Weekly Workshop- Calligraphy M.E style

[Ainulindale]

Day 1- Introduction, Materials and the Foundational Hand
Day 2- Different fonts, flourishes and er…other stuff… 
Day 3- Design ideas
Day 4- Project 1
Day 5- Project 2

Calligraphy is all around us- in newspapers, books, signs, posters, labels, and it has evolved from simple marks on stones to the hundreds of different fonts now present. The invention of the computer has, of course, led us to overlook these letterforms.

Calligraphy is a very useful form of art, not only is a presentation of good letterwork very beautiful, calligraphy can be used to create elaborate works of art, gifts, cards, advertisements, designs and many more. (Psst- impressing friends…)

For beginners, it’s important to have lots of practice before you try anything more ambitious. Starting off with simple, easy projects provides lots of enjoyment and produces pleasing results too.

Over here

When you are more comfortable with calligraphy, you can go on to more complicated projects such as the one below; a large-scale drawing of the map of Middle Earth. This sort of piece requires a lot of patience and concentration.

Picture Here.





Now let’s take a look at some of the basic materials needed to start.

1) Calligraphy Ink
There are lots of different kinds of ink to experiment with. It’s best to start with black against white paper. Ink will come in a bottle and you dip the pen in directly. You can also saturate a paintbrush with the ink and ‘feed’ it into the nib. Chinese stick ink is very interesting, but it’s extremely messy if you’re a clumsy person like me.

2) Nibs and pens
I use roundhand nibs with a plastic pen holder (click on the link below this paragraph for a picture). Roundhand nibs come in different widths. Roundhand nib no.3 is good to start off with. Roundhand nibs come with a reservoir, usually not attached. The reservoir, as the name suggests, holds a certain amount of ink in the nib so that you don’t’ need to keep dipping every letter. The tip of the reservoir has to touch the underside of the nib, but not press too hard against it or no ink will flow. Fountain pens are very useful too, however there seems to be something very fun about dipping pens in ink! Quill pens are very nice to use too, however you need to know how to cut them using a blade and they need lots of care and constant re-shaping.
http://equine_annie.tripod.com/equineartandothers/id38.html

3) Paper
For practice and doodles, layout paper is very good as it’s thin enough to see through but holds the ink very well. Some papers are unsuitable for calligraphy as the ink will ‘bleed’ into it; i.e. each letter will feather out and uneven lines will be formed. There are plenty of different types of paper to choose, depending on what idea you have in mind.


Starting off: The Foundational Hand

For the foundational hand, the nib should always be placed at a 30 degree angle.
http://equine_annie.tripod.com/equineartandothers/id39.html


Draw straight lines to guide your writing. Click on this link to see the strokes for the foundational hand:
http://equine_annie.tripod.com/equineartandothers/id40.html



Start practicing writing the alphabet out, experimenting with different font sizes. Lines should be straight and even, and this needs practice as a steady hand is needed. Try out these patterns, keeping your lines neat and sharp:
http://equine_annie.tripod.com/equineartandothers/id41.html

   

Sim- I know it's not Monday for most of you, but it is here (3.30 am actually) and later this morning I'm busy so I thought i might as well post this now.

[Ainulindale]

Heck, the stupid pictures won't load.... they need a spanking.

Click here
http://equine_annie.tripod.com/equineartandothers/id36.html
and here
http://equine_annie.tripod.com/equineartandothers/id37.html
to see them.

[River Daughter]

I've always found calligraphy really interesting and was amazed when my friend wrote my name with her calligraphy pen. I asked for a calligraphy pen last christmas but I got this rubbishy Berol one with drew really thick lines. Thanks for posting this I might ask for a good pen this christmas....

[Galadeth Greenleaf]

Wow! This will be a lot of fun, Ainu!

[Simbelmyne]

I recently started calligraphy and it's great! I started with a pen, holder and reservoir, but at the moment I'm using a fountain pen kind of thing, just because it's something I can pull out quickly without doing loads of preparation. It has a converter to use with ink too, so I'm going to try that too. I'm starting to learn uncials (a Rohirric/Medieval kind of writing style).

One tip for left-handers - if you find writing hard, try turning the pen upside down. Sounds weird, but it worked for me.

Anywho, enough babbling...

Simbelmyne

[River Daughter]

Yay another left hander we people are rare and special! Go left handers!!! But it really annoys me when I use any kind of fountain pen cos I always smudge my work. But IF I get a calligraphy pen this xmas *hint hint mum*I'll try out your tip thanks.

