Best pen & ink drawing books according to redditors

International Links:

US: https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Capyness-Capybara-Coloring-Book/dp/1697151701/

UK: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/uk/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701

DE: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/de/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701

FR: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/fr/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701

ES: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/es/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701

IT: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/it/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701

JP: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/jp/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701

CA: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/ca/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701

​

Here is a link to an AMA on the topic: https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/comments/dxqo4y/im_a_physician_and_i_designed_a_capybara_themed/

Here is a link to proof and the background on the book and the service projects/donations:

https://functionalpsychiatry.com/capybara-coloring-book/

This was me early 2012. I was using shitty paper and shitty ink and had shitty results. This was March 2012 when I didn't give a shit.

Eventually I decided to take things seriously. This was late 2012. I started getting better materials but still got arrogant/lazy and refused to study proper forms and shades. So it looks haphazard and unnatural.

So I bought Eleanor Winter's book and did some practice. This was probably Dec 2012. Another pic, you can see I'm using Higgins Eternal and a Speedball holder.

So around February I decided I didn't like copperplate and wanted to focus on spencerian instead. I first tried to do shaded spencerian but again I was too lazy to learn the proper forms.

I toned down the shading and studied just on fine lines. This was in March.

Eventually I got more consistent. This was written two weeks ago in April. This was late april's open letter submission.

And this was written tonight (the bottom one). May 9.
Still working on shaded spencerian though :)

Hey Everybody!

Here is a capybara coloring book by Dr. Jonathan Terry, and he is a physician based in California. He works in free clinics and community mental health settings with patients who are both very ill and unable to afford insurance. He loves to education and service, particularly around the topics of mental health. The Pursuit of Capyness: A Zen Capybara Coloring Book is a way to make people smile while doing something creative AND to help fund volunteer efforts, donations, and service.

WHAT IS THE BOOK LIKE?

103 total pages
50+ images of capybaras (including with other animals)
50+ capybara facts, games, puzzles, puns, jokes, and more
Crisp pages with good margins so you don’t color off the pages
Sufficient detail for an adult coloring book with mandala-style images as well as more cartoon-style images for a children’s coloring book

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW FUNDS FROM THIS BOOK WILL BE USED?

Toward a free medical clinic that provides care to 200+ people every Saturday. The clinic was recently featured on national news
Book donations to mental health clinics and shelters; they are currently discussing donating 300+ books to children at a women and children’s shelter
Free services for the uninsured, underinsured, students, and impaired professionals
Consultation to nonprofits serving mental health and primary care causes
Education for health sciences students, pre-meds, and more, with the goal to improve access and investment in our communities in the long-term

The book is available on Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1697151701/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2HRJFU9GNVQXU&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_crazycodyscreatures_dp_vv_mw

> Trying to do a copperplate.

Perfect! I'd suggest checking out the lessons on Zanerian.com. Specifically Brown, Lupfer, and Zaner.

You could also try checking out Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy. I've hated on this book pretty heavily in the past, but it is an okay enough beginner resource. Has a lot of information to get you up and running. But only if you realize that it's a stepping stone. Use it for a bit, but make sure you move on to better resources.

> umm. so what's wrong over at /r/handwriting

They can't help you. It's just a sub for "look at a pretty 'm' I made in my bio notes today."

my favortie book is this. it will help you alot.

but first sketch the drawing. then add sketch line shading, thinking about where the light is coming from. then felt pen color basically using your lightest colors. then add the darker colors of the same hue in the shaded areas if you use three shades of a color it looks great. you will be surprised how fast the drawing will POP off the page once you follow these steps. start simple. like drawing a piece of square wood. ie.

1. draw shape of wood, like a 2x4 or something.
   
2. add grain lines. maybe a knot or two.
   
3. add hatch lines in the darker side of the wood board.
   
4. color the whole thing with a light brown tone.
   
5. color the darkest side with a dark brown. and the semi shady side with a medium brown.
   
   lastly. if you want practice. use trace, and and underlay of some cool simple image you want to copy. then after you get the basic form, go to town on the trace with the colors. will give you a good start and be really rewarding when you see a nice image of a house or car or animal, whatever. the skill or rendering a good proportioned sketch will take time.

