Spencerian Ornamental Signature

[Ken Fraser]

Here's my own Spencerian Ornamental Signature

[Faeleia]

I'm interested to learn more about ornamental signature (already decided to study long and hard at the stuff at IAMPETH), but if anyone can explain in easier terms, how does one start designing their own signature? Those loops I understand come from long time practice and muscle memory, but signatures are something different from regular spencerian. Some of the loops join to the next character, and I wonder if you guys actually sketch out what may work beforehand?

[schin]

Beautiful Ken! I love the extension of the K and W, it flows so well!

Ornamental signature is my biggest hurdle.. I have no clue how the masters do it.. to design the loops to go around each other in a creative and clever yet beautiful way is mind boggling. I have read that some masters can just dish them out in minutes, yet some take some time to plan it out. That said, CP Zaner's signature is so amazing I am convinced he surely must have pored over each loop and letter many times to achieve this masterpiece of signature writing:

[Faeleia]

Schin, I can't see the upload, but since I'm already all over Zaner's beautiful ornamental signature writing, here's some swirly mcswirls. I normally write small to begin with, so big swirls will be one of my greatest challenges..

[schin]

Oh man aren't those just DREAMY!!!

[AndyT]

Love the Smithers one, which starts in the middle with the D.

I've never been quite sure of what to make of Francis Courtney's stranger contributions to penmanship - backslant script for instance - but he was a fantastic signature writer.  They look painterly and spontaneous, and those jagged lines! ... quite a different style from Zaner's.  These three combinations are taken more or less at random from his scrapbook.

[Ken Fraser]

Schin,

A couple of points which may help. Try to cross the lines at as high an angle as is practical - near to right angles if possible. Pay as much attention to the spaces as to the strokes; aim for an even balance, which is most pleasing to the eye. Utilize parallel curves where the opportunity arises. Try to create smooth, flowing lines (you'll have no trouble with that, you've already conquered that hurdle).

Zaner's signature is a true exemplar. Almost all the lines cross at high angles; viewed as a whole, the overall impression is one of beautiful symmetry and balance. At the left and right of the signature, he has produced exceptional parallel curved lines.
A true object lesson in the art of the Ornamental Signature IMHO

Ken

[Katie Leavens]

Love the Smithers one, which starts in the middle with the D.

I've never been quite sure of what to make of Francis Courtney's stranger contributions to penmanship - backslant script for instance - but he was a fantastic signature writer.  They look painterly and spontaneous, and those jagged lines! ... quite a different style from Zaner's.  These three combinations are taken more or less at random from his scrapbook.

Andy, thanks for sharing these! I hadn't seen Courtney's work before. It's so unique—definitely a different spin on the usual clean lines of calligraphy.

[AnasaziWrites]

My favorite is one of Lupfer's later signatures.

[AnasaziWrites]

Needs work.