Monday, February 25, 2013

February 11, 2013 - Class #4 at Sinai Temple

DeAnn demonstrated writing with the Brause 5mm chisel point nib. She explained pen angle and how it affects the thickness of the strokes.

Satomi's Italic monoline homework

Italic with the chisel point nib:  To start, we’ll be using the Brause 5mm nib (largest one). If you have the Brause holder that’s flat on one side, insert it toward the right side (when holding it) of the wooden nib holder. If you’re looking at the holder head-on, the nib will be toward the left edge.

Pen angle:  The Brause is a chisel-point pen, able to create thicks & thins within one stroke, based on the angle of the pen. Using a protractor as the reference, a pen angle of 0-degrees equates to holding the pen so that the nib is parallel to the horizontal lines of the grid paper.  A vertical stroke at this pen angle is the thickest; a horizontal stroke is the thinnest. If the pen angle is 90-degrees, then a vertical stroke is the thinnest and a horizontal stroke is the thickest. For a 45-degree pen angle, use a box as a reference and place the pen so that you’re placing it on the diagonal of the box. At this angle, both a vertical stroke and a horizontal stroke should be the same thickness.


x-height: is the height between the waist and base. Each hand has a specific x-height measured in pen-widths. At a pen angle of 90-degrees, draw short horizontal strokes to measure by pen widths.


Italic has a pen angle of 45-degrees and an x-height of 5 pen widths, which equals 8 boxes or 1-inch on the 8x8 grid paper. The 5mm nib should fit one box corner-to-corner.
the 5mm Brause nib has an x-height of 1-inch

In class we practiced writing downstrokes & cross-strokes at 0 and 90 degrees, at an inch in height. Dip the pen so the reservoir is 3/4 full. Wipe the nib on the edge of the ink well to take off any excess. We need to get fully familiar with this chisel point nib. Practice making straight lines with the nib. You need even pressure on both sides of the nib. Not a lot of pressure, just even pressure. The ink will flow better to begin with if you give a little side-to-side "rub" (like an ice-skate) with the nib. Or touch the tip to some wet ink on a previous stroke. As you draw the stroke down the page, EXHALE. This helps give a more controlled stroke. Also, set your opposite hand near the work so you can give slight pressure as you start down. These tips will help you have success quicker. At this large size, ink will puddle at the end of the downstrokes; don’t worry about it now, it’s natural & expected.

Writing vertical strokes at a 45-degree pen angle:  set your nib corner-to-corner and don’t move until you achieve that angle. Watch the left side of your nib and pull straight down. Keep the angle steady and constant; don’t turn the pen holder in your fingers. The angle at the top of the stroke should be the same at the bottom; look at the triangle shapes – they should be the same.

The chisel point pen doesn’t push well, especially at the larger sizes like 5mm. So you can make a “pull” stroke at the end of the “b”, for example (similar to top of the “a”).

To achieve the thicks and thins with the chisel point nib, you must keep it at the same angle. Don’t turn the pen-holder in your fingers as you make a curved stroke.

When practicing the lowercase letters from Satomi’s exemplar, write a letter about 3 times, then move on. Compare your letter to the exemplar and really look at the shapes.


Satomi’s exemplar is the sans serif (i.e. “no serif) Italic lowercase. Once  you’re comfortable with writing the sans serif letters, try adding serifs to the letters. Because DeAnn recommends rubbing back and forth slightly to start, the letters already have a slight entrance serif. To add an exit serif, continue the downstroke instead of stopping and exit upward with a hairline. Don’t flick the stroke.


close-up of the exit serifs on t and h

Remember:  write with even pressure, not too hard. Then less pressure on the upstrokes.

Cleaning the Brause chisel point nib:  Usually, wiping off the nib is enough between practice sessions. But if it has become crusty with dried ink, then it should be rinsed in water. To remove the nib from the holder, hold the nib in a rag – the sharp metal of the nib can cut your finger – and pull it out of the holder. Still holding the nib in the rag, then pull the reservoir off of the nib. Don’t let the reservoir wash down the drain! Put it aside. Wash the nib under running water and dry it off. Use an old soft toothbrush if you need to scrub it some more.