First off, welcome! We’re glad to have you :)

A lot really depends on how you want to learn. Everyone has different styles and techniques. Some pay for lessons or workbooks. Some trace and trace and trace some more. Some freehand copy. This sub is a good start!

Practice strokes from u/MyOwnGuitarHero (our tireless lead mod) if you don’t have access to a printer
https://www.reddit.com/r/BrushCalligraphy/comments/7wwcrs/practice_drills/?st=JDQI7DMR&sh=34264b22

https://www.reddit.com/r/BrushCalligraphy/comments/7p1cau/daily_drills/?st=JDQIB6UG&sh=515b6075

If you do have access to a printer there are lots of free printable PDF practice sheets to use. Below is just one I found from just a google search. Pinterest is a good resource as well
http://lghttp.56260.nexcesscdn.net/8037E40/tombowusa.com/media/wysiwyg/Tombow/pdfs/Tombow-Dual-Brush-Pen-Practice_Full.pdf

If you’d like a book to work from these are a couple of good choices or any from amazon with good reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/Lettering-Beginners-Creative-Alphabet-Projects/dp/1546947299

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1948209004/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W7TYCZCT757T7MJ9TAZH

And don’t forget some good quality paper as soon as you get a chance. Rhodia is good or some just use laser print paper. They’re both really smooth and hold ink well.

EDIT: OMG when did coloring socks become a thing?

--

Creative Swearing

Unicorns are Jerks

Dinosaurs with Jobs

Existential Coloring Book

(current fave) Alphonse Mucha

Cats

Fantasy Forest

And finally

Antistress Dot to Dot and coloring book

I think I may have a problem......(and I think they may need to go on their own wishlist. They seem to be getting a bit out of hand)

It was something i had trouble with as well. However, if you keep doing it repeatedly, you get used to it.

i highly recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/Pen-Ink-Comikers/dp/1569709173/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536128314&sr=8-1&keywords=pen+and+ink+manga


I did some of the exercises in it and it actually makes drawing straight lines with these lessons very easy for me. The first lessons have you drawing straight lines over and over again. Apparently when manga students in Japan learn to draw some of them draw thousands of straight lines. One student does at least 100 a day.

If you can just keep doing it and pushing through and going back to strengthen your weaknesses when you need to, things get easier over time. i don't know about other artists, but art just seems impossible to me until i start doing it.

I learned copperplate first, and now do it a little more freehand, it's not truly copperplate at this point. These two books have been incredibly helpful to me :)

http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Copperplate-Calligraphy-Step-Step/dp/0486409511/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0AP5DQ18Y53SR62ED2AD

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Calligraphy-Everything-Started-Script/dp/1250016320

Hello, all!

This is the first sentence I've (attempted) to write in Copperplate. I know it needs quite a bit of work so I thought I'd ask for suggestions.

Right now I'm using a Pilot Plumix until my nib, holder, and dip ink arrives. I'm using a Rhodia notebook. I'm working with this book, which is where I got the sentence from.

So far, I know:

• my angle needs work
  
• my spacing needs work
  
• my "x" is terrible, and
  
• my loops are not consistent
  
  Could anyone please point me to any other areas of improvement?

Learn Calligraphy has some good instruction for the gothic scripts. The rest is flourishing, which comes with a lot of practice.

You can get a decent set for cheap. I'll write this up as if you are looking for entry-level stuff - not the fancy stuff. If you want fancier stuff, I will have to defer to someone else. One thing that I didnt realize when I started calligraphy is how much studying and practicing I would need to do. If you want to do it right, you shouldnt just dive in. You really need to study the forms, and techniques for making the proper strokes. One book I have says that calligraphy is more similar to painting than to handwriting and you probably woundnt expect to just start painting without practicing, right?

At a minimum, you just need a pen with a nib ($10), ink ($5) and paper ($20). Speedball makes good beginner sets.

