#calligralove

When your husband asks you to write a Thank You letter for a retiring colleague because he thinks your handwriting is prettier 😅 (that’s not my handwriting – and of course he knows that 😉. But it’s relatively quickly written with a fountain pen, much faster than with a pointed dip nib …). And I just saw that today is apparently #worldletterwritingday – so how fitting is that ☺️. :: #calligraphy #kalligraphie #kalligrafie #caligrafia #calligrafriends #capitals #majuscules #copperplate #anglaise #monoline #fountainpen #englischeschreibschrift #flourishedcapitals #flourishes #calligralove #historicalscripts #calligraphypractice #letterlove #18thcenturypenmanship #letterwriting #briefschreiben #tagdesbriefes #letterwritingday #tagdesbriefeschreibens #calligraphynote #dankesagen #sayingthanks #flourishforum #federflugcalligraphy https://www.instagram.com/p/CTReHYQDxiO/?utm_medium=tumblr

Italian Hand L is a simple letter that can be enhance by flourish. I never knew I can flourished the bottom like that! And I love it 🤗 ••• Check out #portia_writesitalianhand to see the rest of the letters done✨ ••• #italianhand #pointedpenscript #pointedpencalligraphy #calligralove #calligraphysg #calligraphyph #calligravideo #realtimecalligraphy #realtime #penmanship #L #letterlove #igerssg #igersvideo #finetec #goldonblack #calligraphy #portiahand #portia_writes #portia_writesitalianhand

Saying »Thank you« with a personal written note is something I try to do every time I get non-digital mail – at the moment I’m catching up with snail mail that is even slower than usual … if you ever wrote to me, I haven’t forgotten. I can’t promise when I’ll answer, but eventually I will! Or send me an angry e-mail 😆, preferably with your current address 😉. — Btw I bought this peacock feather cards, they are not my own design (made by @craneandco) – they just fit perfectly to my studio name: »Federflug« means »flying with feathers« in German. Well, even if this is decidedly NOT a feather suitable for flying. I guess I just chose the cards because they’re soo pretty! :: #calligraphy #kalligraphie #kalligrafie #caligrafia #calligrafriends #smallcaps #frenchronde #calligralove #historicalscripts #calligraphypractice #letterlove #letterwriting #kartenschreiben #snailmail #calligraphysnailmail #sayingthanks #peacockfeather #pfauenfeder #flourishforum #federflugcalligraphy https://www.instagram.com/p/CPQRlX4ANJ4/?utm_medium=tumblr

In case you haven’t noticed – I am a big fan not only of formal calligraphy, but also of – let’s call it »Pretty Handwriting«. In fact most of the styles I write are based on historical handwriting exemplars. I like to study and practice using primary sources – in this case I am working based on a classical French script called “Ronde” in a version by the calligrapher Charles Paillasson (from 1760). I’m not aiming for »historical accuracy« here (whatever that may be – I had to start by using the tools and materials they used back in the day, and to dive into that would be alone enough for a whole blog post). I just work with it – try to find out what makes this script unique, play around with the basic forms, write words and paragraphs to get into a rhythm, and I make mistakes and errors and go on and after some time one – or several – personal versions of this handwriting style emerge. (By the way, the underlying basic forms of the Ronde still can be found in today’s French handwriting models). :: If you’re also into handwriting styles and historical inspiration – have a look at @pennavolans here on IG! There and on the corresponding website run by @pebbleinthesky you will find not only great articles about and links to digitized copy books through the centuries, but also you can buy catalogues of Roundhand letters, meticulously vectorized by Sybille, in a huge, huge selection of variations! :: #calligraphy #kalligraphie #kalligrafie #caligrafia #calligrafriends #ronde #frenchronde #calligralove #learningcalligraphy #kalligrafielernen #historicalscripts #calligraphypractice #zillerink #periwinkleblue #flourishforum #federflugcalligraphy https://www.instagram.com/p/CK8u4FUAafb/?igshid=vri8m6zjdqvi

