(alligrap hic STYLES Tom Gourdie— A Pentalic BoohT Tap linger Publishing Company New YorkFirst published m the United. States im 1979 by Tap linger Publishing Company New York). Coal © 1979 by Tom Gowrdie” A rights reserved First published in the U.K. by Studio Vistw, a division of Cassell Crd. No part of this book may be reproduced ov tromsmitted nm or mans, electrome pes wmneluding 2 ie photocopy, recording, or any information storage ond aetrieval system new known ov to be invented, without permission m writing from the Publisher, crcept by a reviewer who wishes to guote brie possagesm connection with areview wnitten fr indwsun mn a magazne, newspaper oy breadteast, Library of Congress Catalog Cord. Num ber: 79-52316 ISBN 0- 8008-1181" XContents Introduction The Pen Pattern-making A Simple Alphabet The Simple Capital A basic Hakte alphabet Practising your lettering Towards w modern Round Hand The Jolmstm Foundational Hand Italic alphabets, smatt-letter Ecapital Sguare ‘Capitals Rustic Capitals Unciels & Half Unciads Bane a pew ores alsch Letter Rotunda Curswe writing Static Handwriting Examples of Catt eae STA,(GALLIGRAPHLY, amd the historic AP AHAB ET S associated with tt are flourishing as never before with calligraphy groups mushrooming ,rwtably an America. Beginners need detailed mstruct- ion if letters ave to be properly formed, but if sion instruction is not available, then tt 65 obvious that a book must suffice. This vs an attempt to mect such aneed. The historic alphabets ave now being used most imaginatively, as can be seen in the amples which conclude the book, but there is also a growing awareness of the value of simple, basic alphabets which ove morein keeping with our own times. Beginning then with the baste alphabets, the prac- tice in mastering them wit wndowbtedly prepare one for the more demanding pen- i Z required for the various historic alphabets Dexterity 05, Fcourst, essential in this craft but pen-ttch- migue mmnst-not become an obsesson, especially with the wy-and- coming catligraphers. Go through this bork stowly - there-m lies success.THE PEN earns ‘tool as it provides contrast of stroke._As an intro- duction +0 the broad nib two pencils, bound together avith a rubber band, may be used . This twin- pointed trot enables one to get the edge of thepen flat om tothe paper, and, with the “ng exercises, shows if the pen vs being hetd properly or not. Cet the hand rest onits side and hold the pen between the thumb & fore -fi er with the middle _finger acting asa support, then let the whete hand move the pen, the movement coming from thewrvs. The first exercase involves pointing the pen to the writing line at an angle of 45¢ond making wp strokes at 45° then down strokes at the same angle. This produces the \ \ thinnest & the thickest ANN strokes. Now make Sas horizentol &vertico strokes — they are ually ght — ¥ wide. Circles are made | —s= —_—_—_______—_ an two movements -the duces strokes going gra- Y .y dually from thin to thick « and back agam to thm.alter n - Waking as an introduction to the lettering pen + essential if one vs t0 acquire supfrivent shih with this tot to produce reasenably wett-formed letters. Begun wth this exerase which wit help you ad hold the pen at an angle of 45° t the writing OMX XK XXX The upstroke isthe thinnest possible store and the down: stroke the thicket. +++++++ This wercise shows horizontal and vertical strokes equal in widlh. JN In cach of the yxercises of ANNAN thisgroip only poled strokes of the pen have been PLL used and pushed strokes wy avoided. The up-strvkes at VVVIWW1 stare calted sidled strrkes USERS ee they are more pushed than VV vrimectesnrheie LNW paper) they are allowed mn BVIV LBS fama calligraphy.Border designs based on cireutar lines PALMA NAY Ia the fire estcond of the designs shown LVVVYVY\ here the pen 1 frecly wed, the patterns be- KONONKOKONONY ting nade wvthout nade by super-vinpos- Ceacrarman siherrn 4, two strokes should be CROs gical ciel 7 13 w combination oF YOMMOWMONK inl strnghe hive Vertical stripe pattern exercises. a great an possible with an edged pen. Tf two colours are used, a is possible. This pon Art is an ideal intro- duction 0 lettering with the bread pon. HAHAHpatterns progression may be made wAlL: over pat: tems, using squared paper. 1 a a a All. over patterns. From seripe 6 Border b> O BY tf V Cd WY WHY Wi Ml WES Ls ae co co ) Le ca co wii Wi a co)A simple alphabet era ‘base Round Hand’ alphabet . Having acquired some shih with the edged or broad pin wn making patterns, the makwng of letters wilt be much easier. Letters can be most subtle sn form hut for the bequimer this very basic alphabet wilt be found suffeciently challenging. It 03 based on circles and straight linesand v3 derwed from the Carvhngiaw hand of a thousand yeous age. Tht Carcimgtan hand has new been reed twit — firt m the Renaissance Humanist style of the fifteenth , sixteenth centuries and then at the begmmning of this century by the caltigrapher Edward Tehnston. the Pen Angle: A ANN che Clonee ey eX -—_J). | o-oce -adgq- bp rf js tamrh cu x xvwyk- ifl-z 6The alphabet analysed F 2. Holding the pen atanangle of 45; do stoke "ar 1 and then add strvke 2. The pen need not be lifted for the vertical stroke 3. : The letter b is almost Q inverted, but for 1] RY the ascender, which 1 almost turce the body (er) eight. we Tn this alphabet, when-using the broad per every stroke is pulled, hence the reas for making such a simple letter im to stwhes. In making the second stroke flatten tt ent, like this ~, not lhe this. 12] } Render d simitarly to A, and make 3 the ascender almost twice X height. 2 E may be rendered on two or three strokes. t >> Gn the twnstrohe version the omss bar is org" carried down to the left without lifting the pen ?.As a three- stroke letter the pen vs lifted after 2 and the bar made from left to right, as a diagonat. 