Books

Personally, I like the 1800s script-y stuff with a little modern thrown in. I have been working out of Mastering Coppoer Plate Calligraphy and Modern Calligraphy: Everything You Need to Know To Get Started In Script Calligraphy. The former book is more technical and is strictly about practicing and technique. The latter will go into more detail about supplies, writing media, and finding your personal style. I think they complement each other well.

Pen

If you dont know what she likes, I would recommend both a straight holder and an oblique holder. A straight holder is good for broad nib stuff (italic and gothic) and modern calligraphy whereas an oblique holder is good for 1800s script-y stuff. Scroll down to the NIB HOLDER CHARACTERISTICS section for a reference image. The speedball sets often come with a nice variety of nibs to swap in and out. Otherwise, you have to hand pick the nibs and that will probably be above your pay grade (I know its above mine!)

Ink

Ink shouldnt really make too much of a difference for a beginner. Just get anything for calligraphy. Again, Speedball has decent stuff for cheap.

Paper

Paper is really important. These pens will put a lot of ink on the paper so the paper needs to be able to absorb it and maintain clean, straight lines. This guy did not choose good paper for his project so you can see how it bleeds. Rhodia makes good paper notebooks. Its more expensive than regular notebooks but it will still be worth it. The really good calligraphers use fancy paper, but this often requires extra skill that your fiance might not be ready for.

Extras

Instead of ink, some people use watercolor or gouche. These can be a lot of fun to use and make a big difference in the final product. They are a little more advanced, but shouldnt be too difficult. She should really be pretty competent with her skill before getting into this stuff. You dont want to use your expensive gouche for practice sessions.

Thanks! It's nothing compared to the folks over /r/calligraphy though. I started practicing a few months ago with this. Long as you have patience, you can write better than I do in no time!

Hi, countertrap. I'm new to the sub, but have the same question as you. I'm looking for courses more in a university or college setting, but here's what's worked for me in terms of self-study, that I thought might help you as you consider what to study:

Edward Johnston's book Writing, Illuminating and Lettering was recommended to me when I was starting out, and I think it's still an excellent resource on how to start if one is interested in the absolute classical calligraphy process. https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Illuminating-Lettering-Edward-Johnston/dp/1475299931

I just found an interesting YouTube on his legacy, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA0PA3wsXyA

My personal favorite modern calligrapher so far is Margaret Shepherd, and her books are very accessible and helpful. Her book Learn Calligraphy is, in my opinion, excellent because it starts you at the beginning with Roman hand and moves forward from there, explaining the historical development of letterforms in Western writing all the way to present day. https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Calligraphy-Complete-Lettering-Design/dp/0767907329?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc

She's got a fascinating book on World Calligraphy that I love.

I hope that helps.

As a follow-on to your question, are there courses that exist for calligraphers in the way there are for artists? For example, if I wanted to "go to art school," I could attend, say, Columbia College here in Chicago and graduate with a degree in art with a specialization in oil painting. Are there similar programs for calligraphy?

1. This Item because I've been trying to use 2013 and 2014 as years where I build new life skills.
   
   
2. Did you know that PEI is the smallest province in Canada, has under 150,000 people in total but due to various historic reasons gets four seats in federal parliament. Making it tiny but powerful at least proportionally :)
   
   
3. Rød grød med fløde.

happy zambambo? :D happy birthday!

Zentangles!

Dockwood, Jon McNaught



Not sure how obscure it is, but I adore everything Jon McNaught does (also see Pebble Island, if possible). Maybe my favorite creator of wordless/minimal comics, and his entire aesthetic is just so great and comfy.

Ok, for constructive criticism:

• get lined paper or get a sheet as guidlines to place under your paper.
  
  
• Choose an exemplar (some form of copperplate or roundhand)
  
  
• Practice and aim for consistency.
  
  If you really want to get into it, a good book to have around with information on how to practice and some good/fun examples of copperplate is Eleanor Winters Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy.
  
  I would also suggest watching a few of the videos by Paul Antonio on his YouTube.
  
  These things are all geared towards calligraphy with a dip pen, but the style and techniques will be useful to apply to using your pen.
  
  Good luck.
  
