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Styles of Calligraphy
Copperplate Script ... written with a pointed pen
Copperplate dates back to the 1700 and 1800s beginning with English Roundhand written with a quill to the formal scripts of the Golden Age of Penmanship written with a flexible metal nib dipped in ink. This style is popular for weddings and other festive events.
For those interested in pointed pen style writing, starting with Copperplate is the best foundation. You learn all the shapes of the letters and how to make the pen strokes then put them all together. Projects written in Copperplate include wedding invitations and envelopes, wedding and award certificates, poetry and text that are suitable for framing. Copperplate also pairs well with botanical art. Copperplate variations include styles that are more historic, masculine, or flourished. You make it your own. |
Modern Contemporary Calligraphy ... written with a pointed pen or brush pen
Modern styles of pointed pen calligraphy feature a lively departure from copperplate. This style is defined by looser, bouncy, loopy letters, often with whimsical flourishing. Modern calligraphy can be adapted to many personal styles – and are often used for signage, casual events, and personal greetings.
Modern calligraphy can be written with a pointed nib, marker, pointed brush, or brush pen. For the best start, it's recommended to start with Copperplate then veer off into the modern variations. The only rule for modern calligraphy is that it breaks the rules - so not two people will write it the exact same way. |
Historic Lettering ... written with a broad-edge pen
Calligraphers who are interested in historic styles may study Roman capital letters, Foundational letters inspired by medieval manuscripts, the graceful sloping letters of Italic. Although Uncials have a long history, they are often associated with Irish heritage. There are 2,000 years of variations of letters to explore with a broad-edge pen.
Broad-edge styles are usually written with a metal nib dipped into ink or opaque watercolor. Modern tools include the Pilot Parallel pen and firm markers. Whether you want to re-create medieval manuscripts, or create a family tree or an expressive piece of art featuring beautiful language, you can use historic letters or modernized versions of them in your art. |
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Intro to Italic Calligraphy 6 Week Course Monday Evenings Live via Zoom September 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 2024 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cost: $̶1̶2̶0̶ now 25% off for $90 One of the most beautiful styles of broad-edge calligraphy ever created is Italic. This is a slightly sloped, oval-based lettering style that lends itself to elegant writing and flourishing as well as lively variations. In this introductory class, we will cover all the basics of getting started using a metal dip pen with a flat-edge nib using ink. Classes will be recorded and made available for six months via a YouTube link. The weekly recording will be posted within 12-48 hours of each class. Extra handouts and demo pages will be added to the Dropbox as we go. What you will learn: - The history and special characteristics of Italic lettering, - The supplies that will give you the best results, - How to use a Pilot Parallel pen (cartridge ink) - How to prepare and use a metal dip pen nib, - Using color - ink & gouache (opaque watercolor) - Troubleshooting problems with paper and ink, - The structure of the letter families (n, o), - Well-formed capital letters, - Elegant ascenders and descenders, - Lively variations, - Creating a design for a quotation Upon registration, you'll receive a supply list. I'll share a 30-minute video describing the supplies. Most supplies are available online at John Neal Bookseller (allow 7 days to receive supplies). Shortly before the class begins, you'll receive a workbook of handouts and guidelines in PDF format via a Dropbox. You'll also receive a Zoom link that will be the same for all six sessions. At no extra cost, I'll share the link to my online class The Complete Beginners Intro to Broad-Edge Calligraphy when you register. If you are new to broad-edge calligraphy, I highly recommend watching this prior to the first class. This class is appropriate for all levels. Beginners welcome! |
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Foundational Calligraphy
6 Week Course - Pre-Recorded For students interested in learning historic broad-edge calligraphy styles such as Roman, Italic, Uncial, and Blackletter (Gothic), the Foundational hand is the best place to start. You will learn all the elements of working with a metal dip pen with a flat-edge nib that creates the beautiful shapes of classical letters. In this class, we will review the tools of the trade and how to prepare them, how to set up your workspace, making the basic shapes, then creating letters based on the letter families. We will also learn simple Roman capitals. The class will end with a final project of the students' choosing such as a pangram sentence or an alphabet word list. This is a recording of a full six-week online class with more than 12 hours of content, handouts, guidelines, supply list, and demo pages. You will also receive a link to my 2-hour Complete Beginners Intro to Broad-Edge Calligraphy when you enroll in this class. Click here to view some highlights of the course: youtu.be/LPMfqNrYDPw 50% Off for Limited Time
Current sale price is $60 |
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