7s ‘AT F isan ascender letter. Think sf 0 as fiting S'5 into the tep part. Note how far the orvss-strvhe projects +0 the right.whice repeats the bony height. It 1a three stroke letter if one doesnot lift the pen before adding the descender. Think of the body of bas fitting into the descender. bLa Fis two-stroke letter. All the archesin 1] )2 thisalphabet are circular, therefore, done Start the second strvke tov low and thux Vg git an Stale’ lovk to the letter. Wf (| hand | ave so simple as to regure ttle fay | or ne analysts. Always remember the dots ! Ik 1 k and | ave also simple. Add the chevrm 1G ‘) G has the body of O but with a descender 3 1 of k ww one continuous stroke, but donot caaggerate it (<) — K should be the same as hm width, wy) Cotters of the alphabet freguently come rn pairs. and N are am cbvieus example. nm Remember always to make the arches rounded. >) O 1s, oF course, a completely circular Y letter, Jt 15 the key letter to the alphabet just as the oval O v5 the key letter of the Jtalic alphabet,ip Pand.q art another parr of simitar 1P; letters, although oppositesan construction. «G) Psa theee-stroke letter but G maybe made ‘ in two strokes, Note the_flattening of the * civowlar strobes as they connect with the ym Fs a simple two-stroke Letter. Take care 1 to flatten off the trp stroke just as we ded with C. S is a letter vequorig considerable cart and practice. It is based on two circles, (3 one above the other, the upper being stightly ‘ smaller. Tt may be rendered variously, oom, with the centre stroke first, then the base one “DQ and finally the toy stroke or one may stort 73 with the tp stroke, flowed by the centre one and then the base.Flatten off the ends of the letter and, 50 avvid making it look, lhe w hook. Lfe2 Pisancther simple letter, wniquem that ; , is only 3/4 ths as toll asthe sther ascencler UDy (letters. The crvss- stroke may begin stightly TT t0 the left of the down-stroke with the majer parton the right. One cross- strohe serves double f.U U 4s simply inverted. Take careto _flatten off the end of the first strvhe ~ this makes for a much mere pleasing Letter. V ¢3 cbviewsly only one of a. farniby W are half the width of the thick strvhes~ or should be f the pen is being hetd & re {| abcde XY 2% ighijk abedefghij kIm nopgrsfuvwxyz This simple alphabet 4 londtmtnenin. INNOP 1am aphab a thous NE en ne rst U aS RN VWXxyZ in its simplest possible 10he Capital Alphabet sin its basic _form with be used with the simple smatt- letter alphabet and also with the Italic alphabet. The proportions of the chassical Roman Capital (the Trayan Roman) have been chesely observed an the design of this alphabet. ABCDEFGHIJ KLMNOPQRS TUVWXY EZ TO EFH Ler IN; AKMNVW XYZ D:DBPR OO: OQ. CG: Sumadeup two civcles,ont on ay oe this 88. ithe Proportions of the Capital usted oe DO) seuare: M,OQ 0 34 seus AH NTUYV O %45u.:BEFJKLPRS Cl 34s: CGD IB seu : eE The alphabet anmlysed. : vA A medium width letter (3/4 sguare).Place >3\ the cress bar so that the areas above and below it appear equad — net A nor A. 1] DZ the upper loop is stightly smaller than the 2 lower one - Whew a centre line 1s drawn the Zapper loop shovdd rest ow it. This also applies to the centre stroke of E and the crvss- stroke of H. Note also K-X-¥-. Om” This letter isnot exactly circular but follows the Trajan Roman m beng slightlycompressed so that the letter stightly over laps the top and bottom lines between which the alphabet 1s drawn. The extremnties of the letter are also straightened cut 50 that tt does not look like a circle with aw bit cut away. iy Cthe C, Dus mostly civentar, therefore A “tt should go above & below the lunes. This 3 means that strohes will not mert the down-strohe exactly at right angles : ( fre [feu ) This avvids a me i = “drawn look to the letter. 1} Ss The arms of this letter are all the same L>* length. Cet the middle stroke rest on the 14 fs line dividing the letter. The lower stroke Gf Fis a trifle lower. «S The same applies to Gas to C. The vertic- E } al stroke barely comes wp to the centri line. ee of H +ext3 om top of the aN? | contre lone. | 05, ofcourse, pust a single stroke, The second stroke of Sis strought- —\' ewed owt to give the letter a better appearance . 2 BHK The angle of the two arms mecting(<) U 45 onest a right angle. Let them meet slightly above the centre of the down. stroke - where the centre stroke of E bequns. As with E so with L - the horizontal stroke 1s half the length of the verticat. JN i Th Seg aA aa ee ed anid OV" the V part comes below the centre ine — but not night to the base. The letter vs a square wide. IN|! It 1s sthdom that one needs to alter the pen- angle from \ to ~ but tb isnecessary to do so when doing the down-strohes (1 &/3) um order to make them more tender & more contrasted ta the diagonal. % Nc that the round letters be laterally compressed, to onake them more subtle mn appearance - ) the tai of Qmay have a stight turn at the md. Q may be written as a two- 2 strtke letter or as a three-stroke,with aJ)? Cike D, the loop of P begins with a stight 3 ise. The loep _firishes just below the centre line. Rvs simitar to P. but ofcourse has IRR Fer erbe ns eo naa I) (2) a (1) or, much more gracefully ad (2). & As with ‘salt’ s, the capital form is a ee ae The top circle imagine tue circles, ont above the other) ey slightly smaller than the lower and the letter stort hawe a stight forward Hope as a rest (see dotted lines). Also straighten cut the ends, to avoid making S locking like a butchers havk.. 72 T.a -mediwm-width letter (like H) & foowrse is rendered mn two strokes, GE Avather'medinm’ liter, Straighten ont * strche 1 befor metts the doun- strvhe. We V is simply an inverted. A but, frowrse, 2 without the oress- stroke. AVA Two V3 together produce W but they ave Hightly compressed to make W less wide. 1SWe ee ee fut above the centre line NY. The V part of Y rests on the centre line ~ YeXar tightly less than medium width. Zz Z showld observe the same oo tit as S. Tt is a two-stroke letter. Both alphabets together When the alphabets are brought tog makethe capitals 3/4 oF the eee lee Ab CAF AaBbCcDdEeFFGg HhIUjKkLIMmNn OoPpQgRrSsTt UuVv Ww xXx Yy andZzA basic Italic alphabet ébuue on the oval — the round hand, how- ever ,was based on the circle, One naturally springs fom the other for if ome speeds up the hand (as was done a thousand years ee precewrsor of cur round hand — the Carelingian hand ) the Italic characteristics (compression, stope Yeconomy of stroke) begin to emerge. she Clemens: WU DAO X enamrhk UW UW :bp Q:adgg OCC a eat |. 