November 10, 2014 - Pointed Pen Styles Class #3 at Sinai Temple

DeAnn reviewed the Spencerian capital letters, then demonstrated writing words with an initial capital by having the students write along with her. The handouts were 2 more Spencerian guildelines, one with an x-height of 1/8-inch in a vertical format and a ratio of 2:1:2, and another with an x-height of 3/32-inch in the usual horizontal format.

For warmup, we wrote the capital letters.

Then DeAnn had a write-along with the students. We would write along with her as she demonstrated a word in alphabetical order. The words the afternoon class wrote are:  America, Business, Cupcake, Dessert, Eggsalad, Fuscia, Ginger, Heather, Iris, Jack, Kathy, Little, Mother, Neil, Oliver, Puppies, Queen, Rose, Singing, Tinsman, Ursula, Vera, Winter, Xena, Young, Zebra.

For those with experience writing Copperplate, the differences between Copperplate and Spencerian:
The curves are more round in Copperplate, more angular in Spencerian.
The upstrokes and downstrokes are parallel in Copperplate. In Spencerian, the upstrokes are more slanted than the slant guidelines and the downstrokes are parallel to the slant guidelines.

HOMEWORK:  Write text, such as a poem or song lyrics, on the vertical format guideline with the x-height of 1/8-inch. Go down to the 3/32-inch x-height guidelines.

November 3, 2014 - Pointed Pen Styles Class #2 at Sinai Temple

DeAnn reviewed the lowercase letters, demonstrated connecting letters into words, and demonstrated Spencerian numbers and capitals. The handouts were the materials list and nib identification chart (for new students) and 2 more Spencerian guildelines, with x-heights of 1/8-inch and 1/16-inch

For warmup, we wrote the basic strokes and lowercase letters. DeAnn reminded us not to press on downstrokes.

Question from Jaime:  How long do nibs last?
DeAnn’s answer:  it depends on both the type of nib and type of paper you’re writing on. Writing on smooth paper makes the nib last longer. Dull and rigid nibs last the longest (e.g. Brause Steno), sharp and flexible nibs last the shortest (e.g. Gillot 303).

Nib identifier sheet from Satomi:  Satomi has created a nib identifier sheet by cutting out actual-size pictures of the nibs and putting it into a sheet protector so that you can tape the nib to the plastic without harming the identifier sheet.  There are blank boxes to add more nibs as you get them. There's also room in each box to write your nib notes (e.g. sharp, flexible, dull, rigid). Thank You, Satomi!

Sharp and flexible nibs make the thinnest hairlines. These nibs are:
Brause EF66

Gillot 303

Hunt 101

Other nibs good for Spencerian:
Gillot 1068 (Rigid)

Hiro 40 (blue pumpkin)

Because Spencerian is written at such small x-heights, sharp nibs are desired.

Writing words:  DeAnn demonstrated connecting the lowercase letters into words with several spacing words. Spacing words show how letters should be spaced and/or challenging letter-connections. Between words, you only want enough space to separate the words. Too much space between words results in “rivers” (of white space) down the page.


minimum:  all the white space between the strokes should be the same.

Goal:  develop a rhythm to your writing.

Numbers:  based on numbers by Michael Sull, who is considered the “godfather of Spencerian”. Non-ranging numbers are numbers that all sit on the base line. Ranging numbers are up and down on the base line.

Capitals:  DeAnn first demonstrated the different strokes used in writing capitals. Letters such as F and T are based on the Spencerian Primary Stem Stroke, which looks like a swan. Start with no pressure – thick pressure – slide to the left.

HOMEWORK:  Use the medium guidelines (x-height = 1/8-inch, highlighted in pink). Practice all of the capitals and numbers learned in class. Write alphabet words and alphabet sentences. Use all your nibs and both the black and vermillion inks. Intermediates should try the blue guidelines (x-height = 1/16 inch)