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Need Help With Spencerian Grip


Dan326

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Hi all. I've been trying to learn Spencerian script for a little while and am having trouble learning the grip. I'm able to form the letters nicely by "drawing" then but have difficulty controlling the pen with the group suggested by the book which leads me to wonder whether I'm doing it right. As a little background my normal handwriting is left slanted. I write with my right hand but use what I guess would be called the hook grip. I think that's one big issue for me because I honestly don't even know how to actually write with a right slant if I tried. I guess the question I'm asking is if anyone has any advice to overcome this? Also is it effective or possible to learn Spencerian with a plain lead pencil or ballpoint pen? One more question, what should the sensation feel like? Like, should it feel like you're pulling or pushing the pen?

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CRUM ... dang site lost my post again.

 

If you are writing with an overhand grip, you will need to convert to an underhand grip.

That can be done, but will likely take a LONG time. And you NEED the dedication to keep at it. It won't happen quickly.

Any major change that involves your muscles, will take a long time to retrain your muscles.

Just for reference. I converted from finger writing to arm writing. It took 3 months of daily practice (1-3 hours per day), before arm writing became natural. Then another 3 months before my writing became decent.

 

Yes you can use a pencil, you just won't easily get the line flaring.

I would use a gel or roller ball, not a ball pen. Ball pen has too much drag and needs too much pressure.

 

Both.

You pull on the downstroke and push lightly on the upstroke.

San Francisco Pen Show - August 28-30, 2020 - Redwood City, California

www.SFPenShow.com

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CRUM ... dang site lost my post again.

 

If you are writing with an overhand grip, you will need to convert to an underhand grip.

That can be done, but will likely take a LONG time. And you NEED the dedication to keep at it. It won't happen quickly.....

 

Thanks for the tips and encouragement! I googled overhand grip, but I'm actually not using that one. I'm using an underhand grip but instead of the tip of the pencil pointing away from me it's pointed towards my left shoulder with the eraser pointing away in the opposite direction. For my Spencerian writing I hold the pencil parallel with the tip pointing left and hand rolled to the right side. I guess I just wanted to know a reasonable timeline to be able to master the grip.

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Hi all.

 

I think I found out what my issues were and I have my tips for others who are struggling. A few things that helped me hold my hand in the correct position are:

 

*Your active fingers should be parallel to the table/paper. By holding all your fingers parallel the pencil will have no other option then with the lead pointing to the right and with the eraser pointing over your right shoulder. In the Spencarian Compendium book it says you should be able to keep a piece of cardboard or other small slippery item seated on your top two fingers (middle and pointer fingers). If it falls off it means your fingers aren't parallel.

*Your hand should be angled to the right, this will created a mostly straight-ish line with the left side of you forearm and hand

*You hand should be tilted to the left, like your trying to anchor the left side of you hand on the table. If you're used to anchoring your hand on the right side doing this will bring your hand/palm to a parallel position over the table and you'll feel muscles stretching

*What really helped me that I discovered today was:

1. Place your weight on your left arm so that your right arm may move more freely

2. If you have long fingers, lift your wrist up high so that when you write descenders your hand doesn't get stuck as you bring the pencil lower. I used a ruler and measured approximately 2-2.25 in. distance between the table and wrist.

Following these along with what I learning from the books I was able to write the letters. I had to do it very slowly and it didn't feel natural at all, but still I was able to form the letters decently where before no matter how slowly I wrote they didn't come out.

 

I may attach some pics for updates

 

Hopefully this is able to help others :)

 

 

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Continuing to refine my technique; the most important thing seems to be to keep my wrist very high with arm balanced on elbow more than forearm. Also I think letting the hand slope a little to the right instead of letting it be perfectly parallel helps a bit.

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You may like this video.

 

 

Also, I would recommend against balancing on the elbow. Your forearm muscle has a *very* important function when writing the classic way. Explore it and maximise its involvement.

~ Alexander

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^Thanks Rex!

 

I feel kinda dumb, but I've been able to mostly get the grip by rereading the book. I re-read the grip guide in the Spencarian Theory book and after paying really close attention to the words I was able to finally get it. I was placing the pencil on my finger instead of the nail of my second finger and was crossing the pencil infront of back knuckle/3rd joint instead of the front knuckle/second joint. This naturally angled the eraser toward my shoulder, I was overestimating how far to left the pencil needed to be to be pointing towards my shoulder. I was also overestimating how far titled to the left my hand needed to be to keep a coin balanced on the main 2 fingers. Also I balanced my arm lightly on my forearm and made sure to angle the paper in front of me as described in the book. I guess sometimes you have to talk (or type) stuff out! lol Thanks everyone and hopefully it helps others.

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You may like this video.

 

 

 

Also, I would recommend against balancing on the elbow. Your forearm muscle has a *very* important function when writing the classic way. Explore it and maximise its involvement.

This video is super helpful, packed with great info and instruction. Thank you, Rednaxela!

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  • 2 weeks later...

I just made another revelation. I was using square grid paper to practice when I should have been using a grid with a difference ratio. I went on Microsoft Word and made a grid with squares 0.20 inches high and 0.16 inches wide. Now my letters are coming out better and it doesn't feel as laborious because my fingers don't have to stretch as far to make long letters like f.

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If you are stretching your fingers, you are finger writing.

Spencerian involves ARM writing, to get the greater arc of motion.

San Francisco Pen Show - August 28-30, 2020 - Redwood City, California

www.SFPenShow.com

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  • 2 weeks later...

Last time I checked he still had a couple of vintage originals for sale on his site. Also believe he has started carving replicas again.

~ Alexander

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