5 XZ Iie x OGL SThe alphabet L The Deahic alphar bet 1s largely the result of writing freely &/inform- ally, 50 that a natural slope 40 the right is develop- ed Erletters assume an oval rather than a ciroular form This abso comes from the way the writin ig toot (between the thumb and L fore-finger E supported. by the auiddle finger) and moved property ( by the whole hand wm a ing up and down movement from the wrist) the fltowi en patterns naturally emerge: f YN UUM UN Practise these before attempting the alphabet and. lke foes Oe ter ! (Al C isrendered in two strokes. The turn at Uh2 the base 13 quitt sharp. Make sure that fame Yen produce this wedge- shape between the here. up- stroke and the down try to-make , the letter slope to the same degree as this | AV Dias sirapig chet tartare Bartel wich the addition of the ascender, but the m2 turn at the top * 4s rounder. Observe the wedge shape | 18C 4s based on the oval 0 but note that the top is straightened out. Always try to incline the letter by balancing ut as indicated. Keep the back fairly straight. “i! dis simply A with am ascender which Pe eee less, as > here. His. a three-strohe letter. 4 € isa two-strche letter beginni like : ee ene 2 lovp jon the downstroke about half- wny. It shovtd be inclined yractly as C. 9 * F isa choce-strohe letter: Nite how OI 4 _fitsintw the topand hew we have gwen tht ovess-strokt a stightly inclined angle. A descender may be added - so.make asics f- 7 ieee OF A. Render the descender 50 that b fits snugly into it. pas Nwith an ascender. Cet the " ap-stovke swing up and away, | from the base — but donot waggerate the wedge! i 19| Eee coined would be almost N inverted. J Haan td eee. Gand i —~b fits into it. 1 I is ccracdasiebameetee asian poreha a Fh AH eam eeg in the ¥ loop with meet the diagonals where they cross and then descend the diagonal. lisa simple ascender stroke, #3 m) YN and Ylawe hey letters since they imeorporake the baste clockwise pattern. Po than tra nanal a eajether. Do net j make the turns too sharp at the top* a Oisanether very basic letter — in fact this tswhat gives the Italic alphabet its charac- ¥ ter ~its oval form | It should be melined at the same angle as the vest of the alphabet. 2 2 Pond g are almost wurrer , per ihe fH a apg ia round the top f P rather more (2). 20ee Vis a single-stroke letter with am arm at ee the top of the upstroke. Do not swing the up- ey stroke as much as that of, say, VI — Vnet C here 323 Sis inclined ak the same angle asthe other letters. Tt is made up ff two circles,one on top O of theother, the lower being stightly Larger. of - bisa 4A sized ascender letter with a oness- stroke level with the top of A. Note its length” Y isa singlestrche letter like Ninverted. 1 Vand Womay be pointed at the base or Wy stightly rrunded. Note how Vand W UV finish with a swingin to the up-strohes, and how the second down-stroke of W is WwW almost backhand in direction. NF and Z an imdlined similar tothe INL ret the alphabet and have the same eis Vi. may be rendered with a UoraV Jee ae aU body it is-nearer to m2 ya 21ractising your lettering The height of letters and the pen : 0 Pe b te g A A, ral g For most purposes the proportion of pen-width to x‘ height (the body height of the smatt- letter lpha- bet) should be 1:5, but where a heavier or lighter weight* is requsred this proportion wit be altered. In the example above O45 fire pen-widths high, b (and Mother ascender letters) vs nine, G is ten and the capitals sever. Spacing the letters should be quite sumple af ore attows the tye to fudge the arew between letters 50 that it appears equor . , Spacing te tte rs Lew a between oe MEET dimer. * qd In 1 the letters are strung out at an equal distance from each other. In 2 an attempt has been made to equate the AREA between letters. Spacing words (with a letter *) and. lines are also important. 22Touards a modern ‘Round hand This heading is based on the leering of a toth acquare if tiehand is ened ty move nokuralld, Sirah the forms are based om the cvele. sabcdefghi jklmnopqr STUVULXYZ Notes on the alphabet XY The downstrhe is doped like the capital At < From the construction it vs easy to see how the smat-letter came to be derwed from the wt A DKAX 331 # Wv hm The serif ts made as tustrabed. — st is 3 ratty a small thickness or wedge at the top of the ascender. Kix ! Cl 4s rendered. simitarly to din the base : alphabet with the addition of the serif and ee ee the downstrohe >, C4“ characterized with the Oe g oe beth ascender Sdescender and the cross- strohe v3 iv line with the top of A. The ornss- Stroke Hides down, then ont to the left before it orvsses mer to the vight. 2». & S50 beasttsfud letter if done with some swagger — but of you are an absolute begun - SY ner at wilh require onuch practice. The bottom = ¢8.abmost am ovat lying m ss side whereas y)b lovksasof vt were intended to form bwith 2 the turn in of the second dewn-strvke — this persisted wen to the I5th cent. Static. 24Ly Land j are simple letters. Riser hed ee oe ee Hee Render the second stroke of K asasingle Stroke with a swing mn to the down, stroke and then a swing away edown for the finish _Sf the letter. ae (, L tke i, finishes with a rrunded. stroke d ste which onemay rmagine a circle filing. 