  

Maybe with luck! I struggle with an additional language barrier, since I'm in the Netherlands and most of these books have never been translated and published in Dutch. The odds of finding them in a local thrift shop are minute.

I love Linda Kemp, Nita Engle, David Bellamy and Claudia Nice.

My main tip for any book you encounter; if you don't like the style the instructing artist works in, leave it be. Pretty much every book repeats the basics, beyond maybe your first 1-2 books, every new book should be by an artist whose work is something you admire and has an aspect you want to emulate.

No problem! That's so awesome that you do brush lettering-- I actually have a small calligraphy business and brush lettering is my go-to style, so while I might be a little biased, I'm a total sucker for brush lettering. :) I'm not sure if you've tried using brush markers at all, but I've heard from a few lefty calligraphy buddies that they're really great for brush lettering practice since they dry quickly and you don't have to worry as much about smudging.

Oh, and when you decide to learn pointed pen calligraphy, I can't recommend this book enough! I tried a couple books that I didn't love, then after being told by countless people to try this one, I did and it made everything click.

1. I'd say some sort of spa-related thing...bath bombs, face mask, whatever. something relaxing! Looking at your list, I'd go with the Pokeball bombs...I only say that because I'm a Pokemon nerd myself, lol.
   
   
2. This. Or this. Orrrr dis. So that I can make my planner pretty and do artsy fartsy things!
   
   
3. Ummm, going to summon a random person since I'm still new here! u/AdelaideSaphire. She had bath bombs on her list too!! So I say that. Or Funkos, cuz I personally collect them too :P

Thank you! I used this book- Lettering For Beginners: A Creative Lettering How To Guide With Alphabet Guides, Projects And Practice Pages https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546947299/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qpcyCbJ57DMH3

Learning everything that has nothing to do with your goal ‘is’ the starting point of doing art.

But you may be lucky in not wanting to do art. But learn to draw. Especially characters. Maybe you want start to sketch. Not saying it can’t be art, just that you may enjoy it more than the classical approach.

It’s basically art. Just freestyle. And you might find it more useful than starting by drawing still lifes and all the other classical stuff. As you said; you want to have something to do with your goal.

That’s the closest I could find to your needs;
https://www.amazon.de/dp/1909414239/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QrU7BbXHPJAS0

I watched a lot of the usual tutorials on YouTube, the ones that show up by searching "watercolor tutorial" :) One book that helped me a lot is "Every day sketching and drawing" by Steven Reddy. I started using his technique, but then I drop the ink grisaille and went with color only. But I love his style.

For Copperplate

For Spencerian


For Cursive basics(The content is good, but the paper isn't great for FPs, so you will probably need to use a Fine nib)

Sort of

I have and love the following that you might also enjoy.

• The Beauty of Horror: I really dig the art style in this book, and it does a really great job at making disgusting things look pretty. And it's super fun to colour.
  
  
• I Hate Fairyland: This is one of my favourite comics of the last several years, but it's still great even if you haven't read it. The elevator pitch is that Gert wished to visit Fairyland when she was a little girl, but she's still there 30 years later (and hasn't aged physically at all) and fucking hates it. The fantasy elements are really great and there's plenty of gore to colour.
  
  
• Call of Cthulhu: If you're a fan of Lovecraft, this one is really great.
  
  
• Dragon Wings and Wild Things: The paper in this one isn't the greatest, but I really do love the dragon illustrations

Some of these aren't on Amazon, but all of them outside of amazon are on my wishlist, is that okay?

1.) Something that is grey.

[This compilation of xkcd comics!] (http://www.amazon.com/xkcd-0-Randall-Munroe/dp/0615314465/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I12D1D7CV12AVC) Though there aren't any formerly-unseen comics included, this is perfect for the lover of the famous (and always relevant) Xkcd webcomics.

2.) Something reminiscent of rain.

[This t-shirt for fans of Incubus that is apparently out of stock now, but I'm keeping it on my wishlist to gaze wistfully at.] (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/315rOsJeWzL._SL135_.jpg)
Incubus has always been one of my favorite bands, and all art that the lead singer (Brandon Boyd) produces is amazing, so I had high faith in this shirt being wonderful if I had the money to buy it.

