I've taken up the pen again - calligraphy pen

 

February 10, 2021 – I’ve taken up the pen again – calligraphy pen.

 

         I took up the calligraphy pen again.  Over the years, I have dabbled with it since my twenties and tried the self-teach way - I didn’t become good at it.  Then a few years back I actually anteed up money for an instructional class at a local Arts Council location.  It was a small class – I felt bad for the teacher, as she probably didn’t make a profit with just three students.  But, she shared her artistic knowledge and skill willingly - actually lovingly.  She never said we were wrong or incorrect; she just pushed us into becoming better at it coaching us to change your position, turn your paper slightly, hold the pen slightly different to get the thin strokes and the thick. Actually showing us how to critique our own work.

          I do remember her telling us – “The key is practice, practice, practice.”

          At the last class we all had turns using a light board with a line grid slipped into an envelope and we addressed a few to get the feel for it.  Of course, that year on my Christmas list was, “Santa, buy me a light board.”

          Two years later, I purchased a light board and had a bit of fun.  Then I packed up the Christmas decorations and the light board and calligraphy materials were set aside – again.

          Right after Christmas this year, I resurrected those items and they are now spread out on the dining room table. I leave them out, because you need to practice every day in order to become efficient.  Mind you, efficient is not the same as being good at it, efficient only means you remember how to write a “Z” when you need a Z.

          Learning the alphabet in upper and lower case takes time.  You can’t refer to a chart every time you need to write out a card to a friend.

          The other reason I brushed off my supplies and ordered a few more books and nibs and penholders, don’t forget ink . . . seems endless, the supplies, was to give my Parish members now living in nursing homes a little thrill when they receive their monthly card from The Sunshine committee of the Immaculate Conception Church.  I think it is always nice to get a card with pretty handwriting on the front of it.

          My aim is to get good enough to flourish the addresses – aim high – I might just hit it – right?

          I am now a few years into the Sunshine committee monthly cards and I felt certain that would be a way to get more practice with Calligraphy.

          Trust me, I started slow and awful.  Then I got an idea, if I use 4 x 6 index cards to write each of their addresses, I won’t have to look up that occasional letter that is not used often. 

          If I draw lines for envelope spacing I can do a sample address in Calligraphy on the 4 x 6 cards. I can practice, practice, practice until I get the results I want. 4 x 6 cards are cheap!

          So, that is what I did in January, and then I decided to re-do the 4 x 6 cards “cheaters” every week or two and then I went back to the calligraphy manual and honed my alphabet true Copperplate and then decide on a few flourishes.

          These 4 x 6 card – rework – basically is improving my skill, my eye, my consistency.

          In one book it suggests you literally take a red pen to your own work and confirm what mistakes you are making so that you can fix the upstroke or slant or whatever you are doing wrong.  Yes, practice, practice, practice.

          But, today, if anyone is interested in Calligraphy, there is a website I want to point you to so that you can view on line some of the old books from the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

          https://pennavolans.com

          Penna Volans – “The flying pen” is authored by Sybille who lives in Belgium.

          Under Bibliography she has links to 18^th and 19^th century great master manuscripts or training manuals that you can review at your leisure.

          If you just want to saturate you mind with beautiful script or flourishes – that is the place to browse.

          This month, I tried white ink on red envelopes for my Valentine’s cards.  I certainly hope they hit the cupid’s mark. 

          And, I find, that practicing the strokes with pencil is extremely helpful training your hand and eye to detail.  You can erase and tweak, see your mistakes, and work at the flaws immediately.

 Disclaimer:  I didn't write the P at the top of this blog - I copied it from Penna Volans - just so pretty - something to strive for.