Italic handwriting

[caliken]

Italic is generally recognized as the most versatile and suitable model for general handwriting. It is easy to read and does not break down when written at speed. Under the general heading of italic, there is plenty of scope for individuality and those wishing to adopt italic as their everyday hand have ample room for choice. I have tried here, to illustrate just some of these differences with my own, personal observations and would welcome the observations of others. as to the best models for study and their sources.

 

caliken

Edited July 3, 2007 by caliken

[MikeW]

I read something about the Simple Modern Hand or siimilar term. Which form above is most like that? Is that a reasonable approach to try?

[caliken]

I read something about the Simple Modern Hand or siimilar term. Which form above is most like that? Is that a reasonable approach to try?

The calligrapher Tom Gourdie used the description "Simple Modern Hand" in his writings and the last example above, is very close to this style. It's just italic writing without using an edged, italic nib. He was a very successful teacher and his instruction books are still in print. In fact, my second example is based closely on his italic handwriting. I found his methods very clear and easy to follow.

Good luck!

 

caliken

 

[HDoug]

Beautiful. So clear and elegant! There is such a "sunny" clarity to these exemplars that I can't quite describe.

 

Thanks for helping me start my day.

 

Doug

[FrankB]

I learned to write cursive in grade school with Peterson Penmanship, which is nearly identical to the Palmer Method. I never lerned to use it well and my handwriting was a mess. I my mid-20's, I was a young soldier stationed in (then) West Berlin. There I was introduced to the Italic pen hand by a German neighbor. Although I had learned to write with dip pens in the 4th grade, and I had a couple of FP's including a P-51, I had none of those pens with me on assignment in Germany. So I acquired a Pelikan M-400 FP with a standard M nib and learned to write italic with it. What I learned is nearly identical to your last example. My handwriting improved by light years!

 

I did not actually get my first formal italic nib on a pen until about 1993. By then, I had been using an Italic pen hand for 17+ years. I actually had to adapt a bit to the formal nib, but my mentor had taught me the pen strokes quite well and adapting came quickly. Today my pen hand most resembles the third example. I have had much practice, but I do NOT have your talent.

 

I enjoy your posts. Thank you.

[Ann Finley]

Caliken, thanks for thinking to post examples of how italic can vary. In addition to the beautiful examples you've shown, do you also do gothicized italic? Shelia Waters does a nice rendition of this hand, as does Eleanor Winters, IMO.

 

Oh yes, and don't let FrankB fool you...his writing is wonderful!

 

Best, Ann

[caliken]

Caliken, thanks for thinking to post examples of how italic can vary. In addition to the beautiful examples you've shown, do you also do gothicized italic? Shelia Waters does a nice rendition of this hand, as does Eleanor Winters, IMO.

 

Oh yes, and don't let FrankB fool you...his writing is wonderful!

 

Best, Ann

 

Ann, I'm not aware of having seen gothicized italic - must look out for it. Thanks for the interest.

 

p.s. Sorry, I must be losing it in my old age! I've just realised that I posted a small example based on Freiderich Neugebauer's "Oblique Gothic" on Mar 27th under "Lettering Samples"

 

Edited July 2, 2007 by caliken

[Shelley]

Wow caliken your writing is amazing-would you mind letting us know what you are writing with when you display your work-curious (and envious).

[caliken]

Wow caliken your writing is amazing-would you mind letting us know what you are writing with when you display your work-curious (and envious).

Thanks for the compliment, Shelley.

 

Italic writing..........Manuscript pen with an F nib ground to EF Manuscript black cartridge ink

 

This italic hand......Manuscript pen with an F nib Manuscript black cartridge ink

 

This is a modern....Rotring ArtPen with a 1.1 nib Aurora black ink

 

For those who.......Namiki Falcon with an SF nib Aurora black ink

 

The paper was Viking Imperial wove white 100gsm

 

 

Further down the thread, Beautiful handmade....... was written some time ago. and I have no record of materials. However, it was probably written with an Osmiroid fountain pen, being my instrument of choice at the time.

 

caliken