What's The Correct Angle For True Copperplate?

[Pchi]

The title sort of sez it all, really...

 

I'm learning (well, trying too) the hands using a flex pen at the moment and I have noticed that, apart from their seeming to be an exhaustable number of "true" copperplate styles, none of them can agree on the angle at which it sits on the base line.

 

I've got alphabets that state from 45deg all the way up to 65deg, yet the same writing done at different angles looks completely different - I can't believe it's only 65deg, that looks more like italic-as-perceived-by-a-computer. My hand naturally falls into somewhere around 50deg but I don't want to be fixing it wrongly now because it will be much harder to unlearn. 45deg looks very formal, but that may be because I'm concentrating on the angle so the writing isn't as free, but it's a formal hand anyway.

 

So, is there a fixed, "proper" angle? And for those who do it, where do you find your hand falls naturally?

Edited May 30, 2013 by Pchi

[rwilsonedn]

It seems to me that there are about as many "right" and "wrong" dictates on copperplate as there are experts on calligraphy. If you go with what pleases you, what would be the risk? No matter what you select, you will eventually run into a calligrapher who finds it wrong, and along the way you will meet a lot of people who admire your hand.

As I understand it, engraving, from which copperplate script was originally derived, was an expression of the artisan's skill and taste, not an example of a mathematical principle. So I don't think you will find a historical right answer that doesn't turn out to be merely some influential individual's opinion.

ron

[Mickey]

That said, the norm is generally conceded to be 55 degrees, Spencerian slightly more slanted at 52.

 

With any hand, there is a hierarchy of principles to which one might or should attend, but very few are absolute. Slant is definitely not an absolute, but fifty-five degrees is a good ballpark figure.

[Pchi]

Thanks for your thoughts, guys.

 

I know every form of calligraphy has a million different versions and usually I just go with whichever I like the best, and anyone who squeaks can lump it. But the flex hands seem to cause rabid reactions, even though I've seen copperplate "tutorials" I'd swear are Spencerian or a hybrid and vice-versa.

 

45deg does seem too steep, and it's not a natural angle for the pen either. But I'd hate to settle into a certain style or depth and then find out EVERYONE knows it's not done like that. At the moment I resolve the issue with vocabulary and state it's "ersatz copperplate" so maybe I'll just stick to my 50-55 and maintain my ready-made argument. To be fair, most people just gawp, especially if they see dip pen work, so I'm practicing my Smug look.

 

Thanks for answering, much appreciated.

[richardandtracy]

I have 4 experts on 'the smug look' at home. Cats. They seem born with the ability. Copy them & you'll do it purrfectly.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[RuiFromUK]

My tutor told me to use 54 degrees which sounds about right with other opinions above.

 

Since I am planning to start learning Spencerian afterwards I'll have to adjust slightly to 52 degrees.

 

Bear in mind this is a calligraphy (very) beginner here.

 

Kind regards,

 

Rui

Edited May 31, 2013 by RuiFromUK

[Pchi]

Richard - yes, I'm learning Smug from my cat too. Only....well....I sort of sprayed her purple by accident and even she can't pull off full Smug right now. Especially as she's licked it to a sort of pale pink, so she looks like a rather confused gay rights activist. She got her own back though - she's just Happened to a piece of calligraphy before it was dry. Hmph. (I've just written "oh (bleep)" on the smudge. It doesn't count as naughty words if it's written prettily.)

 

And Rui - I'm a beginner to this type of writing too, so I'm very happy to pick up knowledge from your tutor! Obviously my natural 50ish degrees is pretty much within the accepted range.

 

Just out of interest, I have noticed these hands seem to cause more argument and more discord than any other. I think a "rabid calligrapher" is probably an oxymoron but the bow-ties do seem to be easily set a-flutter. Wonder why the proponents are so fixed on "their" version - after all, if we're going to reduce calligraphy to a series of strict alphabets we might as well just print it.

[RuiFromUK]

You are most welcome.

 

As I am full time employed I am doing a correspondence course with Gaynor Goffe which I picked from here:

 

http://scribblers.co.uk/acatalog/Calligraphy_Correspondence_Courses.html

 

Kind regards,

 

Rui

[Pchi]

Oh my, you're learning PROPERLY! I'm afraid I'm of the "pick up a pen and go" school; I'm sure any real calligrapher would have palpitations if they saw my appalling techniques.

 

Good luck with your course. I think if I were starting now its a really good idea to follow a course, I have heard some of them are excellent. Unfortunately I first picked up a calligraphy pen when I was a kid so I've got far too many years of piecemeal knowledge and bad habits firmly entrenched! Best of luck with it, and I hope you enjoy it.