[Simbelmyne]

It's strange, because I have no problems with the fountain pen, but the minute I pick up the holder (I always call them pen, sorry) I have to turn it over! I don't know why...still, I've got a left-handed set too. You can get left-handed nibs from art shops if you get really serious - I think I have one.

[Ainulindale]

RiverDaughter said:

Yay another left hander we people are rare and special! Go left handers!!! But it really annoys me when I use any kind of fountain pen cos I always smudge my work. But IF I get a calligraphy pen this xmas *hint hint mum*I'll try out your tip thanks.

RiverDaughter there are calligraphy nibs and pens available for left handers- they are cut obliquely to the left so you can use them like normal pens. Lefties also use Copperplate nibs more easily, us unfortunate right-handers have to twist our wrists in the most uncomfortable fashion. They say it's a right-hander's world, and they're wrong.

Calligraphy pens smudge even more than fountain pens, but mopping up unsightly blots is half the fun of calligraphy.   I love this rolling thing

[Ainulindale]

Day 2


The Foundational hand is one of the easier hands in calligraphy, and the nicest in my opinion, but there are also many other interesting fonts to take into account.

Before we go on to that however, let’s see how we can use the foundational hand to create a LOTR- related design. Once you get the design correct with a pen, you can use this on practically anywhere you like- to decorate a book or file or whatever.
Doodling during Chemistry is also another option. While your friends are studying you are writing beautiful elvish characters on your book. Click here to see a broken down step-by-step thingy on how to write the Elvish on the One Ring.

Calligraphy markers are also available at art stores, or stationery stores depending on where you live. They are flat and broad, like highlighters without the oblique edge, and they are much sharper. These markers can be used for practice, as they are convenient and cleaner. Nobody wants to be dipping pens into ink bottles in class. For finished pieces, however, it’s not advisable to use these markers as the ink fades away with time.

I have here a picture of a very simple but effective piece of calligraphy. It’s a song from the soundtrack of The Two Towers, The Missing. It’s on Old English with translation. I used the Uncial font for the Old English and the Foundational Hand for the translation.

Click here


This is a very simple example, but neatness is crucial and so is accuracy. Click here see another step-by-step thingy on how to write this.


Flourishes
Flourishes are for more advanced calligraphers, to add interest to the lettering. I, however, use flourishes to hide many unpleasant errors in my lettering. Go here to see an example.



Different fonts

For now we will look at two more fonts, the Uncial font and the Gothic font.


Uncial
The Uncial alphabet originated in the 2nd or 3rd century, and it was the script of the early Christian texts. It has a characteristic flattened, rounded shape. The nib has to be placed at a 15 degrees angle, unlike the Foundational had which the nib is at a 30 degrees angle.

Click here to see it.

Gothic
Ain’t it pretty? The Gothic hand was invented around 1200 and it echoes the angular architectural elements of the time. It was commonly used for formal calligraphy, and is characterized by diamond-shaped letters, strong angular forms and densely packed lines. The nib should be positioned at an angle of 40 degrees.

Click here to see it.

[Simbelmyne]

Ainulindale said:

Lefties also use Copperplate nibs more easily, us unfortunate right-handers have to twist our wrists in the most uncomfortable fashion. They say it's a right-hander's world, and they're wrong.

Ah, I remember being able to use the Copperplate nib easier than the rest...

[Ainulindale]

Day 3
Design Ideas

Mastering the different hands is only the beginning; hundreds of projects are out there waiting to be tried out.

Calligraphic design is very specific in nature. It is almost entirely concerned with the visual arrangement of the words. Use of ‘heavier’ lettering (something like the bold letters used on computers), italicised words, spacing, all contribute to the overall character and feel of the design. The end result should be harmoniously arranged, no matter the nature of the piece.
Many questions have to be asked when thinking of a design idea. What are the words about? Is it flowing? And presentation-wise; how large will the finished product be? The use of colours, borders, pictures and flourishes greatly helps in conveying expressions as well. The shape of the paper also matters. While some prefer a more squarish end-product, the use of a more oblong shape can lend to the final ‘feel’.

When starting out, it’s best to begin with straightforward, less complicated pieces. There are a few steps you should follow prior to actually writing on the finished piece.

Firstly, drafting of ideas. If it is a quote or poem you wish to write out, the format of the wording should be planned out care for maximum legibility but maximum creativity too. Take the two examples below for instance.

1.
Snow-white! Snow-white! O lady clear!
O Queen beyond the Western Seas!
O Light to us that wander here
Amid the world of woven trees!

2.

Snow-white! Snow-white! O lady clear!
O Queen beyond the Western Seas!
O Light to us that wander here
Amid the world of woven trees!

3.