2s DY ee Nis required to be render. >): edn three strokes and NY m tur, but m 1) 2 wamples of 10th century Carolingian writing Nn such was the urgency of the writer that those letters were often written cursively — ie, without polis .Y, Pand J Care almost exact opposites or pene : of cach other. Note hew MY! the curred strokes straights aut befor bink- ang up with the down. strokes. if Co 25a2. fe Hore ove twa forms of S, the firse being the { 10 th centwry way of writing this letter but 2 now quite obsolete. It vs like F but without the cross- stroke. G CS begins with a horizontal stroke (atX height) and then the lower, coreutar port is added. Ht vs like Cwith a flat cap. R p U may have the wedge serifs (the a -Ul tarlver form ) or amay be written on the second way which 1s quicker and econornica of stroke. This vs theasual trend wn lettering. DV ion this form wns net included. sn the Ws Cott IE Fa po the thin pes down strke the poy angle haste be grad. UN wally altered (see arrows). This also applies ‘VA? 0 the second vample of W. Wa The thin down: stroke of X has been ed and ht below the XY ei rtaty pontine! Y «simply Land | joined together. Z, like W may have the down-stroke altered im width as it descends, 26PAP ITALS ieee to the capitals of He Baste alphabet 40 match. Be MISS 2 CAST OS Ti bottom of the strrkes remains unaltered, ABCDEFGHI]J KLMNOPQRS TUVW XY&Z eA an Neen en oe ae adtered the look. of the Basic capital. alphab Cetters-not altered ave AMOQ. “The wedge fic i added $0 the leh 2 ale V andW. Take care not to make the wedge tov prominent. mut be a discreet addition not Fy 27Te Foundational Hand as devised by Edward Johnston. The rediscovery of the broad pen asthe lettering tort GF the ancient scribes and his study of Cartlingian manuscripts gave’ the deyen of British catligraphers, Edward Johnston, to reatise has rnost beautiful and practiced Round Hand alphabet. He cated it the Foundational Hand Here are the alphabets ae k MN Pd TS tu 4 ee EZ az ABCDEFGHIJK MNOPQRSTU VWXYZ 28As Ya may be rendered a w two- . stroke or three-strche levter. AU ea towtd be ciratar. ere three - strohe letter but usually the senf” stroke is not counted. C, ihe the basse example, has the second stroke straightened tightly. The little ‘tnit™ is omade by turning the pen on to its left edge and drawing it downwards. a Chi het ltr former union of Cand @ © is another three-strohe letter and in ‘e this alphabet the crossbar +5 diagonal. iE E ign thre stroke letter, poised, in thes 3 > aphabet, on its foot. To make the foot let the : pen go down Sout to the left and then sharply (ata slight angle downwards) to the right. Notice how tt seems to be balanced. on tip-tet. the cross-stwhe begins with the pen placed above the cress and then swung down to thelefe and then across. 29NA: ‘( 2 This letter ts a challenge to one's shill asa penman. Thisis an occasion when one 73° might trace with advantage m order to acquure the swing tothe lower part. 2 Ih Reanim -strohe letter, the first one ending : with a stight twrn to the right, whale the second tothe right ond on finishing ] com the on gradually on to its edge toend up ‘Uf: | Alunys finish 1 with a substantial tum ine ce tag onset second stroke with some hint ‘of a. flourish ! Tracing wit help here. lm l isa simple down- stroke turned at the oe Both MEN ave FA SFoowrse basic dockwiseletters—make : sure the arches ave round ! 1b e3 &g ave rendered exactly as the basic Pq but with the addition of an entry i. Sprtka ls Dende beck her: 302 Give Ta rounded arch as an entry stroke and add the arm with a stight wave effect. we Sate alphabet fits into a circle ~ the : > centre stroke should be done first, then ~7* the bottom one and, finally, the top. Mle then do the vertical stroke, with arounded extt. Add the crvss- stroke, attaching it to the sidled. stroke. Note its length. eee ae et serif given to the second stroke. Ny Terese cae ws « the second stroke is made - set arrows. Nines alters here, too, until the 4 strokes are abmost havr-lines. 0. aes X fit into a square. Note the top ‘ XX then ieee Like &, Y isa subtle letter, with stight a change of angle to the second down-strke Try tracing it, if in diffientty. z This is ancther letter, apparmtly simple Pagel Ly it subtlety de. Te tehonsontats ghey 31D AX ts a three-strvhe letter. The second deun- 3 stroke is swung to the left as it descends 2 £L being curved (ste Mustration) rather than absolutly strarght. The foot 1s done as Shown ~ practise this ! JPR Bisa two-stroke letter. The swing from Bi 2 the downstrvke to the stightly tilted & as seo © : C ts a two-stroke letter. Once again straighten Of the upper strohe and. try the flick finish oT by turning tht pen om to the left edge and drawing it down 4ownvds you. D. “Do Das you did B. Prevent a-mechanicah ler look, to the letter by a swing upand round t0 the second part of the Letter-* ee a is tice oro ‘_ Stroke which, becouse it is lacking m ‘F, cases its centre stroke to be tightly dropped. G G is just C with the addition of the short : \, vertical capped with a finishing horizontal 32fy. H 13 simply two vertical strokes foined iy by a horizontal which sheutd rest on the centre line. ] Land ] need no farther vxplanation but to finish ]with a haw -line by turning the penon to its edge. I]. Note the swing down and in to the vertical stroke by the second stroke of K: They meet on the centre line. Note the subtle tilt of the base of L,.. NA; Cot the ‘legs of M be slightly tiléed and a Me fae thee V are siete DAE this example isa fraction of it *. Nev the pont about this angle ~> for the ig strokes 2 and 3. ©: O and Q need. no planation — but to AR v1mind. you to make them stightly Fe less than aw circle wide. ae i ) Q Pand R are another parr of similar’ PP LN? letters. Do not be afraid to swing R! 3333 aC S is not easy to dowel. Care must be =X taken 40 balance it properly, to straighten 2 off both ends and to get a beautiful swing to the centre. Trace this! ae 2 the letter fit into 3/4 of a square. (l | Mie the enlace 2 merts the 2nd. Finish offthe 2nd stroke by bringing the pen mnomentarily to 0 ee Sight dagenal up -stroke-L WY) V puis the ps ange theatre Sor the second down stroke to make the Ni) stroke gradually thinner. Note that W ‘V N ‘eel Og Rage carte bee} xX eco ae ht the cap ada- yp? Pie ei os As with V, the pen's angle is altered for the thin ‘down-stroke 1 then 4s altered again for the stem. Cet the base of Z be tilted down rather more than the top. ot:Italic alphabets, sv small letter & capital The natural progression from the Round Hand is 40 Ttoic. the essential characteristics of Italve sorupt ave: 1 Compression 2 Slight forward Hope 3 Rhythm or movement. White informal Denice requires very_few pen lifts (mest letters ave single-strohe ) the formal-version, due t being written with the broad pen, demands that the pen be lifted frequently. 