Sentry Page Protection
Pointed Pen lesson 2
For this lesson you’ll need the same equipment as lesson 1, that is:
Whenever I start lettering – even if I did a whole day’s calligraphy yesterday – I start with some pencil exercises, to warm myself up and put me back in charge of the tool I’m using.
Have a go at these exercises (and make up some similar exercises for yourself):
- Pencil
- Paper
- Ruler
- Working space
Whenever I start lettering – even if I did a whole day’s calligraphy yesterday – I start with some pencil exercises, to warm myself up and put me back in charge of the tool I’m using.
Have a go at these exercises (and make up some similar exercises for yourself):
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The pencil is thought of as a simple tool, because it’s what we used when we first learnt to write all those years ago, but in fact it’s a sophisticated tool that can make very beautiful marks.
One of the things we can do with a pencil that varies the mark is to change the pressure we apply. Here’s some exercises to try. I image you’ll find you’re writing a LOT lighter for the light strokes than you were previously, and a little heavier for the heavy strokes. Doesn’t really matter, as long as you feel you’re getting a good contrast between the lightest and the heaviest strokes. |
(It may be apocryphal but I like the story that during the space race the Americans spent a lot of dollars trying to develop a pen that would write reliably in the harsh conditions of space and in zero gravity. Meanwhile the Russians saved themselves a fortune by realising a pencil would work just fine.)
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If it’s not working too well – is your pencil a soft one? The line drawn by a 2H pencil, for example, will not change very much with increased pressure.
Also remember I said I have a couple of sheets of paper under the one I’m writing on? This helps a little too.
Now here’s a rule we’re going to use that will give us beautiful calligraphic marks. We’re going to have a light touch whenever the pencil is travelling in any direction EXCEPT when it’s travelling down the page. When the pencil is travelling down the page, then we’re going to make it a heavier stroke.
IMAGE
Also remember I said I have a couple of sheets of paper under the one I’m writing on? This helps a little too.
Now here’s a rule we’re going to use that will give us beautiful calligraphic marks. We’re going to have a light touch whenever the pencil is travelling in any direction EXCEPT when it’s travelling down the page. When the pencil is travelling down the page, then we’re going to make it a heavier stroke.
IMAGE
For a curved stroke, we don’t want a sudden change from light to heavy – instead we’re going to gradually increase the weight of the stroke as it turns to go down the page, then we’re going to gradually release the weight as it changes away from the vertical.
Much easier to show than to describe!
Much easier to show than to describe!
(Yes, I am left handed.)
Now it gets exciting!! We’re going to add what we’ve learnt about changing the weight of the stroke, to the letters we worked on in the previous lesson.
Remember – across or up the page – no weight. Down the page – add weight.
Let’s start with my alphabet:
Now it gets exciting!! We’re going to add what we’ve learnt about changing the weight of the stroke, to the letters we worked on in the previous lesson.
Remember – across or up the page – no weight. Down the page – add weight.
Let’s start with my alphabet:
To be super clear, when I say “down the page” I mean in the direction of the “vertical of our letters – e.g. the downstroke of the d. This might not be quite a true vertical down the page – for example in the example alphabet I’ve given, my “verticals” are actually leaning over at about 5 degrees.)
Hopefully you’re starting to write some letters you’re pleased with now!
Once this alphabet is feeling OK, why not try your alphabet. Same rule : across or up the page – no weight. Down the page – add weight.
ASSIGNMENT
When you’re ready, upload this sentence, written in pencil twice – once in my alphabet and once in yours.
the jay, pig, fox, zebra and my wolves quack.
Hopefully you’re starting to write some letters you’re pleased with now!
Once this alphabet is feeling OK, why not try your alphabet. Same rule : across or up the page – no weight. Down the page – add weight.
ASSIGNMENT
When you’re ready, upload this sentence, written in pencil twice – once in my alphabet and once in yours.
the jay, pig, fox, zebra and my wolves quack.
