Books On Calligraphy Using Fountain Pens?

[Josey]

The calligraphy books I've seen all focus on dip pens and brushes, the traditional tools of calligraphy for the most serious students of the art.

 

I'd love to dabble in calligraphy, but I'd much rather do so using fountain pens with italic nibs, or calligraphy-style pens like the Pilot Parallel series.

 

Does anyone knoe of a calligraphy book aimed at fountain pen users? Thanks!

[Tasmith]

Margaret Shepherd's excellent book, Learn Calligraphy, the Complete Book of Lettering and Design, talks about the use of fountain pens along with dip pens.

Edited September 27, 2014 by Tasmith

[Yaakova]

If I remember correctly, Fred Eager's The Italic Way to Beautiful Writing was geared toward the fountain pen. I think I went through it using one of the original Platignum Calligraphy pen sets with interchangeable nibs. Since the book is out of print and Platignum went out of business in 1998, that gives you an indication of how long ago this was. You can still find copies of Fred Eager's workbook on places like Amazon and Ebay, but they can be pricey.

[Randal6393]

Yes, the Fred Eager book can be pricey. But a quick search on Amazon returned six copies available, used, from $3.30 to $10.00. So they need not be too expensive.

 

Of all the italic manuals out there, this one is my special favorite. First studied italic with this book in 1975. And it was in its fourth edition then, IIRC.

 

Other than the sharpness of the pen (thick to thin ratio), there is not much difference between using a dip pen and using a fountain pen. A book that focuses on the ductus of a calligraphic script is equally useful for either style of pen. So, Josey, would recommend studying letter forms wherever you may find them. And not worrying too much about dip vs fountain.

 

Enjoy,

[dms525]

Hi, Josey.

 

Look at the pinned thread on instructional books in this forum.

 

In addition to Eager's book, Inga Dubay and Barbara Getty's books, Write Now! and Italic Letters, are good. One book explicitly written for the Osmiroid or Platignum fountain pens with interchangeable nibs is Lloyd Reynolds' Italic Lettering, Calligraphy and Handwriting. The latter can be used in conjunction with the series of instructional videos Reynolds made in 1978 for Oregon Public Television which are available on youtube. You can find Osmiroid lettering sets for pretty reasonable prices on ebay. I like them a lot. Several FPN members have liked the Manuscript Italic Calligraphy sets. I haven't used them myself.

 

There is also a set of instructions for Chancery Cursive pinned at the top of this forum.

 

Many options available. Look them over. I'm sure you will find one or more that suit your needs.

 

If it is italic Calligraphy that interests you, one piece of advice: Start learning with a wide nib. I see a 1.5 mm nib as the narrowest acceptable. If you have a pen like an Edison or Franklin-Christoph that takes a screw-in Number 6 JoWo nib, they make 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 mm italic nibs I find quite good and easy to change. I don't know which, but I think there are some other makes that use these nibs too. The Safari 1.5 mm nib is not a bad one to learn with either, IMO.

 

If you have other questions, do ask them. There are many who are happy to help you.

 

Happy writing!

 

David

[ac12]

I read one book where the author suggested using a large round tip; pencil, felt marker, gel pen, etc. I think the idea that the author was trying to get across to the new writer was to concentrate on the letter form and strokes, and not get wrapped up in the pen. And it makes sense, because I will forget the form and play with the pen, then wonder why my writing looks ugly. I don't have the form down yet. So I'm going back to the beginning and use a felt marker or pencil this time, so I don't get myself playing with the pen rather than learning the form.

Edited September 28, 2014 by ac12

[Yaakova]

I read one book where the author suggested using a large round tip; pencil, felt marker, gel pen, etc. I think the idea that the author was trying to get across to the new writer was to concentrate on the letter form and strokes, and not get wrapped up in the pen. And it makes sense, because I will forget the form and play with the pen, then wonder why my writing looks ugly. I don't have the form down yet. So I'm going back to the beginning and use a felt marker or pencil this time, so I don't get myself playing with the pen rather than learning the form.

 

I took a calligraphy class, and the teacher started us out with two pencils held together by a rubber band to teach us the proper 45 degree angle position for the "pen".