This is a small sample of copperplate writing, produced recently as a present for my wife.

caliken
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The words and the rendering are both so gorgeous! Your wife... well I guess you're not a monk after all.

Having lived my whole life around latitude 20 or so, I had to think a bit about what the words were about, but imagining myself at North latitude 50+ and flipping through the mental calendar to the month of December made me get it. Anyway, not to go on...

I have a question of this piece as well as the others we are fortunate to see posted. What are the dimensions of the original? I always try to imagine the actual physical artifact.

Thanks much for posting this.

Doug

Doug

Thanks very much for your interest and your comments.

The overall width of the border was 150mm and the minuscule letter height was about 5mm. It appears a bit larger on my screen.

It was written with a Gillott 303 nib in an oblique holder. I used Walker's Copperplate ink (black) for the misuscules and Winsor & Newton Calligraphy Ink for the majuscules - red with just a touch of black for depth of colour. I find that this ink has good covering power and flows well.

I drew the monk figure as a self-portrait many years ago, for a bit of a laugh. Around 20 years ago, when calligraphy became my sole occupation, I resurrected it, and have used it as my logo ever since. When I joined this forum a couple of months ago, it seemed appropriate to use it as my avatar.

caliken

Wow, your artistic abilities never cease to impress me. I thought it was a stock image that you found!
What is the size of the original? Could you post it in a larger format? What medium did you use?

Lloyd
Thanks for your interest.
The original drawing was 11" x 8" and I used a range of pencils from HB to 6B. I've put on about 28 pounds in weight since then and my beard is now white, but I was told that it was a good likeness at the time - it was just a bit of fun - but it has come in handy since then. It was taken from a photo of a monk in a magazine. I just drew it with myself as the subject. Anyway, here it is.............
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Your comment and caliken's beautiful work reminded me (another life-long resident in hot climates) of something in a story I read a long time ago, written out by hand by Margaret Alexander (an English calligrapher) in a manuscript book.

" 'The lady lived across the valley there beyond that hill. I was
a young man then, for it was many years ago. I used to ride over
to see her; it was a long way, but I rode fast, for young men,
as no doubt the Signora knows, are impatient. But the lady was
not kind, she would keep me waiting, oh, for hours; and one day
when I had waited very long I grew very angry, and as I walked
up and down in the garden where she had told me she would see
me, I broke one of her roses, broke a branch from it; and when I
saw what I had done, I hid it inside my coat--so--and when I
came home I planted it, and the Signora sees how it has grown.
If the Signora admires it, I must give her a cutting to plant
also in her garden; I am told the English have beautiful gardens
that are green, and not burnt with the sun like ours.' "

"The Rose" -- Logan Pearsall Smith

Thanks for posting your beautiful work. I have always been envious of those with natural drawing abilities.

Sublime presentation, and the sentiment is quite moving!

Give my regards to your lovely wife