Preparing a writing board
Working at an angled board is something you must definitely try.
It is just possible you’ll prefer writing on the flat (most people don’t) but at least you’ll have given it a try.
Reasons why an angled board is good:
- better for your back – you will find you naturally sit more upright
- better for looking at your work – the distance from your eye to the top of your work is shortened if your board is angled, and is about the same as the distance from your eye to the bottom of your work, so you get a better view
- your ink will flow more slowly from your pen. At an angled board your pen is not so close to vertical, so the ink is less likely to rush down your paper and onto your work in an uncontrolled way
Reasons why an angled board is not so good:
- another thing to set up and tidy away
- things slip onto the floor!
- May need a little more thought to get good lighting
Historical precedents include :
The monks writing manuscripts (click on the link)
http://bluedollarbill.blogspot.com/2011/04/big-mistake.html#.T00nt3m6WSo
Edward Johnston – often called the father of modern Western calligraphy (click on the link)
http://www.ejf.org.uk/
Note the variation in angles of board – it’s really up to you to find out what is comfortable, but typically calligraphers work with their board more like the monk’s than Johnston’s which is very steep.
If you’re working with a piece of board, try propping it against something – a wall, a brick, a tin of beans. Consider putting some blutak under the edge of the board on the table so that it doesn’t slip.
An alternative is to lean it against the edge of the table and rest the bottom edge on your lap.
The surface of the board is likely to be very hard – wood, MDF, plastic etc. This is not great for lettering, and you’ll benefit from a slightly cushioned surface under your writing paper. A couple of sheets of blotting paper, covering the area where you write, and taped or pinned in place is perfect.
A good alternative is a few sheets of newspaper (with creases ironed out!) and a white sheet of paper on top, taped in place.
It is just possible you’ll prefer writing on the flat (most people don’t) but at least you’ll have given it a try.
Reasons why an angled board is good:
- better for your back – you will find you naturally sit more upright
- better for looking at your work – the distance from your eye to the top of your work is shortened if your board is angled, and is about the same as the distance from your eye to the bottom of your work, so you get a better view
- your ink will flow more slowly from your pen. At an angled board your pen is not so close to vertical, so the ink is less likely to rush down your paper and onto your work in an uncontrolled way
Reasons why an angled board is not so good:
- another thing to set up and tidy away
- things slip onto the floor!
- May need a little more thought to get good lighting
Historical precedents include :
The monks writing manuscripts (click on the link)
http://bluedollarbill.blogspot.com/2011/04/big-mistake.html#.T00nt3m6WSo
Edward Johnston – often called the father of modern Western calligraphy (click on the link)
http://www.ejf.org.uk/
Note the variation in angles of board – it’s really up to you to find out what is comfortable, but typically calligraphers work with their board more like the monk’s than Johnston’s which is very steep.
If you’re working with a piece of board, try propping it against something – a wall, a brick, a tin of beans. Consider putting some blutak under the edge of the board on the table so that it doesn’t slip.
An alternative is to lean it against the edge of the table and rest the bottom edge on your lap.
The surface of the board is likely to be very hard – wood, MDF, plastic etc. This is not great for lettering, and you’ll benefit from a slightly cushioned surface under your writing paper. A couple of sheets of blotting paper, covering the area where you write, and taped or pinned in place is perfect.
A good alternative is a few sheets of newspaper (with creases ironed out!) and a white sheet of paper on top, taped in place.
|
|
I’m fortunate to have a large drawing board (above right) – I have blotting paper taped to the area where I write. The rest is left clear – perfect for taping roughs of work, the words I’m writing etc.
Protecting the paper
Now, whether we like it or not, our skin is greasy. And paper loves grease. So even though you almost certainly won’t be able to see it, wherever your hand is touching the paper, it will be altering the surface.
You might notice this if you’re writing many lines of writing – by the time you’re writing at the bottom of the page the writing won’t take so well – this is because the side of your hand has rubbed across the page quite a few times here.
The solution is easy – always have a scrap of paper under your hand when you’re writing.
You might like to tape a guard sheet across your board like this:
Now, whether we like it or not, our skin is greasy. And paper loves grease. So even though you almost certainly won’t be able to see it, wherever your hand is touching the paper, it will be altering the surface.
You might notice this if you’re writing many lines of writing – by the time you’re writing at the bottom of the page the writing won’t take so well – this is because the side of your hand has rubbed across the page quite a few times here.
The solution is easy – always have a scrap of paper under your hand when you’re writing.
You might like to tape a guard sheet across your board like this:
