French Cursive

[Anne-Sophie]

This is the style I learned, I love it and find it simple enough to use with round nib fountain pens.

 

Over the years, the simplistic lines have been muddled as I was "encouraged" to learn script which I loathed.

 

Then, desperate to recover the beauty and simplicity of the French School Script, borrowed from the ligatures of Copperplate and other cursive hands.

 

This is a the script I am talking about:

 

Lower case w x y z

 

Upper case Y Z

 

 

I have had trouble making the letter z and some others.

 

 

The links shows the letter form I learned, finding that examples of that exact script had been a struggle, maybe I looked at the wrong place.

 

Now that I have found it, I would love input and shared wisdom on how to execute it in its purest form then, eventually add the flourish of the Copperplate capitals.

[smk]

Do they have the worksheets for the whole alphabet? I would suggest printing out the pages and practicing one exercise for 15-20 minutes a day until you are happy with the results before moving on to the next page.

 

S.

[Mr Ink]

Hi Anne-Sophie

 

I agree with you that French cursive script is very attractive. If you do find worksheets for the whole alphabet, as smk said, could you please share them on this board? I am interested in this script.

 

John

[Anne-Sophie]

The link to those is all I could find, I also have a similar alphabet pamphlet that was part of a dip pen and nibs set.

 

I usually make my own worksheet by using a fairly see-through lined paper on top of a workbook.

[olivier78860]

Here is what I found : http://jt44.free.fr/abc/alphabet-3bandes-4ecritures.pdf

 

http://jt44.free.fr/abc/alphabet-mural-cursive-min.pdf

 

http://jt44.free.fr/abc/alphabet-mural-cursive-maj.pdf

 

http://jt44.free.fr/abc/alphabet-mural-3.pdf

 

http://jt44.free.fr/abc/alphabet-mural-1bis.pdf

 

Hope this helps

 

*edit*

And one more, maybe more suitable for printing :

 

http://ekladata.com/aliaslili.eklablog.com/perso/affichage/les%20lettresalphabet%20modeles.pdf

Edited April 9, 2013 by olivier78860

[Mr Ink]

These links are great, olivier78860. Merci!

[olivier78860]

I made a little step by step explanation sheet, if needed.

I hope it's sufficiently readable (shouldn't have used a pencil, sorry about this).

 

http://i.imgur.com/91gQJoo.jpg

[Mr Ink]

olivier78860, thank you once again. Your guide is very helpful. I don't wish to put you through a lot of trouble, but I wonder whether it would be better to post it as a scanned pdf file rather than a jpeg file. That way, it can be easily downloadable by whoever is interested in this script (that includes me, of course).

[olivier78860]

Sadly, I don't have a scanner. I'll try my best to make a better picture tomorrow, with better natural lights.

[coyotewhisper]

I like this example of cursive more updated and fresh looking. Flows well for myself being left handed, from the practice I have done.

[hardyb]

These may be of some use:

The first jpg image is a downloadable font- http://www.fontpalace.com/font-download/French+Script+MT/

 

Or:

 

http://www.fonts101.com/fonts/view/Uncategorized/19722/FrenchScript_

Edited April 11, 2013 by hardyb

[Inkheart]

I've just started working on this myself!

 

Thank you for the additional resources.

[Mr Ink]

Sadly, I don't have a scanner. I'll try my best to make a better picture tomorrow, with better natural lights.

 

Not to worry. It's still very useful as it is.

[Anne-Sophie]

Thank You so much for all the great links!

 

I love your "how to" picture Olivier!

 

hardyb, how could I save "les chiffres et les lettres" picture as a pdf?

 

 

So exiting!

[hardyb]

[

Thank You so much for all the great links!

 

I love your "how to" picture Olivier!

 

hardyb, how could I save "les chiffres et les lettres" picture as a pdf?

 

So exiting!

One of these sites may help:

 

http://www.google.com/webhp?source=search_app#output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=convert+jpg+to+pdf&oq=convert+jpg+to+pdf&gs_l=hp.12..0l4.175.3623.0.6114.4.4.0.0.0.1.2992.5284.9-2.2.0...0.0...1c.1.9.psy-ab.4OjRzm7taYU&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45175338,d.eWU&fp=6c3dfd5e76c68c34&biw=906&bih=603

[Anne-Sophie]

While the board was hiccuping, I tackled handwriting improvement with the wonderful help of Oliver's (olivier78860) image, with some kind of magnifying virtual loupe, it is a wonderful guide.

 

The instructions are really clear.

 

 

 

I also used hardyb's "les chiffres et les lettres" and dug my handwriting practice folder with its copy of Gordon Turner's The Technique of Copperplate Calligraphy.

 

I use the latter because of it's many forms of Capitals letters.

 

I use them instead of some the ones in "les chiffres et les lettres"

 

I am very pleased with the way I am learning to form each letter then let muscle memory take over.

 

I am practising with pencil and Medium round nibs fountain pens because those are the instruments I use to take notes.

 

I want to thank you to have brought fun back into calligraphy

 

 

 

When I see the most beautiful works of art produced by fellow penmanship forum participants, I do understand that what I am practising is handwriting.

 

But, calligraphy has more flair and even looks better in writing.

[DanF]

I'd love to see some actual writing in this script in order to see how the letters fit together - of course if it was in French, I wouldn't be able to understand much unless it was one of the phrases remembered from fifth grade... Tres bien merci, avous? (spelling?)

 

Dan

[Anne-Sophie]

I'd love to see some actual writing in this script in order to see how the letters fit together - of course if it was in French, I wouldn't be able to understand much unless it was one of the phrases remembered from fifth grade... Tres bien merci, avous? (spelling?)

 

Dan

 

 

Dan I am still refining my alphabet. I think that today, I just finalised the letter forms I will be using and will be practising the letters by themselves.

 

I will soon be using phrases because, even in the first grade, I could not stand making letter pairs.

 

If I have real trouble with some ligatures, I might have to do pairs, anyway.

 

 

My previous attempts at handwriting practices usually included U.S states. I could mix geography and calligraphy, two of my favorite subjects.

In addition, every state has a ligature challenge and some with very long names and tricky spelling are really putting one to the test, as a missed letter, or one written with the wrong letter form, means rewriting one page with that particular state name.

 

I also find that, this kind of complexity requires the same attention as note taking in real life.

 

I was thinking of writing a pen or ink review with handwriting as one of my first real life use.

 

I suppose that I could also copy some of my favorite poems or sayings.

 

 

Thank you so much for the encouragement, as I feel very much shy about posting any of my scribblings in the company of such accomplished calligraphers.

[HDoug]

Iʻve posted this before and itʻs only slightly off topic: a 15 minute video about how they teach cursive in France. I really like the attitude toward learning to write, and learning in general.

http://www.teachfind.com/teachers-tv/france-teaching-handwriting

 

Doug

[Anne-Sophie]

Iʻve posted this before and itʻs only slightly off topic: a 15 minute video about how they teach cursive in France. I really like the attitude toward learning to write, and learning in general.

 

http://www.teachfind.com/teachers-tv/france-teaching-handwriting

 

Doug

 

 

Thank you so much Doug, a lovely video indeed!