3.) Something food related that is unusual.

[So I typed in "candy" and this popped up..] (http://www.amazon.com/LOCOMO-Rainbow-Hedgehog-Plastic-Baseball/dp/B00BRWH99K/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_2_49?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1376327288&sr=1-49&keywords=candy)
I'm not sure what I was expecting.

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why.

[My mom has always wanted to learn calligraphy and someone recommended this book to me] (http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Calligraphy-Complete-Lettering-Design/dp/0767907329/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I35YCU37X7E6Y2)
She paints signs for people, usually featuring newborn babies or pets, and she always has to print out a guide and trace it if her customers request a font for their name.

5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!

[This compilation of postsecrets-- artistic postcards with secrets written on them-- that are all touching in their own way.] (http://www.amazon.com/PostSecret-Extraordinary-Confessions-Ordinary-Lives/dp/0060899190/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I22JZDFLS686V8)
If you haven't heard of Postsecret yet, you should check it out [here] (http://www.postsecret.com/)

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!

I dunno!

7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...)

I have two cats, but I got nothing for this one.

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it.

[This key from KeypersCove] (http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Winter-Rose-Key-Necklace/dp/B00D3S4GVU/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376329005&sr=8-1&keywords=keypers+cove)
I had a similar one on my wishlist but it's out of stock now.

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?

[Cloud Atlas!] (http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Atlas/dp/B00CRWJ5GO/ref=sr_sp-btf_title_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1376329072&sr=8-4&keywords=clouds+atlas)
Terribly confusing unless you see the [trailer] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWnAqFyaQ5s) first, it's surprisingly appropriate for this sub.

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.

[This climbing pick] (http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Pacific-Mountain-Axe-80cm/dp/B002J91R1G/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376330277&sr=8-2&keywords=climbing+pick)
Ever played Telltale's The Walking Dead? Well, one character had a climbing pick that they used pretty frequently to scale buildings and kill zombies..it opened my eyes to the possibilities and dual uses of items.

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals.

[This book] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Emotion-Thesaurus-Character-Expression/dp/1475004958/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) for my writing skills, I always have trouble finding just the right way to convey the proper emotion, plus I have severe social anxiety so it would help me figure out how to act in real life as well.

[Or this book by the famous Virginia Woolf] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Waves-Harvest-Book-ebook/dp/B004R1Q41C/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=IHP0D0N718720) just the type of writing style I'm aiming for.

[Or this book that I'm sure would help me with my technique.] (http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Tools-Essential-Strategies-Writer/dp/0316014990/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items.

Hm?

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?

I used to have this on my list, but a [Geiger counter] (http://www.amazon.com/Radex-RD1503-RADEX-Radiation-Detector/dp/B00051E906/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376331004&sr=8-1&keywords=geiger+counter) because I'm paranoid about radiation and etc. Deleted it off my list because it's not useful for everyday life.

14.) Something bigger than a bread box. EDIT A bread box is typically similar in size to a microwave.

I got nothing on my list.

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball.

[These socks] (http://www.amazon.com/Portal-Chells-Aperture-Science-Socks/dp/B008JGPSJU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I2KUOG9B813AXT) because they're ultra thin and I'm sure they could be crumpled up that small.

16.) Something that smells wonderful.

I'd put something here, but there's nothing I'm sure of. [This book] (http://www.amazon.com/White-Fluffy-Clouds-Inspiration-Forward/dp/0974512001/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I16LKBYPI8BE5U) because it could smell like Brandon Boyd?

17.) A (SFW) toy.

I've got nothing!

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.

[This shirt] (http://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/rising-t-shirt/13087/) because I find it amazing, oh my god oh my god.

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be.

[I've been trying to learn Irish for quite awhile now..] (http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Irish-Michael-OSiadhail/dp/0300121776/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376331377&sr=8-1&keywords=learn+irish)

20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand.