0g. N, ashere, 1s a single-strohe letter sect tt 16 written with a fine nib, but A, written with a brad nib isa 2-strohe letter. Thisis becamse the pen vs pulled, mever pushed,when writing as lange. abedefghijklm nNOpag — yy and a 35a2 Wis a two-stroke letter-U V.. Always (A turn sharply at the base and allow the mevenent of the hand (ast were nodding ) WI to dictate the slope. ie” b is a trosseghalgenenis (the Qe ~ part enctosed )1s an ovat, here inverted, ee As mthe other alphabets straighten the second stroke of C. anny be extencled sf desired. (” Cis a two-stroke letter. The lorp is brought 1 into the centre of the down stroke and, a3 Sf desired, an up-stroke “is added. 1 2, Fé am elegant etter bt sch long 4 down -stroke vequores care to keep it = stratght. Imagine A fitting rnto the top nid: DUR U OOH: Hales. the eress- stroke +3 placed through the centr. dh G 18 A with a descender which has a subtle 36a h #5 a single-strohe letter.(Twm the base Ff the second dewn- stroke sharply. 44. Tum 1 sharply at the base. Add the base Uy stwke of J so that D can fit im. The dots L may be made Sor *; as-you wish. [ Lis simply a down stroke, turned sharply ene at the base. h 4s ahso a gracefur letter f£ the chevron < is alowed some freedom, See here. Do not let the in- stroke come vight in to the main stem.” AA MEN ave baste dockwise letters : 0) O 1s the hey letter ta the Stalic alphabet 2 itisa proper oval aw shape, rendered here m two hodvrs. Da] P&G, a5 meted 1m the other habets, 2 ae are opposites.) is v ed. : om three strohes while Gis a two-stroke letter. 463: Q, based on Os also a two-stroke letter with the tail as an extension of the secondone. 37* Yr ets TL arm has a slight wave. It 1s easier to control this part of the letter if one pauses briefly at the top of the stroke before adding the arm. © Think of Sas fitting into am oval and tt with come quate easily, but, if m difficulty, why not tract ? Pt ree taking 1 the letter above the le +. Add the erss- stroke from the ‘ontry strobe. Finish it with a sight lift of the pen . U: Here, U is exactly V0 inverted. AV is a one-stroke letter with the down-stroke Ah ee ae eae aif ond the ap trek swinging in to the left The down- strokes of yy Wars Sight pase od tha ride i gwen a subtle Se fenishes like V. Note how the DX fitsinea A. We There are tun ways of doing Y,— with so ‘aV ora U body. In a puroly cursive style Le the pen need nut be lifted except to add the base stroke YY. Nite the tilt to ©. 38abedeig hijalmn op orsttuvwixy2 which the ascenders are given horizontal strokes and P given a horizontal stroke tothe descender. Nité double fandt: fF tt. be matched with simple capitals. aAbBcCd DeEfFgG but the second version is matched with move ornate ones, called Swash Capitols:I-A Cet the hand rest on the paper- then let it make a swinging movement down and to the left_for A stroke 1. Stroke 2 is almost vertical and comes from the pen down towards A he ly i * ter high? net +00 low® B Do the downstrohe first then add the vest of the letter. I have wxaggerated the lower part. Do C exactly as you do smalt- letter C, G Straightening off the top stroke. D Desrondered tm the samennyt ssenmeras “LAY B, the circular part begining to the left ° Gf the down-strvhe. a= “E-may start with the downstrohe or E with the top horizons. It may be w (ES three or four-stroke letter, Fis just E without a third horizontal. = Gis a two-stroke leer. The vertical strohe C does not reach hedf way. 40atike so they must ald conform. Her +t is written as a three- stroke letter but tt ood hawt been five, had the pen been lifted at the starred pots. thes the other letters 7 ed DIKE b. oe Tw ge oh pe to the cherrm part, ic C demands more than wel care, expec: I tally 0 do it im aw single stroke, ON Saad ei epee eter a AVA itamght be worthwhile to trace. St can be a two ov four-stroke letter. INGEN: is a three-stroke letter, the troublesome strohe being the centre one with vts subtly as curving line \. Trace tt! 0) O is the key letter to this alphabet. Mahe Ip Sure it 03 a proper ova mn showpe. BS Pis similar in constructim to B,D {( and R (but for the leq). Us Aad ths on Sand aise Ie His the first of four letters beginning “HI 4 4Qs Ty pestle deemed and should be rendered. freely. The first fe down-strohe of Pand R may finish with OQ! a stight flick, see ilustration.() (C Compression 1s the essence of Italic so S : S has to be designed to fat into an oval. 7h T begins with the crvss-strvhe which _. 2 given a swagger and tilted down a little. T Finish the down-stroke with a little fuck: L ’ Begin U with the same introduction as H,I.K, and finish with a like stroke, as if’to badance the letter. Vs V may be very soberly done with straight VV dewnrstroke (advisable for the beginner) ay) or tt may be given a hight swagger. WwW Try t0 do both VerW iw single move- ™ ments, and treat W asV - either very LN Soberly or with a controlled swagger. YY ForX extend theright to left down-strke 1! above and below,if desired, and let the Ze letter fit into smal WN may be in two _forms—with a Ver U tap. 1 2 42The alphabets already gin are the calligrapher’ essential material but there are others which are useful and they are , therefore, included, not as historical curiosities but as worthy alternates. In therr order we shall kame Square Capitals, Rustic Capitnss, Hafuneds & the various Gothic alphabets, SQUARE CAPITALS. che Roman Capital 05 tobe found everywhere today. It 1s the most endur- tng of alphabets and, for beauty of propertim o design, has never been equated since devised tun thousand years ago. Kt shows the influence of the pen in tts contrast of stroke-width