Snow-white! Snow-white! O lady clear!
                     O Queen beyond the Western Seas!
O Light to us that wander here
                     Amid the world of woven trees!

From The Fellowship of the Ring, ‘Three is Company’

These three designs do not seem much different here, but they might on the piece itself. Your choice depends on the borders/designs chosen, the nature of the poem and your own personal preference.


Secondly, pick your hand wisely. Depending on what you are writing, there are many hands to choose from which are all potentially suitable. Uncial is good for short quotes because of its legibility; Gothic is commonly used for formal calligraphy (e.g. Certificates) because of its imposing, straight letters, Copperplate is often used in letter-writing and manuscript because of the quick speed at which it can be written- there are so many choices to be made depending on what you want.

After you have decided these two things, draft out your finished piece with a pencil. What looks good in your mind may not turn out so well on paper, so this is important. Diving straight into the deep end, that is, starting on your finished piece with not much clue of what you are doing, can only result in an unsatisfactory waste of time.

When you are ready to start, it is a good idea to work on two identical pieces at the same time. For example, write one line on the first paper then the same line on the second paper. This way, if you happen to make a disastrous un-correctable mistake, you still have your other piece to fall back on.


I have scanned in a number of beautifully-done calligraphic designs, from which inspiration and many ideas can be drawn from.

Click here to see it.

Pictures are from Diana Hardy Wilson's 'Calligrapy Techniques'

[Ainulindale]

Projects

Earlier on you saw a picture of the hand-done map of Middle Earth. It is rather complicated, but do-able even for a beginner. Here are instructions on how to draw a map of M.E.


Materials:

1)Calligraphy pens: No.3 roundhand nib and a copperplate nib. If a copperplate nib is unavailable, you can substitute with a sharp-pointed black inky pen.
2)Non water-based black calligraphy bottle ink. It must mot be soluble in water, or 'staining' the map afterwards will not be possible.
3) Parchment-style paper (an off-white/brownish colour is good)
4) Mounting board, preferably black.
5) Cigarette lighter/matches
6) A good-quality picture of the map of Middle Earth.



Step One- sketching.

In pencil, copy out the map of Middle Earth onto the large piece of parchment-style paper. Take care of proportions. Though exact accuracy isn't very important, you wouldn't want, for instance, Rohan to be bigger than Gondor or Bree to be too near Rivendell. Try to keep your pencil strokes neat, so that less erasing needs to be done after going over in ink.



Step 2- going over in ink.

Using black calligraphy ink, carefully follow the pencil markings made on the paper. For the titles, use the no. 3 roundhand nib, and use the Uncial font. For the landorms (vegetation, mountains etc) use the copperplate nib or the black pen with the pointed nib. Work from top to bottom so you don't smudge the ink with your hands while working. If you are right-handed start with the left side, and the opposite if you are left-handed.

Feel free to unleash your creativity here. Each map is different, and as long as the general shape is present, you can experiment with different styles, fonts and designs.



Step 3- staining the map.

Staining the map gives it that old, used effect which is very interesting.
Take a handful of dried green tea leaves and put them into a small container. Pour about 10 ml of boiling water over them, and leave for a few minutes. Then take the tea leaves out of the container and squeeze out any excess water. You do not want them to be dripping- just damp. Starting from one corner of the map, gently rub the leaves into the paper. They will leave a pleasant greenish-brown tinge which is very attractive. If you wish, you can make some patches darker than others, to make it more uneven.

This cannot be done if the ink is soluble in water, so make sure you get the correct ink. If green tea leaves are not available, normal tea leaves can also be used.



Step 4- finishing touches

For that added touch of authenticity, you can burn the edges of the map to give that used, untidy look. Very carefully, using a cigarette lighter, burn the edges of the map. The fire will tend to move toward the centre of the map, so you have to blow it out quickly before it burns away your calligraphy. If you would rather not burn the edges, you can crumple your map slightly and fold it twice into four.

Matches may be used, but lighters are the safest. Remember that safety comes first.



Step 5- mounting

Take a mounting board which is bigger than the entire map. Using glue, sticky tape or blu-tack, attatch the map to the mounting board. You are now done, and you can either frame and hang your map, or display it on a stand in your room. Music stands come into good use here!


Click here to see a picture of the finished piece.

[Galadeth Greenleaf]

Wow! That is great, Ainu!!!!!

[Eloise]

I just started learning caligraphy today *shows inkstained hands and area in front of keyboard as proof* so this is going to be really usefull! Thanks Ainu!

[Arwen Evenstar]

I'm going to start sometime in the next few days, whenever I can go to the store and get the pen I want So I, too, think this will be very useful!!!