[This poster, this poster!] (http://smbc.myshopify.com/products/dear-human-19x27-poster) To see what it's based on, the original comic is [here] (http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2223)

My childhood was something else. My amazing mom did everything she could to make the best out of our situation. She saved up forever to take us to Disney World because our dad promised to take us but never did and she always wanted to go to Disney. The four of us (mom, grandma, my brother, and I) all went for a week and had such a fantastic time! We did everything and anything and we went in October so it wasn't horribly busy.

Disney is such a magical place and if you spend any time there you're going to start believing anything is possible. I went for my senior trip two years ago and I felt the same way. I was nothing but happy on both my trips to Disney. I'm currently grinning like an idiot thinking about all of the fun I had!

I would love this if I win (if it's cheaper used then buy it used). WOODPECKER

I would first disguise myself with this so you wont know I'm the enemy. Then use this to catch the sunlight and direct it to blind you for my get away. Then write a well thought out letter begging for peace using this so it looks official and seal it with this oh and by the way You'll never take our FREEDOM!

cuff

That much?

my item

Fancy!

Spencerian Handwriting: the Complete Collection of Theory and Practical Workbooks For Perfect Cursive and Hand Lettering.
It's on Amazon, and was written by Platts Roger Spencer, the guy who invented Spencerian. Has all the lessons and the copy books in one complete edition. Bought it myself to learn Spencerian, and am finding it really useful.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1612435289/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_7txAq2OXRbkQW

Handwriting isn't magic. It's just a skill. Schools used to teach specific classes in handwriting, and people used to work to cultivate different styles using manuals to teach themselves. They still sell copybooks and stuff on Amazon. You can learn to do this too.

Sure. Amazon has them here
https://www.amazon.com/Spencerian-Handwriting-Collection-Practical-Workbooks/dp/1612435289
Or here as one single volume
https://www.amazon.com/Spencerian-Handwriting-Collection-Practical-Workbooks/dp/1612435289

Well you can always check for local calligraphy classes.

Additionally, if you're a student, your school may offer Calligraphy or Typography courses you can check out.

If neither of these appeal or apply, you can always check out some books on Amazon. Some good ones under $20:

Here

Here

And the pencil

Here are all the local Amazon links I could find:


amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

amazon.ca

amazon.com.au

amazon.in

amazon.com.mx

amazon.de

amazon.it

amazon.es

amazon.com.br

amazon.nl

amazon.co.jp

amazon.fr

Beep bloop. I'm a bot to convert Amazon ebook links to local Amazon sites.
I currently look here: amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, amazon.com.au, amazon.in, amazon.com.mx, amazon.de, amazon.it, amazon.es, amazon.com.br, amazon.nl, amazon.co.jp, amazon.fr, if you would like your local version of Amazon adding please contact my creator.

Get-Set-Sketch!: Secrets of Pen and Ink Sketching Unleashed!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H6N5LH1

FREE until July 4th

> Unleash the artist within you! Get ready to embark on a magical
journey through the realm of Pen and Ink Sketching.

>Learn to “see” shapes, shadows and textures all around you,
like an artist.

>Learn various pen and ink shading techniques.

>* Hatching

• Cross-hatching
  
• Contour shading
  
• Stippling
  
• Random
  
• Using Inks for shading
  
  >Learn to sketch:
  – Trees, Grass and Shrubs
  – Stones and Rocks
  – Animal Fur
  – Wood
  – Water
  
  >And a complete, step-by-step exercise, where we implement all these techniques.
  
  >Let’s Get, Set and Sketch!

This is a good one to start with.

Learn Calligraphy: The Complete Book of Lettering and Design https://www.amazon.com/dp/0767907329/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_43D5Ab1P1YQ8A

How about this book on calligraphy

Hey! thanks a lot. She has like 3 different size pens. I've been recommended that brush pen from various people so I will definitely get that.