Putting the nib back together:  Make sure the nib and reservoir are dry; then put the reservoir on your finger (flat side down). Place the nib into it and hold onto the reservoir with your thumb and first finger as you push the nib back in.

If you do lose a reservoir, the reservoir from any other Brause chisel point nib will fit.

Homework:  Practice the spacing words and alphabet sentences with the 5mm nib. Once you’re comfortable, go down to the 2.5 mm nib (it says “2 ½ mm” on the nib). The x-height will be 4 boxes or ½-inch. Be sure to line your paper with the proper x-height.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

DeAnn teaching Copperplate at RAND


Learn the elegant and flowing 18th Century hand called Copperplate. This style of calligraphy will improve the rhythm of your writing in general and help spacing for italic. DeAnn considers this by far the most relaxing hand to write. We will learn lowercase and capitals and will learn flourishing which will apply to all calligraphic styles. This is a beautiful hand that is used extensively for invitations and envelopes. Materials can be purchased during the first class.

Copperplate -- All Levels
6 Thursday evening classes
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm
At the RAND Corporation
3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18
Instructor:  DeAnn Singh
Cost:  $72

PLEASE NOTE:  Payment must be received no later than Thursday, March 7. A minimum of 10 students is needed in order to hold the class.

To Enroll:  Make check payable to Marian Oshiro and send to:

Marian Oshiro, M5N
RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA  90407

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Send email to "shirleycromb@hotmail.com"
Or... "marian_oshiro@rand.org"


Monday, February 18, 2013

DeAnn featured in The Briem Report

DeAnn's on p. 188


DeAnn has a 2-page spread in The Briem Report edited by Gunnlauger SE Briem, an overview of contemporary calligraphy artists in the world. The Briem Report reveals the wide range of new direction that contemporary calligraphers are exploring based on all the tradition and heritage that has come before. Download a copy (free) at operina.com.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Letters California Style 2013 - this weekend 2/15 - 2/18

Letters California Style is the Society for Calligraphy Members' Conference, taking place at Kellogg West, the conference center at Cal Poly Pomona, February 15 - 18, this weekend.

I'm the On-Site-Manager this year. We have the best classes ever this year, arranged by Carrie Imai and the board, including Pat Blair from the White House calligraphy staff, Luca Barcellona coming from Italy and local teachers as well. I've ordered the new book by Barcellona and will have them for sale at the conference for the special price of $90. It's a great book and when looking at it, I realize what a versatile calligrapher he is. The book has a poster of brush Fraktur as the wrap around the cover. I ordered 35 and they are on a first come first served basis.

Take Your Pleasure Seriously by Luca Barcellona

Luca is giving a lecture on Sunday evening (7:30 - 8:30 pm in the cafeteria), but will sign our copies of the book during the whole weekend.

Please come to the conference even to visit, see the exhibits, and shop at Paper and Ink Arts. The mini-classes are open to all SfC members and the lecture is open to all on Sunday night. Hope to see you there. For more information you can go to societyforcalligraph.org.


Letters California Style 2013
15 -18 February 2013
Kellogg West Conference Center
Cal Poly Pomona
3801 West Temple, Pomona


If you are not a participant, you can still come to see what all the FUN is about.

•  Work-in-Progress Walk Through
On Sunday, 11:30am to 1:30pm is our "Work-in-Progress Walk-Through".  You are welcome to see what is happening in the classrooms.

•  Paper and Ink Art
Our vendor, Paper and Ink Art, will be in our auditorium with lots and lots of goodies. Jennifer Allen has once again graced us with her abundant supplies for purchase.

•  Scribe Store
Our Scribe Store will be selling handmade items from our members and teachers. There are extremely creative arts here for purchase.  Scribe Store will NOT be open during class times (9am-5pm).

