Simple Fonts Suitable For A Ballpoint Pen

[Starwalkertexasranger]

Hi all,

 

First of all I would like to say that I am incredibly impressed by a lot of the various handwriting I see on this site.

 

I am a product of the increased digitalisation of everything in that I am practically unable to write by hand in a manner that is legible to anyone but myself, and having recently been given a rather nice Mont Blanc ballpoint pen I feel obliged to put the time in to learn how use it properly.

 

I have been looking for a simple but nice looking font such as perhaps Italic #4 to adopt, but find that such styles are better suited to fountain pens.

 

What are your recomendations for a complete novice with a ballpoint pen?

 

(Appologies if this type of thread is too common around here)

Edited June 8, 2014 by Starwalkertexasranger

[ac12]

Italic or palmer or similar.

Nothing about them that prohibits you from using a ball pen.

In fact some of the teaching books say to use a pencil or ball pen to start with, so you concentrate on letter form, not the pen.

[Algester]

Palmer or Print and there's shorthand but I don't think thats impressive...

[Sean Kristoffer]

Italic or palmer or similar.

Nothing about them that prohibits you from using a ball pen.

In fact some of the teaching books say to use a pencil or ball pen to start with, so you concentrate on letter form, not the pen.

 

 

Palmer or Print and there's shorthand but I don't think thats impressive...

But, aren't pencils and ballpoint pens unsuitable for performing the given exercises for practicing especially the Palmer method? (I actually hope you guys would say no to this one.)

[Starwalkertexasranger]

I realise this perhaps was a bit of a silly question, but thanks for the answers. I think I will try my hand at Italic as there is a decent guide to it in the stickied threads.

 

Do any of you know of any good (and preferably free) resource for practice material and general guidance? Would be much appreciated!

[ac12]

 

 

 

But, aren't pencils and ballpoint pens unsuitable for performing the given exercises for practicing especially the Palmer method? (I actually hope you guys would say no to this one.)

 

I think I learned to write script in grade school with a pencil.

 

It is letter form that you are after.

What you write with does not matter.

[Runnin_Ute]

letter forms first, the tool you use really is secondary.

 

I learned to write most likely with a pencil (I don't recall it being a fountain pen, so it must have been a pencil) back in the early to mid 1960's. In Junior High school I picked up the ALL CAPS architect/draftsman style lettering in a shop class using some sort of mechanical pencil if I recall correctly, in conjunction with a T-square and appropriate other equipment.

 

Regardless of what hand you write in, letter forms are first, tools second. Obviously there are some hands which need certain tools as well in order to do properly, but italic, palmer or other business hand are not among them.

[Algester]

 

 

But, aren't pencils and ballpoint pens unsuitable for performing the given exercises for practicing especially the Palmer method? (I actually hope you guys would say no to this one.)

I learned palmer using a pencil...

[Sean Kristoffer]

 

 

I think I learned to write script in grade school with a pencil.

 

It is letter form that you are after.

What you write with does not matter.

 

 

I learned palmer using a pencil...

Oh, I see. Thanks! I'm learning arm writing using a pencil.

[D B Holtz]

I realise this perhaps was a bit of a silly question, but thanks for the answers. I think I will try my hand at Italic as there is a decent guide to it in the stickied threads.

 

Do any of you know of any good (and preferably free) resource for practice material and general guidance? Would be much appreciated!

IAMPETH is a good (and free) source:

 

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons.php

 

I used the Spencerian material. You don't have to do the shading or engrossing, and you still end up with a very nice hand.

 

DB

[PrestoTenebroso]

A tip for handwriting practice: Be in the right mood. It makes a hell of a difference.