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Speaking of handwriting ... I recently took up Copperplate (also called "English Roundhand") calligraphy. It is one of the oldest European scripts, originated

Speaking of handwriting ... I recently took up Copperplate (also called "English Roundhand") calligraphy. It is one of the oldest European scripts, originated in 17th century England. Here are a couple of samples from my practice (of 3 weeks) :-) https://kashyapc.fedorapeople.org/Copperplate_practice_1.jpg https://kashyapc.fedorapeople.org/Copperplate_practice_1.jpg https://kashyapc.fedorapeople.org/Copperplate_practice_2.jpg https://kashyapc.fedorapeople.org/Copperplate_practice_2.jpg What inspired me was this book called Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts[1], which has samples of great calligraphy from centuries old manuscripts, among many other interesting things. (Previously mentioned it on HN here[2].) And I am learning Copperplate script itself from a wonderful book, Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy, by Eleanor Winters. I'm thoroughly enjoying the entire process. Including the experience of using a proper nib, calligraphic ink and the oblique nib holder. The oblique pen holder (can be seen in the first image linked above) is really helpful, as Copperplate script requires letters be at a 55 degree angle; also lets you avoid having your wrist twisted in an awkward way. [1] https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/213/213069/meetings-with-remarkable-manuscripts/9780141977492.html https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/213/213069/meetings-with-rem... [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20332914 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20332914

numlock86 7y ago
May I ask where you come from? Back the days this is what I was learning as a kid in school and - from my subjective and biased perspective - I always considered this basic handwriting and not "calligraphy". (You know what I mean ...) Thanks for sharing!
- kashyapc 7y ago
  I originally come from India; now live in Western Europe. I used the term "calligraphy" (although, my scribbling doesn't deserve that term) because that's what the book I'm learning from (mentioned earlier) calls it. In school did you learn writing with pressure-and-release strokes? I'm referring to how hard you press on the nib to control the ink flow, using a dip pen. If so, more power to you :-) (The other day, a colleague from the UK also mentioned that they learnt "calligraphy" in school, not sure what kind it was, though.) On this being a "basic handwriting", while I'm still a novice in Copperplate, if you squint hard in my example, all the upstrokes are (supposed to be) thin, and the down strokes, thick—they are not uniform, and most calligraphic scripts involve these pressure-and-release strokes. As you would know, it requires a precise control. I'm far from it; it takes a months of dedicated practice to get that smooth flow of ink. Also, note that with Copperplate, it looks like you wrote a word, or even a letter, in one go, but it's not the case—almost all letters require you to lift your pen several times over the course of a word, let alone a sentence. (E.g. writing the Copperplate lowercase 'k' requires you to lift your pen three times.) Maybe basic Copperplate practice letter strokes (for lowercase) in the right-most column here gives a better picture of it: https://kashyapc.fedorapeople.org/Copperplate-lowercase-practice.jpg https://kashyapc.fedorapeople.org/Copperplate-lowercase-prac...
  - numlock86 7y ago
    > In school did you learn writing with pressure-and-release strokes? I'm referring to how hard you press on the nib to control the ink flow, using a dip pen. Yes. That was actually the part on which you got your grades for. Tough days. > E.g. writing the Copperplate lowercase 'k' requires you to lift your pen three times. Some letters have variants. There are variants of 'k' I know of with only two or one lifts and at least one that doesn't need a lift at all, albeit not looking as good but still considered Copperplate.

numlock86 7y ago

May I ask where you come from? Back the days this is what I was learning as a kid in school and - from my subjective and biased perspective - I always considered this basic handwriting and not "calligraphy". (You know what I mean ...) Thanks for sharing!

kashyapc 7y ago
I originally come from India; now live in Western Europe. I used the term "calligraphy" (although, my scribbling doesn't deserve that term) because that's what the book I'm learning from (mentioned earlier) calls it. In school did you learn writing with pressure-and-release strokes? I'm referring to how hard you press on the nib to control the ink flow, using a dip pen. If so, more power to you :-) (The other day, a colleague from the UK also mentioned that they learnt "calligraphy" in school, not sure what kind it was, though.) On this being a "basic handwriting", while I'm still a novice in Copperplate, if you squint hard in my example, all the upstrokes are (supposed to be) thin, and the down strokes, thick—they are not uniform, and most calligraphic scripts involve these pressure-and-release strokes. As you would know, it requires a precise control. I'm far from it; it takes a months of dedicated practice to get that smooth flow of ink. Also, note that with Copperplate, it looks like you wrote a word, or even a letter, in one go, but it's not the case—almost all letters require you to lift your pen several times over the course of a word, let alone a sentence. (E.g. writing the Copperplate lowercase 'k' requires you to lift your pen three times.) Maybe basic Copperplate practice letter strokes (for lowercase) in the right-most column here gives a better picture of it: https://kashyapc.fedorapeople.org/Copperplate-lowercase-practice.jpg https://kashyapc.fedorapeople.org/Copperplate-lowercase-prac...
- numlock86 7y ago
  > In school did you learn writing with pressure-and-release strokes? I'm referring to how hard you press on the nib to control the ink flow, using a dip pen. Yes. That was actually the part on which you got your grades for. Tough days. > E.g. writing the Copperplate lowercase 'k' requires you to lift your pen three times. Some letters have variants. There are variants of 'k' I know of with only two or one lifts and at least one that doesn't need a lift at all, albeit not looking as good but still considered Copperplate.