​

Yesterday I had a sneak peak at her paper and I'll get her some as well. As well as this book. Thank you so much for the suggestions :D

There is also a single book version you can get: Spencarian Handwriting: The Complete Collection of Theory and Practical Workbooks for Perfect Cursive and Hand Lettering

I don't have any pictures of my furniture but here are some similar pieces I found online:

vanity https://i.etsystatic.com/7825084/r/il/30bf36/1645205487/il_794xN.1645205487_5260.jpg

mirror https://a.1stdibscdn.com/archivesE/upload/1121189/f_91066011511171514130/9106601_org.jpg

lamp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075FGYWRB/?coliid=IW4A2SWQ74JJ9&colid=3514RPJIH72JQ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

statement chair https://www.audenza.com/gatsby-pink-velvet-petal-armchair

and I'm going to have to get a new bedframe and mattress, but I'm thinking I'll just go with some basic white jersey sheets and either no bedframe or a black one without a headboard or end

Other than that I'm minimizing the amount of furniture I have. Books stacked in piles on the floor, homework done in living room, I want to pretend I'm a bohemian east coast scholar for a minute

i also have a ton of plants and artwork in peach/green/red tones (looks like this https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AcNxXbFB8GvUvXBYbZr0JC6Mcp6fp_nrspENVtuE57bKpzkKnXzzoaU/). I want to put in a projector screen across from my bed (so a big white sheet essentially)

Interestingly enough I was thinking about royal or sky blue shag too, kind of ironic/dramatic. The lighting in the room isnt terrible (it's in Oregon, so I mean, as not terrible as it gets when it rains every day) you can't see it in this picture but there's another window and a closet along the same wall. I think the drabness is just the colors that it's painted.

This is the book I learned from. Shows you how to draw every single letter—

https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Copperplate-Calligraphy-Step-Step/dp/0486409511

My friend bought me a really good book to practice my hand lettering, here is the link. I found it really straight forward to get on with.

I'm trying to learn copperplate, so I got this one

I followed the exercises in this book for 1 month: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0486409511/
Ms. Winters does a great job breaking down lower case letters into 8 strokes. If you are looking for drills, those are the 8 strokes to practice.

Once I decided I liked the hand, I took this online course: https://istilllovecalligraphy.com/#!/

Although, the more I think about what you are trying to do, perhaps Copperplate would just be a distraction. Copperplate is not a "continuous hand". It has a lot of stopping and lifting of the nib.

I only did a few drills. Most of my "aha moments" came practicing the 8 basic strokes and writing the same word a couple times to see how closely I could get them to match. In those repetitions, I began to see how the curves should form.

To expound on the 80-90/10-20 part, look at many scripts.

1. Gothic Quadrata: In order to be perfectly, formally written, you have so little control over creativity that it's practically a typeface. Which was, of course, the whole point. The creativity then comes in the capitals, which were usually where elaborate displays of calligraphic skill came into play.
   
2. Copperplate: Copperplate is even more restrictive. It has so many rules and regulations guarding each and every letter that you could write pages and pages on how to write the letter 'a' alone. (In fact, Eleanor Winters does just that )
   
3. Copperplate evolved into Engraver's script, which was even more restrictive. Involving a little bit more creativity, but each letter was composed of at least 2, if not 3 strokes. Not including connection strokes. The page would be rotated, turned about and you would retouch almost every stroke. Expression came after the invention of Spencerian/Ornamental script, where people started to use stylized versions of Ornamental capitals in their copperplate writing, and they started to be a little more creative with it (as long as the work didn't require a formal style. Formal style always went back to The Universal Penmanship roots)
   
4. Spencerian is the most free style ever created for calligraphy. Not even italic is so free, italic simply has more variations to play with. But, anyway, spencerian has several variations of several different letters. They have 3 different types of t's, they have ending variations of letters with descenders and variations where the letters loop back up. All these variations were designed to increase speed, and give creativity.
   
5. Spencerian developed into ornamental penmanship, which included more shading of the lower characters, and became a much more laborious process with extremely intricate and beautiful capitals.
   
   It helps to remember where calligraphy came from. Calligraphy was simply the result of marketing. Back in the day, scribes and nobels were the only ones that could write. So what happened? Well for scribes, what's your most effective marketing tool? "I can write faster and prettier than the guy next to me". And for nobels, why calligraphy? "I can write elegantly, so it demonstrates the fact that I'm a man of high culture and class".
   