and it was in turn closely imitated by the scribes of the early christian or as tt 1s also known - the Quadrata. ABCDEFGH 1] KLMN OPORSTUVWXYZ a3SQUARE CAPITALS In thisalphabet, also cated Quadratn, the pen is used to capture ov simulate the effect of the carved. Roman capital. it demands considerable skill to manipulate the pen at varying angles. ‘Elements : Pen angle 4- Serifs : Top aT 1 =) aN Base (LAE a a P-DBPR. XV WA ww ee-S i \ A 45 gfcourse, im three strokes, all varying ns on width. Point the pen at right angles to {\\ the writmng line for the serifs. ‘Bi Bris a three-stroke letter. Note the shight > rise +0 the wpper loop & hight fall etthe lower 44circular but compressed The lower port GF the serif isadded with a downward twist Ff the pn. LD --_, D. like B has a vise and fol at the begin: Cc Asin the carved Roman C isnot actly ning and ond. of the boop. In making the Square Capital, do the upper port of the = loop first. 5 The arms of E&F ane half the letter FF =) height, Let the lower avm of E be tilted =*" down sightly, rising towards the end . ¢c ee The same vies apply to Gas to C. the he vertical stroke’ comes wp to the centre ne. “| J As with , the centre stroke of H lies aro on the centre line. { Let the chevron X part of K met the vertical KE at the half-way pont. Tilt the base of L. t {Do not over-splay the outer strokes of (NAN M. Note how far the Vpart comes down The pen is held more horizontally for the vertical strokes fN.. aSTM The pen angle is as usual 45° Add the taut {P! 3 re F Qat an approximate angle of 30! 2 The loop of Panay connect to the downstrohe 4 or not, and this abso applies to R. is abs cate eee cenit Srsst out the others coming as-you wish, The Trajan Roman Thasa tilt tothe ornss- Stroke, 50 we have the same here but balancing it with the serifs placed below &/ above=[ The serifs at the top and bottom of the second. strohe should be identically opposites. For the serifs of Vand W heep the pon pointed at 90° to the writing lime FW may have a senf topping the centre of the letter & the final. strokes of Vand W may vary: yf X incorporates the strohes of V. Jeep the pon abmost at right angles to the writing lone for the strifs. Do not exaggerate them. Y incorporates V and, therefove,the same construction applies. Tit the base of Z se that, like Eand L it 13 balanced at a pot indicated here ASure Capital is tediows to do oer, pr , hence the Rustic capital. He was useful for s sqraffiti, t00, asthe walls of Pompeis con testify & for this the writing tool was a chisel ended reed. Kt isa pure pen-inspired alphabet. Te acquire the compress sea eie held abnost parallel tothe witing Wnt jorge —S ABCDEFGGHI {KLM NOPORSTV-UVW “RUSTIC? XY 7+ CAPITALS 4 Elements -FFHLJKL- >-BDPR: 0:006Q 5 AEVUVWYYZMNA agiABCOEFGHI] kLMNOpgR STUVW XYZ UNCIALS and hale uncials - Cabligraphy hasnever stagnated;it has always been a mest lively art, and has always gone from one style 40 another ~ usually from one extreme to the other. This is mest apparent on the historic alphabets which changed from rounded to compressed_forms and back again abnest with monctonows regularity. The Unc then 4 in direct contrast to the Rustic Capital 1m two most important ways : @ It 1s round im character. @ The pen-angle is opposite : this f as compared to this <— The edged pen makes rounded strokes much more tasity than straight, hence this alphabet is a true pon-made one, quite different nm character from the Square capital - 48che UNCIAL ANALYySEd | Ove SM, A may be made im two ways. In either GNEN way it is 0. tre stroke letter. BB B may be made with or without the wh ) ascender. Kt is a three-strohe letter. 3 “ip The roundness of the Uniial 15 emphasised asin C— a two-stroke letter. © Make the circle forst and then add the (2 ascender, as the rasier way tomake Od. « Eis just Cwith a centre stroke. Nite 2 how to: make the senf on this stroke! abe } or F 44 three- stroke letter whose top: strrke Vi curved, not strarght. It may alse be described as a descender letter. iG "Ganga odes -- Stroke which 43 tilted to the right. Gf somple straight Ecwrrrd strokes. It 1s an ascender letter. b h is a simple two-stroke letter composed a “Land J are the simplest leters of the : - Uphabet, and | is w descender letter. Bring the pon on to its edge for the tum at the base- + 2 é, he tethistaniateesdes eter and ato : [: Lis alse wn ascender lerter. Cot the horizontal (aa) ) is a three-strohe leer. The centre Stroke may be given a serif, sf desired - TRE TEN ssa thre: stroke letter. The contre stroke -. may be rendered first or as the second stroke. Tilt the pen to make the down strokes lighter. 50) O, a5 im formal alphabets generally, vs > 4 two-strwhe letter. Ry Pond J ave ‘twin’ letters, as it were, differing only in the number of strokes they both require - three for P two for Q. vight angle to the writing line ¥.-Do the S33 Second stroke with a certain swag er. GS S, because of the pen-angle, vs >) to do, especially the fust stroke. T- ie Tis given here in two forms, the ee of which was the more commonty ‘FR Always keep the pen pointed almost ata ot Ch Pe character of U's first stroke is the key to the speevat look of the Uncial. Ww \ NY These letters also ave important (sige noe nga ee. to- left down-stroke is taken xy below the line in_X. One may also do Y like this aye Z Z doos not change greatly. 41the hal¢-uncial aphavee was the introduction to our two alphabet system, Of Capitals (Majuscules) and small letters (Miniscules) abcderghy k This is a-modem, modified. form of half uncial lmn Nopqrs cu VWAYZ scribes adopted and perfected. Tt is the hand used on the Book of Ills, the treasure of Trinity College Cibrary which is thought to have been written at JONA. The text was obviewsly written farrly quickly, The quick brown fox jumps over che ‘srmisng lazy Segue a practical alphabet. 52Oz) ABCDEFG HIJKLMN OPORSTU VWXY&Z VERSAL s7acts and are normally us oe oe acne ieee to be rnp pansy wry and are just as useful for today. 