Engrossing Script

[supxor]

I am less than 2 years studying engrossing script with Bill Lilly. I hope that the readership might well enjoy a scripted quote that I penned this afternoon. I used a Lilly holder, in fact one, that Bill used, himself, for three years. Within the period of study, I have found Bill's holders, with a longer extending flange, to do the job better than others. It takes some some to get used to the longer flange, but once I conquered it, I found that it most easy to control. To date, I have about 10 Lilly holders. With the one I used, today, I also have one among the serveral in m collection, which Bill declared his finest holder. It is quite a remarkable holder.

 

 

[DBQMary]

Incredible! Thank you for sharing. Your script is so beautiful and I also find the quote very meaningful.

[stonezebra]

Just gorgeous! Love the matching of color to word - very striking.

[supxor]

I shall include two other examples of my script. Bill Lilly, my teacher, requested that I script a certificate, fashioned after those required at the now-closed Zanerian College of Penmanship. I learned that Bill signed it over the weekend. The other example is a Sara Teasdale quote, which I scripted with one of Bill's holders. The one in the photo, according to Bill, is his finest holder he ever made. With the use of no lathe, he carved it entirely by hand. The ivory finial was carved from the handle of an old hand brush he had in his and his wife's home. Enjoy.

[Mickey]

I've only got 3 of Bill's holder, only one of which looks much like yours. Here's one he made a good while ago.

 

[supxor]

Mickey:

 

...really like the Lilly holder you have.

[Mickey]

I bought this Lilly holder from an FP dealer a couple of years ago, along with a Magnusson and a half dozen boxes points. It was unmarked and the dealer knew nothing about it. Fast forward about a year. Bill was making a holder for me and I asked if he'd take a guess at the maker of my mystery holder. I sent him the picture above and a few minutes later back came the message that he'd made it. Small world.

[Pentulant]

Beautiful script. Thank you for sharing it.

[supxor]

Today, I received this certificate from Bill Lilly, who requested weeks ago that I create one modeled upon the those of the late Zanerian College of Penmanship, where he earned in 1953 one of the few gold seal certificates in engrossing script. After four copies, which I created, I selected the best one and submitted it to him last week. With his eagle eye, he reviewed it and deemed the work worthy of his signature and seal, which he hand crated.

 

Less than two years, I began my studies and practice of this demanding, yet beautiful alphabet, and now a few months shy of my 65th birthday and an active professor of voice at Indiana University, my respect of this art of engrossing is deeply etched into my heart. Although I am far from a master or professional scripter, I do post many cards and greetings to individuals, and each of them are received with so much favor and pleasure.

 

Bill Lilly's respect for the engrossing art has provoked me to push myself to a quality of scripting I could not have forseen less than two years ago. And should my present level of script receive any degree of positive favor, I shall share it, then, in sum to Bill. He might well be one of the last two or three scripters left and who studied at the Zanerian College, and his high level of instruction is reflective of the intense mentoring he received from several of the nation's renown scripters. As a side note, as Bach is to music, Lilly is to script. If any of you wish to take this art up, and since Bill, though in great shape, is by no means a young man, I urge you to contact him for some instruction at his Galloway, OH home and studio.

 

[Mickey]

Today, I received this certificate from Bill Lilly, who requested weeks ago that I create one modeled upon the those of the late Zanerian College of Penmanship, where he earned in 1953 one of the few gold seal certificates in engrossing script. After four copies, which I created, I selected the best one and submitted it to him last week. With his eagle eye, he reviewed it and deemed the work worthy of his signature and seal, which he hand crated.

 

Less than two years, I began my studies and practice of this demanding, yet beautiful alphabet, and now a few months shy of my 65th birthday and an active professor of voice at Indiana University, my respect of this art of engrossing is deeply etched into my heart. Although I am far from a master or professional scripter, I do post many cards and greetings to individuals, and each of them are received with so much favor and pleasure.

 

Bill Lilly's respect for the engrossing art has provoked me to push myself to a quality of scripting I could not have forseen less than two years ago. And should my present level of script receive any degree of positive favor, I shall share it, then, in sum to Bill. He might well be one of the last two or three scripters left and who studied at the Zanerian College, and his high level of instruction is reflective of the intense mentoring he received from several of the nation's renown scripters. As a side note, as Bach is to music, Lilly is to script. If any of you wish to take this art up, and since Bill, though in great shape, is by no means a young man, I urge you to contact him for some instruction at his Galloway, OH home and studio.

 

 

Bill talked to me about you. I was at I.U. from '72-76. I studied with Paul Matthen. Many a day and night was spent in the MAC.

[supxor]

Dear Mickey,

 

My goodness; you are an IU grad. I presume the place has changed significantly since the time you were here. As for myself, I have been on the fac. since 2004. Previous to my tenure, I was near a 25 year tenure at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

 

Have you been studying with Bill for some time? I dearly love and respect him--and has been immensely helpful as a script teacher.

 

Share your script, if you will.

[supxor]

Mickey,

 

By the way, you are very lucky to have a Magnusson. I thought I had a seller willing to sell one to me, but such didn't happen. If you ever wish to part with yours, let me know.

 

I actually have grown very comfortable with Bill's. I find the long, extending flange--unique to his holders--aids my scripting. At first, I wrestled with it and eventually put it aside. Months later, I tried it again, and found it to be the finest for me. The one with the ivory finial, picture above, is a real gem--a very special holder. Bill made it, used it for several years, and declared it the finest holder he ever made and used. Last year, while at his home, he should it to me. I was so taken by it, that I asked if he was willing to sell it. He paused for a moment, and then said, yes. At the same time he had a Zanerian holder---never used even by him. He purchased it at the Zanerian College near the time of his graduation aware that the school would eventually have to close due to decreased need for scripters. I, to date, have not used it--a rather silly idea, I believe simply save it. At some time, I shall become rational and load a nib in it and with it write.

 

Needn't bore you with more blather.

 

Thanks for your kind responses.

[hlyuqi]

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m532/hlyuqi1/IMG_0999.jpg

 

Wow, very excited to see today's certificate of penmanship! It's a very cool tradition of Zanerian College!

I also made a certificate, but with the wrong choice of paper and bad lay out, it can only serve as a bad example.

[supxor]

...such beautiful script, Ritchie. It is not an easy certificate to script. Too, it is nothing short of a challenge to justify the right hand margin. Again, your script is simply beautiful.

[supxor]

Perfecting, but not, perfection. Love to script!!! Just finished this project.

[Randal6393]

That's progress! Anyone would be proud to write that well. And a classic look to it. Love the flourishes and illumination, understated and ornamental.

 

Congratulations on your work.

[supxor]

Thanks, Randal, for the encouraging words. As you well know, the script alphabet is a difficult one to accomplish--and no less so is flourish, which I am just now beginning to get a handle on. Share your work, here, if you wish. Best wishes. Bob.

Edited April 23, 2014 by supxor

[supxor]

...enjoyed scripting a Robert Browning poem, this morn.

Edited April 23, 2014 by supxor

[supxor]

...just completed this beautiful poem by Rainer Maria Rilke.

[supxor]

...just completed, today. Growth, I do see. ...such a difficult alphabet, but one worth perfecting. I am honored to serve it to the level I shall accomplish before I depart earthly life.