This is a fantastic home-made pen that can do lettering from a 5mm stroke width to 5cm stroke width. Buy some balsa that is 5mm in thickness. It is usually in a plank approx. 45cm long and 7.5cm wide with a thickness of about 5mm. In my photos the balsa has already been cut narrower, but ideally, do the mat (diagonal) cut while it is still 75mm wide. You can probably use a craft knife but a matt cutter does a lovely clean cut. Do two cuts 12cm apart, so that you have wide 'pen' 12cm long … [Read more...]
Moving the goalposts
I'm so tired and my back is aching and I've been at the computer all day. For all of you who have resisted the computer - I think you made the right decision. Contract the work out! And once again I have laid a massive trip on myself. Arrrggghhh. And this is why I am too tired to write about anything other than my current project. Anyway, this is so typical of what I do: My book Dance is nearly there and just about ready to be printed in time for the literary fairs. But the book is very narrow … [Read more...]
ABC Uncials – teaching children calligraphy
I used to run an annual holiday course teaching children uncials. And now I have just about completed a little book aimed at 10-year olds and upwards. This little 16-page manual (about postcard sized when closed) will come with a balsa stick 'pen' and some walnut ink crystals for immediate accessibility. I am assuming that whoever gives the child this book will also buy some materials and help the child. This is how I approach teaching children: Minimum Age: About 10, when their handwriting … [Read more...]