Messages

1

Broad Edge Pen Calligraphy / Re: Manuscript pens

« on: February 24, 2021, 10:00:57 AM »

Thank you very much, Mr. Fraser. I can¡'t find this specific pen in their website. It doesn't matter anyway, as they only ship within the UK. I have other fountain pens with italic nibs of different sizes and I am quite happy with them. However you will agree with me that one has never too many pens 

2

Introductions / Re: introduction

« on: February 23, 2021, 03:36:10 PM »

I will be looking forward. I am not in a hurry. Calligraphy is the master of patience 

3

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: We have a New Superhero - Jean Wilson!

« on: February 23, 2021, 03:28:38 PM »

Thanks for your constant support and congratulations!

4

Broad Edge Pen Calligraphy / Re: Manuscript pens

« on: February 23, 2021, 03:17:34 PM »

These pens looks gorgeous and (in your hand!) write beautifully. I would love to buy a set but I haven't find it in Manuscript web page or in any retailer. Any idea where I could find it? Thanks.

5

Introductions / Re: introduction

« on: January 21, 2021, 01:45:09 PM »

Sorry, Toby. I didn't know you were such an experienced Spencerian. We started last Saturday and we really started from the very beginning. However we are quite a big group and (for the initial presentations and the posts I have seen in their IG accounts) I can tell there are very good calligrapher among us. Hope they don't get bored, as there were other people asking how to prep a nib.

By the way, I'd love to see a picture of your fountain pens, at least of the ten of your collection. Fountain pens are lovely creatures...

6

Tools & Supplies / Re: Watercolor ratio

« on: January 11, 2021, 04:01:25 PM »

I don't know if this will be of any help, as probably every brand of liquid watercolor has a different concentration, but I use Talens Ecoline just right from the bottle and it works great for both pointed and broad edge. That gives you a vibrant opaque color. If you are looking for a more watercolory translucent effect, I guess you have to dilute it, but it may be too watery to wok with.

7

Introductions / Re: introduction

« on: January 06, 2021, 10:39:46 AM »

Hi Toby,

I am taking a 6 month course on Spencerian taught by Mike Ward. We start on January the 16th. It is hosted by The European Pointed Pen Collective. You can find more info in their web page: https://www.pointedpencollective.com/

Otherwise I am a newbie, also interested in Spencerian and very willing to share info, resources and (eventual) progress.

8

Tools & Supplies / Re: Moon palace sumi ink

« on: December 20, 2020, 04:38:15 PM »

Thank you for the information, Nicole. I am not in the US and Moon Palace is not easy to find her. I will try anyway.

9

Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Comparison

« on: December 17, 2020, 03:37:09 PM »

@AnasaziWrites

I am in Prague (Czech Republic).

10

Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Comparison

« on: December 17, 2020, 02:45:51 PM »

Thank you very much for the bibliographical information. The book I have looks exactly like the paperback one on the right (although the cover is gray), but doesn't correspond to your measurements: mine is 15,5 cm x 23 cm. The impressum says it was published by Snowball Publishing in 2012, but in the last page it says it has been printed by Amazon in Poland, I guess much more recently. The Snowball Publishing webpage doesn't show it in their catalogue. The printing is decent, but the paper is low quality. I bough it a couple of months ago in Amazon Germany, as it is the only edition I could find around. In summary, the one I have is an obscure edition that definitely doesn't make any justice to the original. I will try to find something better.

11

Tools & Supplies / Re: Moon palace sumi ink

« on: December 16, 2020, 05:16:58 PM »

Thank you very much for your answer. I didn't know that video and it is very instructive indeed. I don't quite like Kuretake mainly for two reasons: it makes thick hairlines it sticks to the nib (you can't wash it out). However in the video ranking it is one with the finest hairlines. The only advantage I see is that it works well in almost any paper (doesn't feather at all). However I will buy a bottle of Moon Palace if I can find it around. Thanks again.

12

Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Comparison

« on: December 16, 2020, 09:28:11 AM »

Thank you anyway, Mr. Fraser. I am not a Copperplate practitioner, so the two questions were just for the shake of curiosity.

Concerning the book, I think the only edition available today is the one I have (or another one quite similar). It is a shame, because the plates are so reduced they are almost unreadable (at least for my poor eyes).

13

Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Comparison

« on: December 15, 2020, 07:54:31 AM »

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am learning a lot in this thread. May I have two questions?

1) Do you know the source of that John Clark's quote?

2) Who were the two proficient engravers Clark had in mind? I assume George Bickham is one of them, but what about the other?

Well, in fact I have a third question a bit off-topic: Is there any good modern facsimile edition of "The Universal Penman". The one I have is a humble paperback pocket edition printed for Amazon. Attending to the introduction by Philip Hofer (signed in 1941), this seems to be a cheap reprint of a larger format facsimile. 

Thanks in advance.

14

Tools & Supplies / Moon palace sumi ink

« on: December 12, 2020, 06:05:07 PM »

In my short calligraphy journey I have tried all the inks I could find and I have to confess that I am not fond of (generally beloved) sumi ink, specially for pointed pen. Everybody recommends Moon Palace, but the only sumi ink I can find around is Kuretake. My question is very simple: is Moon Palace much better than Kuretake? If so, where is the difference? I just would like to know if it is worth to try to find it somewhere. Thanks in advance.

15

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Two Short video clips

« on: December 01, 2020, 04:18:02 PM »

I find a lot of analogies in the processes of learning calligraphy and learning to play a music instrument, but it maybe just a personal perception. The overlapping of music and chess seems more evident, as both have a mathematical foundation. In the 18th century François-André Danican Phillidor excelled in composing music and playing chess. I am not sure if today's chess players know anything about his music compositions or if music lovers are aware about his chess career. We are too overspecialized to think something like that is even possible.

The other day Paul Antonio posted a video in Instagram, where he sings Gregorian chant while writing in textura, connecting the rhythm of the music with rhythm of the letters. I think is worth a watch.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHvWcFZgJ2R/

By the way, does anybody know other musician-calligraphers (present or past) apart from Mr. Fraser?