53te elements of che Versal Capical: The Verso Capital is a true product of the broad pen, the thick strokes and the curved strokes being built wp a3 ww the flowing diagrams : Thick strokes ave rendered as two Qa) strokes narrowing towards the centre and opening out again, AU curved strokes are buike up {(((> » (a) with a flattened curve &then = 5 y (6), the rounder stroke, 1s added. => —>1 The Serif: He XY az Lh NS. * Serifs atthe extremities Ff thin (single) strohes Pe lh. Senfs at the top ebotom of B,D PAR * The serifs are built wp with a short strvke Swinging to or away from the down-stroke and then both ave connected by a thin strohe made with the pon held vertically — see (a) o/(b) 54x is rendered by making the double- stroke first. The thin stroke isin line with Ae ese eas ae see the dotted line. Note the angle of the pen ie oe As usual make the upper loop slightly a smaller. Note the detail showing how Ah. the curved strokes are attached. SS Flatten the mside curve (1), then add ‘| ; S! the cuter stroke. Alter the pen angle for the serif. As with B, the same procedure is observed _for the flattened curve and joining it tv the vertical stroke. SEL. observe the Sequence ff strokes Sp _ for the serifs, particutorly oF = the centre strokes: => 2 PO Fc a the addition of the down- strokes i ae treated as a 5 descender (1) or a5 a short vert- ical (2), coming alraost tv half-way. 55Both letters are simple. Hmay hawt side of the eroys-bar as a decorative touch. Note how the thick part of the tail of *, K comes down just to the base line This also applies to the tailof R. *: M may have the vertical strokes splayed. M a little — but not overmuch, Cetthe V 7 part come down three garters of the ey way. Note where the vertical strohes* \ | begrn in both M and N m relation to the “Remember to flatten the inside strokes Ff both O and Q. The tart of Qis like the tails of KandR. P The loop of Panay be attached. to the down-stroke or left unattached , as here. Cot beth loops come below the centre - i —Thisis per aeren diffs ie laa : Wess edely I — Tmay be rendered in those two ways. Note the enn ifn eee 56* @) The base ie ta @) Both bees ye base line ABCIDEEFG HI} KILMNO PORSTUVW ANG ee devised, ee D teaoot teak otha tl senf. And many decorative offtcts may begiwm this alphabet, Sor ample:Aothic Script or stroight lines, with curves restricted to a. few of the capital letters. Ht vs, therefore.an angular senpt and when closely packed cam be very Difenll ete oe Ua eeaemed to tt. Ht is mot without tts uses, howwer,and 45, therefore, gwen here wn the hope that att those whose interest inv ing ts restricted to Old English wilt be reminded that the edged pen, and not the pointed, 15 the true lettering ooet ibe eee ea ee A simple version ts guen first and other looser or freer andl less compressed vaviatwns follow. Pen Angle : ae L The pen angle isn longer \ nr at about 45°t0 the writ- img line but rather steeper. The vertical strokes are heavier (or thicker) than these from left to night Main tlements: VI LL = Z abedefghijklimno pqrstuvwzyz w+ 58The alphabet analysed. the pon-angle waries quite a lot threnghont the alphabet ~ be amined ful of this! ft Nate the angle of the finishing stroke — [Lt longer diagonal stwkes are rndlined eae the horizontal —> but short terminal strokes are inclined steeply. i The ascenders ave short (and so are the descenders) so that lines of writing can be _frirly chose,t0 give a, vather dense effect. Cc Note the steep inclination of the top stroke of C and the terminal stroke f A - both pot on the same direction i The second stroke of the alternative A begins a5.a diagonal with the pen-angle at 45° c There 1s a pen-angle change for the second stroke of & and. for the cvss- eee bij A i intl ofeilog the sven stroke of i and how this strvke, like _j finishes with a Aight turn to the left. 59k {vem Note the changes of pon-omglein k- this considerable manipulation of thepen. Begun the arch- strokes of both with a short mM Tl up-strohe DT, Op q Note the curve to the final strohe of p.™ P. oe second stroke of ¥ drops steeply. Note the direction of the top & bottom strokes of 5, CUO TD Zisgietecria EYE wrens ABUCDEFEHIFKL MNOPaRsTUU- MEUZ9-Alpha!The Gothic Alphabet need notbe so stiff but may be rendered more freely, with a marked ganin rhythm. This wit inevitably vesute from repeated practice of the basic alphabet. abcdefghigkinn opgrstuympyz ABODESGHIT KLM NOPQRS GTUMINXYZ Before attempting these alphabets, study them cart- Sully in order to grasp the main elements. Once this has been done it should not be so difficult to produce the letters without reference to the examples. 61The Gothic Black Cetter or old’ English asitis more commonly described, can become ouite complicated, especially with the introduction Gf the vertical hair lines which were vmdered ABCBEFE HITKLAN OPARSTU YWLYVS-BC with the pen held pointed horizontally +. Other hawr lines may be added to letters with Large bowls suth a5 D,G,0,P and Q but tt 1s better not to overdo the decoration. Tf we examine the simple basic capitals it with be seen that, shor of the decoration ( blobs *and hairlines) and rendered 4 more serely, the above hardly differs from 4k. Band C, left untouched, Mustrate this very well . 62abcdefgbijklm nopqr2sf{tuvy ¥-and3-wyxr--- Rotunda or Round Gothic was ed. in Southern Eurspenetably in Spain, at and Sealy, in preference to the pointed eee Tt is a simple lovking letter but isfar from being simple to doas the pen hastobehela pointed to the writing line at 30°er 50 Xand then, _for the letters nmhR Fi pq, has to be pointed per prndicutarly to the writing line to produce flat = es to do s0,t 13 gradually twrned, Tl iE Dries regia: a A suggested Capital for Round Gothic : ABCDEFEGHIJK LMNOPGRST UVWXxyz 63Humanist 2. Scribes of the 14th VV GELS ees Humanist Writing was quite a remarkably disciplined hand, as rigid a3 any Gethic and just a exacting. On occasion tt was so disciplined anal so regular that it might be taken for type — and, indeed, the first Roman type - faces were based om it just as Gutenberg based his Gothic on the hand: written script he hnew so wetth. The flowing 13 a twentieth century version Pen Angle: X- flatter than theusual 45° Main Elements: C TUL LL 1 Note the short Ns O Iq ascenders Pdescenders abcdefghijklmn OpqrstuVWXxyYyéZ A: Ab Cassa The Capital alphabet 4s just the pen- built form of the Roman, modified to match the small letter alphabet. 