First Attempt at Calligraphy

[JonLeeper]

A certain member on here has a lot to answer for! Well I Caliken's review of the Manuscript Calligrapher's Deluxe Set and that was it my hesitation vanished and I found a left handed set and ordered it on-line. I have also ordered a couple of "teach yourself" manuals and some practice paper. The Law of Sod states that the pens arrived today but none of the rest. So, not to be deterred I reached into my letter writing draw and found some old Basildon Bond A4 paper and book of alphabets, The Calligrapher's Bible by David Harris, that I happen to have and sat and started. I fitted the 2B nib, as it is the closest to the 2mm suggested in the, very short, introduction and just went for it. The results are here for all to see, sorry I don't have a scanner so I took a photo and uploaded it.

 

General shot of everything on page. I started with a couple of exercises and then thought "in for a penny" and wrote out the alphabet. A quick sentence finished my session. Oh and I'm an engineer so I know I cannot spell! ;-)

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/3881504471_e4233ac302.jpg

 

Close up of the sentence. The pen did not write at first so, not knowing anything else to do, I dipped it into my new Mont Blanc Black ink and it wrote all the way down to half way through the y of lazy. I had to dip it again and that's why the dog is much darker.

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/3882302328_fe5fb3ca9a.jpg

 

Close up of my name and the bottom of the page.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/3881505467_7012cbfab6.jpg

 

So what am I doing wrong and how do I correct it?

 

Many thanks,

 

 

Jon

 

[Chthulhu]

Pencil in some guide lines to follow to keep your lines straight; and some more to guide your slant, or lack of slant; pay close attention to letter spacing; be consistent with your letter shapes; and practice. Lots and lots of practice. :-)

 

Honestly, if that's your first attempt, very well done. Still have to practice, though; that's a constant.

[vidalia11]

That's an excellent first attempt! You can go to the top of this forum and find resources for guidesheets that you can print out for practicing.

 

Hope to see more!

Karen

[wykpenguin]

Excellent first attempt. Get a good book on calligraphy, look at good calligraphy and practice a lot.

[oceanaocean]

You are going to do quite well! Just keep at it, great start!

[Ondina]

Great results for a first try. Vidalia's suggestion of printing guidesheets is a good idea. Very nice hand, by the way.

[JonLeeper]

Well my first, and only, book was The Calligraphers Bible by David Harris, and whilst it does have some advice on how to start it is really a list of alphabets and best used as a reference guide. I have, therefore, purchased other guides scan read them and will show the effects as I get them. I now have Learn Calligraphy by Margaret Shepherd, which on first reading appears very comprehensive and will most likely become my preferred text book. Left-Handed Calligraphy, by Vance Studley, which sets out some good pointers and advice on how to craft alphabets, but is not designed as a text book. Calligraphy in Ten Easy Lessons, by Eleanor Wilders and Laurie E Lico, Is the final book in my series and looks likely to become my back-up text as it only deals with the italic script.

 

I will update as I get more.

 

Jon

 

[caliken]

Excellent start, Jon

 

Chthulhu put it in a nutshell -

 

"Pencil in some guide lines to follow to keep your lines straight; and some more to guide your slant, or lack of slant; pay close attention to letter spacing; be consistent with your letter shapes; and practice. Lots and lots of practice."

 

That about covers it. If you want to develop into an italic writer, you'll find excellent instructions at the top of this forum, by moderator Ann Finley.

 

good luck!

 

caliken

Edited September 11, 2009 by caliken

[Ipsilon]

Excellent start!

 

You may want to visit www.scribblers.co.uk, and use their free guidelines generator (in the menu on the left: FREE guidelines). Based on the width of your nib (in mm), you can choose the spacing for the letter's body (for many calligraphic styles, 5 x the width of the nib), the space required for the ascenders and descenders (depends very much on the style), and the space between each line. You can print as many copies as you want, and then PRACTICE!

 

Have fun!

 

Y