Handwriting improvement

[caliken]

nujak,

 

Thanks for resurrecting this thread!

 

caliken

[rogerb]

Speaking of 'resurrection', I threatened earlier to dig through my old diaries and find the moment when I started to try italic ..... well here it is .... as my birthday was a couple of days earlier, I wonder if I got an italic nibbed FP as a gift !! See if you can guess the year??? As you can see it was in my Air Force days!

Please make allowances for the fact that it was meant to be 'for my eyes only'

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/rogerb40uk/diaryscan0001.jpg

Edited January 10, 2011 by rogerb

[katim]

Ken,

 

I was very interested to see this thread now that it has been resurrected - I missed its original outing. I don't have many examples of my earlier handwriting that I can say were influenced directly by this forum, but it might interest others to see what happened to my italic over the years.

 

Writing with a quill in about 1990, I wrote the following (an extract, obviously):

 

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s289/kent993/DSC_0388.jpg

 

 

But I was too busy to keep practising, and in 2008, at about the point when I joined FPN, I wrote:

 

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s289/kent993/DSC_0498-1.jpg

 

 

The deterioration is obvious and I clearly needed to learn the lessons again! The piece I posted recently shows the result of practice:

 

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s289/kent993/img047.jpg

 

So I think it's clear that this forum has brought me back into the fold, having strayed a long way from what might be considered good handwriting.

 

But this thread has done something else! It has answered the question I've been asking myself about what you use for your own handwriting. I knew it would be excellent -- that goes without saying - but it was of interest to see that you chose the italic hand. I'm still havering between the two I illustrated elsewhere on this forum and have now resorted to writing a journal of sorts, writing alternate pages in italic and that version of roundhand. It's early days, but I already feel more fluent with both hands and am not really much further forward in making a decision on which to use as 'normal'.

Perhaps it really doesn't matter, though it seems a bit odd to have to admit that I don't know what my own handwriting is!

[caliken]

Roger,

Only one day later, and your writing is quite different! Actually, I like both. Your first example "for my eyes only" has a nice, loose, freedom about it and is easy to read.

 

National Service finished in 1963 and I was in the second last intake. You are obviously younger than me, so I would guess that you wrote this as a regular serviceman, sometime in the 1970s (?)

 

Ken

Edited January 11, 2011 by caliken

[caliken]

I really like your example from 1990. It's very strong and positive and makes a definite statement! In your middle period you did stray a little, but it's still attractive. Your writing now is best of all with a light, airy look about it. It looks quite effortless and is very easy to read.

 

Perhaps it really doesn't matter, though it seems a bit odd to have to admit that I don't know what my own handwriting is!

That's the same as my predicament!

I swing back and forth between Italic and a form of Copperplate/Spencerian. I came across this music book index which I wrote a long time ago and I was interested to see that I was using under-linked ligatures at that time.

 

This example epitomises my quandary. I am very attracted to the slope of Copperplate script and have to concentrate to keep my italic at a slightly upright slope which suits the style best....somewhere between 5 and 14 degrees from the vertical.

 

I think that this works OK but the purists would have a fit! What do you think?

 

I think that I wrote it between 25 and 30 years ago.

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/musicindex600.jpg

[katim]

My first thought is that we seem to share a taste in music, but I suppose that's a matter of our very similar ages! As for the script, it's very neat and I think only a purist would even notice the slant angle. The fact that you now enjoy writing copperplate at its proper slant angle and have to make a conscious effort to keep italic more upright is interesting. I really struggle with the correct angle for copperplate, which is why I don't post examples of my efforts! It's also why I now write with a version of roundhand that uses something of copperplate's shapes and styles, but can be written with a fountain pen in a more upright format.

 

The odd thing about italic, it seems, is that it can take almost as many variations as you can throw at it! Provided you keep its basic shapes, you can vary all sorts of aspects and still identify it clearly as italic - it's an incredibly versatile hand.

[caliken]

The odd thing about italic, it seems, is that it can take almost as many variations as you can throw at it! Provided you keep its basic shapes, you can vary all sorts of aspects and still identify it clearly as italic - it's an incredibly versatile hand.

 

I agree, totally.

That's one of the reasons why, when asked, I always advocate Italic to beginners.

 

Ken

[Alswan]

<!--quoteo(post=680465:date=Jul 24 2008, 01:17 PM:name=calliej)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (calliej @ Jul 24 2008, 01:17 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=680465"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->what's your handwriting like caliken?

 

I have seen your amazing caligraphy work but not your normal hand..... ?? Do we get to see a shot?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Pontificating on the handwriting of others is all very well, but I knew that someday it was going to come back to bite me - and, guess what, the day has come!

 

OK here we go -

<img src="http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/Handwriting_edited-4.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

 

In your criticism, please be kind to an old man with a fragile ego!

 

caliken

 

hey!! THAT'S NICE!!!!

 

Alswan

[CatBookMom]

I'm one of the early boomers, and from the letter forms it's pretty clear that I learned the Palmer method. I think my handwriting could use some improvement, and I am so in awe of you who can write in italic, either at speed or slowly; the consistency of all of the samples is amazing.

