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Jaki Svaren's Italic Letters


dms525

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I was in Portland, OR last week for some alumni activities at Reed College, and I was able to attend the Thursday evening Scriptorium.

 

 

 

Jaki Svaren, a professional calligrapher, author of Written Letters: 33 Alphabets for Calligraphers and a student of Lloyd Reynolds at Reed in the '50's.

 

Jaki usually attends the weekly Scriptorium and has been of great help, coaching Greg MacNaughton who actually does the teaching. I captured some copies of a handout Jaki had provided for the attendees with her version of italic minuscule ductus and numerous instructive notes on each letter. I got her permission to upload them to FPN. I hope you find them helpful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy writing!

 

David

 

P.S. The handout refers to 22 alphabets. The current expanded & revised edition has 33 alphabets.

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Remember Mrs. Svaren's books well. Would highly recommend that anyone studying beyond basic italic and copperplate get her book. The pages are full of the ductus for each of the alphabets she shows. A great help to the student.

 

Enjoy,

Yours,
Randal

From a person's actions, we may infer attitudes, beliefs, --- and values. We do not know these characteristics outright. The human dichotomies of trust and distrust, honor and duplicity, love and hate --- all depend on internal states we cannot directly experience. Isn't this what adds zest to our life?

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Remember Mrs. Svaren's books well. Would highly recommend that anyone studying beyond basic italic and copperplate get her book. The pages are full of the ductus for each of the alphabets she shows. A great help to the student.

 

Enjoy,

 

Yep, I have the original edition of the book and wasn't aware that there were updates. I'll have to look around.

 

Thank you, David!

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I think that I have one of her books kicking around the house from when I was a sophomore in college and taking calligraphy.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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I think that I have one of her books kicking around the house from when I was a sophomore in college and taking calligraphy.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Well, Ruth, dig it out and say "Hi" to an old friend or two.

 

Enjoy,

Yours,
Randal

From a person's actions, we may infer attitudes, beliefs, --- and values. We do not know these characteristics outright. The human dichotomies of trust and distrust, honor and duplicity, love and hate --- all depend on internal states we cannot directly experience. Isn't this what adds zest to our life?

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  • 2 months later...

Wonderful. I just wish I could get my hands on a copy of her book. The instructions are great. I like how I can pick up one thing or two to incorporate into my own italic version from every book on italic. The bulk of what I know in italic comes from Italic Handwriting by Tom Gourdie. My M is from Barbara Calzolari. My t is from Lloyd Reynolds. I am sure I have picked up a thing or two frm the pictures. Thanks for sharing.

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  • 1 month later...

How neat! I love her calligraphy book. I think it's the only one out there that printed the models the actual size that they were written (and gave what size nib she used). That's invaluable, I think. Wonderful syles and models, too.

Find my homemade ink recipes on my Flickr page here.

 

"I don't wait for inspiration; inspiration waits for me." --Akiane Kramarik

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  • 2 months later...

Update on Jaki's "Written Letters:" This past weekend, I was told by the Director of the Cooley Gallery of Reed College that the publisher of Jaki's book went under some time ago. The copyright reverted to her. Reed College is working with Jaki to find a new publisher. There is hope that a new edition, or at least a new printing, will be forthcoming. Happy news!

 

David

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  • 5 months later...

That is fantastic news David, please keep us posted regarding this subject.

 

Cheers!

Edited by Murky

"The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what's true..." (Carl Sagan)

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