   So if you think of Calligraphy as striving towards beauty and efficiency for the sake of marketing, ease of reading, and the ability to not have scripts degrade when other people wrote them, it makes a lot more sense. (monks needed the latter, which is why the gothic styles are among the most restrictive. If you're copying books for hundreds of years, it wouldn't do to have the book of Matthew be totally different looking than the book of genesis)
   
   As it became more developed, it became more artistic and creative as people pushed the boundaries of technology, innovation and knowledge. Much like Gymnastics started out as much more rough and tumble sport, and now almost every gymnastics routine is identical as everyone strives towards a clearly and concretely defined ideal.
   
   Now that we have paper in abundance, and pens that are affordable to anyone (e.g. free), we're entering into a new era. Everyone can write, so therefore writing is optional. It's a funny idea, but that's how it usually is. If everyone can do something, it's not novel, and as things progress the trade is refined and elaborated into an artform, or dropped into disuse.
   
   Farming: Everyone did it. It became not novel, but rather a given. It progressed, then, into an artform. The artform being "how efficiently, and how fast, can I grow things?". Today, this artform is incredibly complex, requiring machinery, vast resources, technology and even PhD's to advance the craft. To practice it, you don't need nearly that amount of resources, but it's still a far cry from saying "hey, I bet if I used a metal hoe instead of a wooden one..."
   
   Writing: Everyone that needed to became able to do it (scribes/learned-men/nobles). It became not novel, but rather a given that you could find a scribe. It then progressed into an artform, being "how efficiently and beautifully can I write this?". Today, everyone knows how to write basically, so the art of writing has reached an equilibrium. It's advanced enough to get the job done, and it needs to go no further. In the art side of it, however, it's continued to advance as people develop better and more advanced technique, technology and equipment for the art. Fountain pens, flexible ones, dip nibs, better inks, better paper, more efficient ways of learning it, etc.
   
   Hand-lettering is simply the in between stage of writing as an art and as a utility, as our technology is so diverse on the Earth in needs and utilization that all crafts and trades are in a constant state of flux across many levels of skill. (We have advanced metal working for CPUs, and we have people who still craft cups and knives out of metal by hand). Hand-lettering could also be seen as the creative expression of the art of writing, much like power-tumbling is the creative expression of gymnastics, or gardening/landscaping is the creative expression of farming.
   
   Edit: motherofgod.gif
   
   I wrote way more than I intended to... Sorry.

Me too! I prefer abstract doodling. One of my very best purchases was this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Doodling-Beyond-Inspiring-exercises/dp/1600582478

I think it's both. As Bill Perkins says (NMA instructor) "don't overrender in the hope of looking good". I've a tendency to do that, probably my inexperience. Thanks for your honesty, it means a lot, I started to draw from the ground-up 2 years and half ago seriously.

I'm currently focusing on texture, volume and line quality with the book "Pen and Ink drawing : A Simple Guide" from Alphonso Dunn : https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/0997046538/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm trying to apply to my favorite medium all the light theory I learned about too.

Maybe studies, time and practice will get me at my dream job and being concept artist !

I just started and personally find this book helpful. For more practice, you can also buy tracing paper and trace lettering as well.

If you're serious, this is a fantastic book to get you started.

Does anyone know anything about this copy of "spencerian handwriting" on UK amazon? Is it the same (more or less) as the one that people here recommend (a theory book and 5 copy books). Should I wait till Feb to get this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1612435289/

I took a calligraphy course. Basically, just start tracing letters. This book is great: http://amzn.com/0767907329

I had pretty good writing to begin with, and played with fancy writing for a while before giving this a go, but everybody in my class was completely new to it and found it easy.

That book is full of different "fonts", most are easy IIRC.

Just trace, then try to look at a sentence and write it in the style you like.

EDIT: An italic pen will help even shit hand-writing. I picked up a "Lamy Joy" fountain pen, makes my writing look way better.

This contest is awesome, thanks! (Sorry for the link I'm on my phone)

Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy: A Step-by-Step Manual (Lettering, Calligraphy, Typography)
http://amzn.com/0486409511