Copperplate Practice

[ItsMeDave]

I got into fountain pens a little over three years ago and figured that learning calligraphy might help improve my handwriting. I bought a nib and holder, tried once or twice and then, nothing. Now, three years on I've jumped back in and am having a good time learning Copperplate. I'm still working on the minuscules, but hope to move on to the majuscules soon. The nib is a Brause Blue Pumkin, the ink is Daniel Smith walnut. I bought some india ink yesterday, but it feathers badly on my Manuscript Calligraphy paper.

 

[tsdesai]

This is beautiful writing.

[AAAndrew]

Looking good. A few suggestions:

 

1. Work on squaring off the tops, especially of "t", "i", "d", and "u." Even if you don't get all of your ends squared off, these are some key letters and I find squaring the tops easier than squaring the bottoms (like of "k").
2. Watch your spacing and try a little more space between letters. This can both help readability and allow you a bit more room to form the letters carefully.
3. Watch your consistency of form as well as of slant. These are always constant struggles, so don't feel bad if you're not perfect yet. Even skilled penmen have to keep a close watch out for these. They just make it look easy as they struggle.
4. watch your "d" and try and put some upward stroke on the round part. In other words try to not just come straight out from the extensor. For example, even though the oval isn't as perfectly formed, the "d" in "delta" has more spring and energy than the "d" in "david" at the beginning of the line. The "g" in "golf" is how it should look. That small upward movement gives the letter more life. If it just comes straight out the letter feels flat and grounded.

Keep going. You're on the right track. Good job!

[ItsMeDave]

Looking good. A few suggestions:

 

• Work on squaring off the tops, especially of "t", "i", "d", and "u." Even if you don't get all of your ends squared off, these are some key letters and I find squaring the tops easier than squaring the bottoms (like of "k").
• Watch your spacing and try a little more space between letters. This can both help readability and allow you a bit more room to form the letters carefully.
• Watch your consistency of form as well as of slant. These are always constant struggles, so don't feel bad if you're not perfect yet. Even skilled penmen have to keep a close watch out for these. They just make it look easy as they struggle.
• watch your "d" and try and put some upward stroke on the round part. In other words try to not just come straight out from the extensor. For example, even though the oval isn't as perfectly formed, the "d" in "delta" has more spring and energy than the "d" in "david" at the beginning of the line. The "g" in "golf" is how it should look. That small upward movement gives the letter more life. If it just comes straight out the letter feels flat and grounded.

Keep going. You're on the right track. Good job!

Thanks for the suggestions, this is really good feedback. :-)

Edited January 9, 2019 by ItsMeDave

[PAKMAN]

Dang, that looks really nice! Congrats! Keep up the practice.

[putteringpenman]

Nice work!

[ItsMeDave]

Thanks, everyone.

 

I'm quite surprised how natural it feels to use an oblique nib holder.

In December I signed up for a 4-hour introduction to modern calligraphy that's scheduled for early February, then promptly started practicing copperplate.

Hopefully I'll get some useful feedback during the session.