrapher (writing exclusively on Vellum) but as my own business grew rapidly, I left there after a short time. I am still working full-time as a calligrapher aged 80.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Collecting pen holders

« on: February 03, 2019, 09:31:27 AM »

I have a number of dip penholders which I've accumulated over the years. I have to admit that I'm more interested in what they can do, as opposed to how they look. Exceptions are oblique holders by Brian Smith and one by Salman They are easy to write with and are great to look at. The work of true craftsmen, who also happen to be more than capable calligraphers, which probably goes a long way too explaining the high quality of their products.
Some time ago, I made an oblique pencil following instructions by Dr Joe Vitolo on IAMPETH. I use it a lot for practice away from my desk when ink isn't practical (or safe!) and can highly recommend it.

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