64ee ee lines or strohes catted ligatures. lt demands a vather different cach to the subject— aloove WM, in the way the pen is held and manipulated. The pon has to be held easity, between trum 6 Sore finger wth the middte finger placed bebind asa The disengaged fingers shoudd be turned in towards the palm but net entir closed —the side of the hand should be like a question mark, °?, of the proper pen held has been acquired. The ars should, hang easily not be tucked into the side of the bey, nor spread out. With the hand placed on to the paper the pen should point on 40 the writing surface at about 45°and ats be hetd so that the shaft is pointed wp the fore-arm and ofthe shoulder. The pen should be moved by the whole hand muorring im a-nodding fashion from the wrist— this vs why we refer to handwriting and not to tt as finger-writing |The paper should be placed immediately vn front of the writer m a stghtly stoping surface, and be tilted a littl wp to the nght 65for the right-handed and. tuted down to the night Tae OS Ie gone wo Fe Aitin ‘s Dy ariggt ne tra giiy Be seated comfortably with the light coming frm the left or,if you are left-handed, coming from the aight. Write, if possible, on a slightly taping surface was perhaps wunecessary advice im the days of the writing desks but a drawing board vesting on one’s lap & supported by a table does very well for us now. Pens and ink. For the Heakte style, in order 40 get the thichs and thins, edged pens, ranging _from fine through mediwm to broad,are aaik- able as fountain pens. They ave atso provided with speciat left- oblique nibs for the left-handed. Black inks (permanent black) arenow popular for ust im fountain ponsand they are realty black ! Do not use water provf black in your pen. Paper: Any good quatity paper wilt do but a special coltigraphue pape with a delightfully smouth surface is wow avaitable for correspondence and in sheets (mm application) for larger work. 66abcdefghijklmnopag, YstuvwyxyyZ ABCDEFGHITKLEM NOPQRSTUVWAYL The’ Basic Patterns Handwriting, to be practicalmust be capable Of being writken ak speed, yet remaining legible. AU the letters must therefore be derwed from the sr be po RAL | 7 : Some of the letters ae mnrhkbp echo Wn: ithuvw y, — sngaternarie’ fe ders and HAGA, O8CQ econders Fer die a practical style XZ they nist be as Ly Simple as possible - 67A simple alphaba? abcdefg hijklmnopqr stuvwxyz ABCDEFG HIJKLMNOPQRSTU VWX¥a Sov ae letters: To be of any value ham t flow from one letter to another through strokes. Letters ending, there srg, ig eo, easily tr letters beginning with an entry stroke: acdehikl mn uz jnin naterallyt UMNpPrstuvwxy : mM af AM, ON, AP, OF, AS(note how Shas been changed) AL, AU, AV, AW, WX, Ayla) Collen from ESO a ascender letters : ab (a/b),ah, ak, al. Cetters with horizontad joins: f Or EV W 68The alphabet jomed: abcdefghijklmmepgrstu WWXY Z. Cae ieee the pen +s lifted after DI paXY and generally before AC Ff EoZ, but ne ones pe pon-lifis: abbey, apple, cadge, asses. Some letters require tun strokes : COf6%, but € may also be done one stroke, joining _Srom tite bette ATES BOUTULY Alurays use the cross- stroke of E40 jen on tothe moet letter and make the cross-stroke of f go through the middle of the letter diag a ta, te, ti, to, tu bunt th, th Sagoaege eft Dowkhle letters : OF (im me merement) AF (the stead is tightly taller and ~*' stops short) SS (modify the second as ttnstrated) ater, attle, offer, offle, osses, issts, SOS (5 1s modified in three ways!) 69Practice materiad. By far the best practice to enable one to acquire a good Ttakie hand is the of VL between posrs of each letter of ‘he alphabee: ama, bmh, cme, dma, CYVLEYN (use both forms ff €), he gg, hmvh, imi, jmj, knvk, bt, nmn, om, pp, qq, ry, sms, tm, wh, VIN, WIM, HM, YNZ. Another suggested method is to practise three- letter words, going through the alphabet,as the extent of movement of the hand is limited, gener- ally, to thisnumber of letters : art, bag, cut, din, Am, fun, gap, hor, ink, jib, ih, man, NEE, OWY, peg, qurp. TAM, AX, Fea,wmn, Va, WAN, 200 Thy writing familiar sayings: A stitch in time saves nine Empty barrels make most noise Speech is sidvern, silence is golden. joTtalic Handw te ascenders with Wer wel pati lefe: bdhk ee 40 the descender of abcde'ty high Gmviopqystu) wrxyyex ADCHESG AIK Thus style has many more pon lifts than the Simple Italie, hence itis not suitable for weryday purposes but rather for those speciad occasions where a certam elegance is called for, such as wedding imitations, engagement & birth announcements or wherever font or format handwriting would be more accept- able. St 0 for high days & holidays! One-may then 2m certnin ehaggeration of features such as a elongateon of ascenders S/descenders t/the addition f finishing Flourishes to C : Oand %X- chad ighaitbnnspazrstal HY However donot overdo the? ashes. A little decoration ee nyabcber he 1k [ MNOPARS & UVUUX YZ AL. from The Complete Cal Wagrapher” ea~ bCO sim »O > Donald Murraysalto Saunf, me KS WATTLNO WTA SLD VY siayss aos fo vorson sayy api iY J #e eeeau “gona FERXM ADL IsyOd ONW 7 — TITH 1DJId Ia TTT sfosgys, beh yy smp pruaf ans ZAXMANSI bd ou: 1 IST Hop uIDut 2p fo 38 ce :$4tUas 4 MOL wip fy 9 P3Qee, SONVH TWNOLLVONNOd JHL Fun suayoyuvyn 79Uawwas bo se-ousiineg® ae puysndrof, iA QS EV NESS $ ae See Saks 2B, a ee galas RESSERS WS oe Chon DP ihe Mea pS ears sagen a Cj HST Sie tees i mi va Wesel = ee egh Fe Aad 008 my ae y eee PLY Ip) PUN A Su eh Sense so ky, Midas MAAN Tt 7! iS My ee oO el T/I0Q (a sQuuiae a! joa (ae EL ae unp 40 OAM, Seah ZU. ¢ faEA nw a Tao HIE iia oh day UY tL cpl oa “BOL UE Mi: 4& CYS y (suf DAG ped oe gs ae shane 96Paul Freeman A sdf portrort 9