Opinions About "getty-Dubay Italic Handwriting Series"?

[Camman]

I am a LH side writer with poor penmanship and have decided to learn to be an underwriter. While I am at it, I decided to learn italic. While looking online for instruction books I came across "The Getty-Dubay Italic Handwriting Series" that is geared for children from kindergarten through 6th grade. Does anyone have experiance with this series? Would it work for a grown adult that has been writing poorly for 35 years or should I look for a different book? Also, would underwriting with the left hand make it impossible to achieve the proper nib position/shape to form the stoke widths correctly for italic?

[kenmc]

They sure helped me! They do have books for adults. You can check them out at http://www.handwritingsuccess.com/

Also you may like Nan Jay Barchowsky - I think she posts here, and has some programs you may like, http://www.bfhhandwriting.com/

I am not affiliated with either, but have been helped by both.

[tenney]

I did buy the adult book... and then dutifully haven't had the time to read through it... yet.

[dgturner]

I have Write Now! by Getty-Dubai and it has made a tremendous difference. I liked it so much I bought a copy for my father after he expressed interest.

[caliken]

"Write Now" is probably the best book on the subject, currently in print IMO.

 

Ken

[notbob]

There is soooo much info on italic handwriting, it's hard to tell where to begin. I also became interested in FPs desiring to improve my handwriting and likewise, I was attracted to and started with italic. My first recommendation would be to visit your local library. I found several books, despite our tiny library. My favorite is Getting Started in Calligraphy by Nancy Baron. Very simple and straightforward approach to learning basic italic and chancery plus black letter. Out of print, but NOS and used books can still be found. Otherwise, there is tons of info online. I would start with these:

 

http://briem.net/

http://jp29.org/itdr.htm

http://www.italic-ha...icles/technique

 

.....from there, merely google for italic.

 

Good luck.

[gwoodbridge]

I started my quest with Write Now and then worked my way through the Fred Eager book. I think Write Now is the perfect place to start! Good luck! Be sure to post samples!

[KateGladstone]

Other materials — including a lefties-only Italic series called LEFT HAND WRITING SKILLS — are listed in my site's lefty area.However, NOTHING I've seen includes help for the Italic lefty side-writer ... That's one reason I offer consultations. (And I have a special, today through Sunday — see my listing in Classified.)

Edited October 12, 2012 by KateGladstone

[fiberdrunk]

I am a LH side writer with poor penmanship and have decided to learn to be an underwriter. While I am at it, I decided to learn italic. While looking online for instruction books I came across "The Getty-Dubay Italic Handwriting Series" that is geared for children from kindergarten through 6th grade. Does anyone have experiance with this series? Would it work for a grown adult that has been writing poorly for 35 years or should I look for a different book? Also, would underwriting with the left hand make it impossible to achieve the proper nib position/shape to form the stoke widths correctly for italic?

 

I use their children one in our homeschool, and Italic Letters for myself (I'm a hook-over lefty). We really like these books. I'm in the unusual position of having to teach a left-handed daughter and a hook-over right-handed son. I'm trying to break my son of his unnecessary hook, and I'm trying to teach my daughter not to develop that position in the first place. There isn't much advice in these books for the lefty, though. Just a few remarks about paper positioning. But I do like their italic models.

 

I also recommend the resources on the U.K. website Anything Lefthanded. They have helpful videos and writing gadgets to help you. They have a "handwriting aid" (I call it a leash) that helps prevent you from hooking over. We use a pencil grip, too (see video below).

 

http://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/acatalog/api_1abc73eee2451272185374ff1981df4c_250_163_ffffff_100.jpg

 

They have these funky Yoropens (also available on Amazon, too). They help you to see your writing without hooking over:

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21or5oLk3QL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

 

Here is one of their helpful videos, using some of these tools:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i4CRw3DG-s

Edited October 12, 2012 by fiberdrunk

[fiberdrunk]

Also, would underwriting with the left hand make it impossible to achieve the proper nib position/shape to form the stoke widths correctly for italic?

 

Left-handed nibs are made for the underwriter lefty (the paper positioning will probably also need to be turned). You should be able to do italic more easily (at the necessary 45 degree angle) this way than as a hook-over lefty. However, hook-over lefties can do quite well with uncial and foundational hands, while using right handed nibs. I know I naturally seem to hold a nib at about a 30 degree angle as a hook-over lefty which accommodates these two styles quite well. Here's an old practice page of mine from 1994 of the uncial hand, done as a hook-over lefty:

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8081137492_75c43be9e8.jpg

Edited October 12, 2012 by fiberdrunk