•  Exhibits
Across from the cafeteria, the Teachers and Participants Exhibits will be open for viewing.

•  Raffles
We have lots of raffle items that will be located in the auditorium.  Lots of good stuff for just $1.

•  Mini-Classes
Some Mini-classes are still open and available to everyone.  They are Friday and Saturday evenings from 7pm-9pm.  If you are interested in a mini-class ($25 for 2-hour class), contact Karin Gable for more information.

•  Massage Therapist
We will also have Amy Richter, our massage therapist, here at Saturday and Sunday ($30 for 25 minutes of hands-on happiness). You do not have to be a participant to have a massage.

•  Lunch and Dinner
If you would like to join us for lunch or dinner on any day or evening, you are most welcome. You MUST pay at the door of the cafeteria before entering.  Lunch around $15 and dinner around $25.  All meals are buffet.


Monday, February 11, 2013

February 4, 2013 - Class #3 at Sinai Temple

DeAnn demonstrated spacing of the Italic Monoline hand, which is called “picket fence” spacing. Both Copperplate and Italic with the chisel point pen have picket fence spacing.

First DeAnn reviewed using the B-1 nib:  Insert the Speedball B1 nib toward the right-side of the Brause pen holder. The tip of the nib is like a pancake. You want this pancake to be flat on the paper always. Hold the pen naturally, like you would a pencil. The pancake should point upward, it could be slightly slanted toward the left.

Don’t flip the stroke at the end. Come to the end of the stroke, stop, then lift up. Don’t choke on the pen holder – pull back where you’re gripping the pen to get a better angle on the pancake.

Don’t move your wrist when writing – for long downstrokes, move your whole arm. If you’re having trouble with the black sumi ink flowing smoothly, add a couple drops of water to your inkwell.


Picket Fence spacing:  for Italic monoline, Copperplate and Italic, picket fence spacing means that all the counterspaces, or negative spaces, match. The positive spaces (i.e. the strokes or the “pickets” of the fence) are equidistant. The counterspace is the inside space of the letter. This will be the basis of flourishing that you’ll learn later. If the picket fence foundation isn’t strong and steady, the flourishing will look weak.

Imagine the counterspace as water. When writing the next letter, the space you create between the letters should be able to contain the same amount of water that was inside the first letter. DeAnn’s mantra is:  Look at the space you just created, and make the next one be similar.

When you first start writing Italic monoline with the correct spacing, the letters may look too far apart – but we need to train our brain & eyes. Letters are spaced too closely in advertising, so our eyes have grown used to this squished spacing in words. But picket fence spacing is the basis of Copperplate and Italic, so understanding it will also in writing those hands.

As a general rule, the space between letters is the space of the counterspace of an “n”, which should be similar to the counterspace of an “a”, “o”, “b”, “u”, etc. For letters that aren’t composed of vertical lines, you need to use optical spacing. Squint your eyes and look at the word – the “color” should be grey, meaning that the positive and negative space is about the same. Copperplate is light while Gothic is dark. If you see a dark spot in your word, then the letters are too close together.


Spacing rules:
Vertical + vertical = farthest
Vertical + curver = closer
Curve/diagonal + curve/diagonal = closest

The worst combination is “rt” – think of the “r” as an open “n” and place the t where the downstroke of the “n” might go. It’s OK if the r and crossbar of the t touch.

Spacing between words is the space of an “n” from outside to outside stroke; with the B-1 nib, it would be about 5 boxes on the 8x8 grid. Between sentences, place a period, then the width of an “n” before starting the next sentence.

Remember:  Spacing is more important than the individual words.

HOMEWORK:  Practice the spacing exercise words in both B-1 and B-6 size. Then write the alphabet sentences. Don’t worry about capitals yet. It’s OK to practice using markers.
Remember to put your name and date in the lower right-hand corner. DeAnn will review all homework and make corrections where needed.