Ronde continued. The combination of paper, ink and nib was not optimal, as you can see – the hairlines are pretty thick even if I was using a very fine nib (a Hunt 22 EF). – But I'm kind of stubborn, and went on with this pretty shade of Periwinkle Blue from @zillerinks which looks so fresh on black paper. Btw I ordered some of @pascribe’s black and grey lined calligraphy pads from @scribblerscalligraphy, I’m very curious how these will differ from the paper I used here! (No affiliate links, I just share the information of what materials I use and where I get it …) :: #calligraphy #kalligraphie #kalligrafie #caligrafia #calligrafriends #ronde #frenchronde #calligralove #rundschrift #learningcalligraphy #kalligrafielernen #historicalscripts #calligraphypractice #zillersink #periwinkleblue #lightblue #blueandblack #blackpaper #flourishforum #federflugcalligraphy https://www.instagram.com/p/CLbk4JNAKlu/?igshid=16jshzz3hzgwt

Drills after a 250 years old French penmanship book – a bit wonky without a doubt. But practice makes better, right? So I’m going to work on them more. They are a bit different from English Roundhand flourishing from about the same time – more circular basic forms, less ovals, and lots of more slightly archaic looking fun direction changes and arabesques. Swipe to see some of the exemplars – they are from Paillasson’s “L’art d’écrire” (1760). You can find reprints from time to time for reasonable prices, and links to digital copies can be found on Sybille’s (@pebbleinthesky) wonderful site @pennavolans! #calligraphy #kalligraphie #kalligrafie #caligrafia #calligrafriends #ronde #frenchronde #calligralove #rundschrift #learningcalligraphy #kalligrafielernen #historicalscripts #calligraphypractice #flourishing #flourishes #drills #flourishingexercises #drmartins #bleedproofwhite #white #whiteink #greypaper #whiteongrey #flourishforum #federflugcalligraphy https://www.instagram.com/p/CMUBq1mghQ0/?igshid=156tynuoo9p8j

More practice and variations with the Ronde! I’ve also tested a bunch of nibs, before I wrote the Ronde first as a shaded script and then in a monolinear version which I find very cute too. I used a mix of Dr. Martin’s Bleed Proof White with gouache for a very light blue. It got me nicer hairlines on this black lined paper than the Ziller’s ink Periwinkle Blue (check my last post for an example of that pretty color). Swipe to the right to see some details! :: Btw if you don’t know what to write for practice, especially if you want to learn your capitals, writing lists of things is a time-honored method. In my book (in German and Japanese available) I’ve included alphabetical lists of flowers, cities, gemstones and colors as well some quotes for download. :: #calligraphy #kalligraphie #kalligrafie #caligrafia #calligrafriends #ronde #frenchronde #calligralove #learningcalligraphy #kalligrafielernen #historicalscripts #calligraphypractice #gouache #schminckegouache #calligraphygouache #drmartinsbleedproofwhite #flourishforum #federflugcalligraphy https://www.instagram.com/p/CLG0PyeA2Vw/?igshid=ij5fm65z6o54

🇩🇪⬇️ One and a half years ago, the French-German TV station Arte approached me, if I would be willing to participate in a program about handwriting and its cultural value. Of course I was thrilled, and now you can watch the show again on Arte’s website until October 26. We are talking about the past and future of handwriting as well as the neurological background which is quite fascinating. In case you don’t speak French or German I hope these quick clippings might be interesting for you too! Here’s the link to the show: arte.tv/de/videos/086130-004-A/xenius-wertvolle-handschrift/ :: Vor eineinhalb Jahren hat mich Arte gefragt, ob ich Interesse hätte, an einer Xenius-Sendung zum Thema »Wertvolle Handschrift« mitzuarbeiten – klar hatte ich! Es ging um nichts weniger als die Vergangenheit und Zukunft der Handschrift, mit vielen interessanten Hintergründen aus der Neurobiologie und sogar Forensik. Das Ergebnis könnt Ihr Euch jetzt nochmal auf der Webseite anschauen, falls Ihr es damals verpasst habt – bis 26. Oktober auf Arte TV unter: arte.tv/de/videos/086130-004-A/xenius-wertvolle-handschrift/ #calligraphy #kalligraphie #kalligrafie #handwriting #écriture #handschrift #historyofhandwriting #geschichte #geschichtederhandschrift #arte #calligralove #flourishforum #federflugcalligraphy https://www.instagram.com/p/CEOmmnbqVUW/?igshid=lhk9mleoqzuq