 

So here are two samples of my current writing. The multi-color example was written quickly while listening to an audiobook, just bits from what I was hearing, with several different pens and inks, on basic 24lb multi-purpose copier/laserjet paper. The other is a quotation from "Sense and Sensibility", written with Noodlers Black Swan in Australian Roses with a Platinum Plaisir F nib; this was written more slowly, but still at a good speed.

 

I'd appreciate your comments. Sorry, I didn't know the pictures would come out so large.

Edited January 18, 2011 by CatBookMom

[Lady Spencerian]

Pretty, and very legible. We are probably of about the same vintage and I marvel that your 'r' has kept its shape and definition. In my everyday hand mine turned into a vague lump many years ago. I can still produce a properly shaped 'r', but I have to slow down and focus on so doing.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Lady Spencerian

[caliken]

I'd appreciate your comments.

In the first erxample, your writing is very attractive with even spacing and is entirely legible. I'd be inclined to stay with it (there are many here, who would love to write like that) but if you really wanted to change to italic, I'm sure that you would have little difficulty. It would require time, patience, and practice, that's all.

 

Ken

Edited January 19, 2011 by caliken

[CatBookMom]

I'd appreciate your comments.

In the first erxample, your writing is very attractive with even spacing and is entirely legible. I'd be inclined to stay with it (there are many here, who would love to write like that) but if you really wanted to change to italic, I'm sure that you would have little difficulty. It would require time, patience, and practice, that's all.

 

Ken

 

 

Thank you! Your compliment means a lot. I am so tempted to try to learn italic, but I'm just not sure I want to invest the time it would take.

[rogerb]

Roger,

Only one day later, and your writing is quite different! Actually, I like both. Your first example "for my eyes only" has a nice, loose, freedom about it and is easy to read.

 

National Service finished in 1963 and I was in the second last intake. You are obviously younger than me, so I would guess that you wrote this as a regular serviceman, sometime in the 1970s (?)

 

Ken

Not that much younger, Ken ... just over a year!

That was written in February, 1966, just after my 26th.(You should see the picture in my attic!)

(And I served, as a regular, in the Royal Rhodesian Air Force ...just missed UK National Service, and went to Rhodesia, where I discovered it was still in force....shucks.)

 

'Loose freedom' ....hmm, very polite..thanks!

Edited January 20, 2011 by rogerb

[texaspenman]

Here is my hand writing over the last few weeks. I'm really enjoying improving my writing, a process I'm sure will take years to fully accomplish.

Sorry for the photo quality, these were taken with a webcam!

Here is week one, January 4th-6th, 2011

 

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/2746/penmanship142011.jpg

Here is a letter I wrote this week, January 19th, 2011

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/5238/penmanship21202011.jpg

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/612/penmanship1202011.jpg

The best advise so far has been to practice and to get a fountain pen. I love every tidbit of info I glean from this awesome group of people!

[CatBookMom]

Goodness, what an improvement! You are certainly making beautiful progress. May I ask what learning tools you're using to develop the lovely new script? Something online or a particular reference book?

[texaspenman]

Thank you for your kind words! I use a combination of the practice books called "Spencerian System of Practical Penmanship", the www.iampeth.com website, and original letters from the period. I think the biggest help would be the website and the letters. Lot's of fun, but still a lot more fluidity to be had!

Edited January 21, 2011 by texaspenman

[Columba Livia]

http://i56.tinypic.com/2z71r2x.jpg

 

http://i54.tinypic.com/flanbp.jpg

 

It's all right, but not good enough, e.g open loops on a,d,g, spacing, not always rounded enough at the bottoms (especially r) and so forth. Although actual handwriting will never be perfectly accurate in forms, since as far as I am aware, to get the level of accuracy of form you might see in writing by E.C mills or the like, you need to use penlifts in words.

 

To start reforming my writing, I've spent from half an hour to one and a half hours a day since last September following the lessons from "Tamblyn's home instructor in penmanship", which you can get at Johnnealbooks and a few other places I think. Systematic practice is the important thing. Once I've finished the lessons in business writing and satisfied myself that I'm ready to move on, I'm looking forward to starting ornamental script and eventually flourishing and using a broad nib. I think Business writing will give a firm foundation, especially when it comes to movement.

 

I did try Italic, but I don't like using it for handwriting. I certainly had problems (cf. Rosemary Sassoon's comments in "Handwriting of the 20th century" on children perceiving/writing Italic as triangular) with writing it in an extremely triangular form:

 

http://i56.tinypic.com/2vlmkbn.jpg

 

but I've found since learning American cursive I now write it with more passable roundedness at least.

 

The top sample is what I learnt at school: Nelson handwriting scheme. A pretty standard unlooped joined script as taught in Britain nowadays.

Edited January 21, 2011 by Columba Livia

[texaspenman]

Columbia Livia, what wonderful improvement! I love your cursive... very airy and calm... love it!

[CatBookMom]

Really attractive cursive, very much like the Business Handwriting that developed from Spencerian/Copperplate. Very legible and so flowing and even.

[patrickfp]

Before:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/pngpingching/Blog/Italic.jpg

 

After:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/pngpingching/Blog/IMG_1621.jpg

 

Sorry for the bad quality, but I don't own a scanner.

Edited January 23, 2011 by patrickfp