Fountain Pens.

[kshitij]

Brihaji, congratulations on the pen received and soon to be received

[Mack The Knife]

The vintage Aurora 88.

One of many reviews on this fountain pen - http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum ... 8-dynasty/

[brihacharan]

The vintage Aurora 88.
One of many reviews on this fountain pen - http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum ... 8-dynasty/

Awesome review....made very interesting reading....
This excerpt is truly an ode to this 'magnificent writing instrument'!

The Aurora 88 represents the imaginary “fil rouge” connecting the Italian post war writing instrument market until these days. As the brand name wanted originally to signify, the first Aurora 88 model was the rebirth of the hopes of people, represented in a modern design that now it is a classic and a reference that cannot be disregarded.
Through the years and the numerous variants, this model followed the study and the work of Italians of all ages, transforming its role from a daily workhorse to a precious object.

Today the fountain pen collector’s world is just starting to “taste” the post WWII panorama; however the Aurora 88 is increasingly popular on the normal selling channels. A reason for this is that the Aurora 88 is a pen with a vintage aura, a reliable working pen that has few competitors nowadays (Lamy2000 and… ?) and a beautiful object.
Thanks for sharing Mack!
Briha

[xl_target]

Brihaji,
Congratulations on the beautiful calligraphy set.

Thanks to that Mac character and this post on pens, i have taken an interest in calligraphy and, as mentioned previously, bought a pen set.
Then I realized that it is not as simple as just writing more carefully. I did some research and found that, like drafting, there are certain strokes to form each letter.
Here is an example.

So now it seems that I have another hobby to add to the list of my time consuming pastimes. Grrr, thanks a lot Mac!
Anyway, with your steady hand, I don't think you will have any issue with forming calligraphy letters.

Here are some of the sites that I have been looking at and working off:
How to form italic letters
Warming up for Calligraphy
learning calligraphy alphabets

While my first efforts are nothing to write home about, I'm sure you'll be able to do quite well.

[Mack The Knife]

So now it seems that I have another hobby to add to the list of my time consuming pastimes. Grrr, thanks a lot Mac!

That's great news, xl_t and you are always welcome.

I will gladly put up another fountain pen for a calligraphy contest should there be a few interested punters.

BTW, there's still more than a month to go for the 'daily handwriting' contest and Kshitij needs to be made to sweat.

Consider sending some Christmas cards this year with a calligraphic script.

[kshitij]

I thought brihaji already won that one With his dedication and enthusiasm, he is more deserving too.
Besides, I cant seem to better myself any more on the handwriting front. Calligraphy is a work in progress and I will take quite bit to get my flourishes right and consistent.

@xl_target, thanks for links.

Added in 4 minutes 52 seconds:
@mack, on second thoughts, i'd try harder if there were a knife at the end of the line

[Mack The Knife]

I thought brihaji already won that one

That comp ends only when this year ends and I wont be judging.

With his dedication and enthusiasm, he is more deserving too.

I don't know about dedication but he gets two thumbs up for enthusiasm.

Added in 2 minutes 27 seconds:

Added in 4 minutes 52 seconds:
@mack, on second thoughts, i'd try harder if there were a knife at the end of the line

Cheeky blighter!

[brihacharan]

Brihaji,
Congratulations on the beautiful calligraphy set.

Thanks to that Mac character and this post on pens, i have taken an interest in calligraphy and, as mentioned previously, bought a pen set.
Then I realized that it is not as simple as just writing more carefully. I did some research and found that, like drafting, there are certain strokes to form each letter.
Here is an example.

So now it seems that I have another hobby to add to the list of my time consuming pastimes. Grrr, thanks a lot Mac!
Anyway, with your steady hand, I don't think you will have any issue with forming calligraphy letters.

Here are some of the sites that I have been looking at and working off:
How to form italic letters
Warming up for Calligraphy
learning calligraphy alphabets

While my first efforts are nothing to write home about, I'm sure you'll be able to do quite well.

Hi xl-target,
Thanks a TON for sharing those very informative links on Calligraphy
Yes! We should thank 'Mack' for lighting the fire under our butts to go hammer & tongs in attempting this exquisite form of writing
After having seen the links forwarded by you...I dashed off following the basic instructions....here goes my 1st attempt!

IMHO it could have been a shade better, but the eagerness to put pen to paper was too overwhelming
Hope to do better the next time around.....
Cheers
Briha

Added in 5 minutes 48 seconds:
I've now realized that Calligraphy has umpteen types & characters with each one having its own precise & particular identity.
My attempt has been to follow my own style best suited to my grip of the pen, while following the tenets of forming the 'cursives', 'flourishes', strokes et.al.....
Boy! am I enjoying this!!!!!!
Briha

[Mack The Knife]

I think you are getting too concious when writing for the forum. As do I.

Let your hand flow freely.

[brihacharan]

I think you are getting too conscious when writing for the forum. As do I.
Let your hand flow freely.

Yes Mack, you're right....must relax and get it right.....
Practice...Practice...Practice
Briha

[xl_target]

Very good, Brihaji.
All your letters are nice and even.

The biggest problem that I have when trying to do calligraphy is keeping my letter size uniform.
I will invariably get some characters smaller or larger than the rest and that makes the entire sentence or paragraph look uneven.
More practice...sigh!

I've now realized that Calligraphy has umpteen types & characters with each one having its own precise & particular identity.

I've decided to try and get more proficient with one particular style before even attempting the rest. I've started with Chancery Italic and I'll take it from there.

[kshitij]

Xl,
Have a look at this video, it may help with controling the variable font size.


Basically you need to draw four lines in stead of the two and then use them to control the font size atleast till your muscle memory gets a hang of it i guess. I know this is tedious, so i took the short cut and printed my lines after sizing them appropriately in an excel sheet

Added in 7 minutes 12 seconds:
Sorry make that 5 lines not 4. Though i have managed to keep my font sizes pretty constant with 4.

[brihacharan]

Xl,
Have a look at this video, it may help with controling the variable font size.


Basically you need to draw four lines in stead of the two and then use them to control the font size atleast till your muscle memory gets a hang of it i guess. I know this is tedious, so i took the short cut and printed my lines after sizing them appropriately in an excel sheet

Added in 7 minutes 12 seconds:
Sorry make that 5 lines not 4. Though i have managed to keep my font sizes pretty constant with 4.

Hi Kshitij,
Thanks for the very inspiring & informative link on Calligraphic writing!
Here's an honest confession - After having developed my own particular style of writing over the past 3/4 century it's a bit daunting to adapt to a 'certain common characteristic calligraphy fonts' ...nevertheless I'm giving it my best shot
Briha

[kshitij]

Brihaji,
You make 3/4 century sound like a rather small number
But even with about 1/4 century of my habits I find it difficult so I can understand what you mean.

[brihacharan]

Brihaji,
You make 3/4 century sound like a rather small number
But even with about 1/4 century of my habits I find it difficult so I can understand what you mean.

Kshitij,
Looking back, I've realized that the "Search & Journey" are more enjoyable & challenging than finding what you're looking for & the destination you arrive
The process of learning en'route often turns out to be more valuable with the passage of time
Cheers!!!!
Briha