Learning Foundational Calligraphy

Lettering Foundational calligraphy seems easier because it is based on the circular O. Also of course it takes lots of practice!

Sheila Waters book, Foundations of Calligraphy is helpful; she has an analytic approach. Sheila studied at the Royal College of Art, London.

Because it was available in 1999, Italic was my first calligraphic hand, taught by The Houston Calligraphy Guild through their Tutorial Program. Simply put, Italic letters are narrow, written on a slant. Using a keystroke we can make anything we type Italic. See Exploring Italic Here: https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/08/exploring-italic-calligraphy.html

I tried learning Foundational on my own; then I benefited from a Summer Study class with Karla Hamilton: White Vine Letters and the Foundational Hand. 
See my blog on White Vine letters: https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/03/creating-white-vine-letters.html

I practiced all summer, working toward this finished project. 

I have since enjoyed Foundational as my go-to hand but I know I am not perfect. What makes calligraphy so much fun is trying to master the form.

Practice, practice and more practice - fun on a winter's day... 





Below: I try writing using 4 pen nib widths for lower case and 7 nib widths for ascenders & capitals.

If you would like to share your thoughts with me - please let me know in the comments below.

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016

Creating Roman Lettering

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016

When I saw Roman letters I thought of capital letters I learned in elementary school. A famous example of Roman lettering comes from the inscription on Trajan’s column, a sculpted Rome pillar marking the triumph of the emperor Trajan (AD 98-117). 

I learned about Roman calligraphic rules by taking a Peter Thornton workshop several years ago. Each letter can be grouped according to its width. Below: Playing with Prismacolor pencils.

I have also learned from Sheila Waters’ book: Foundations of Calligraphy. 

And Annie Cicale’s book: The Art & Craft of Hand Lettering is another guide I follow.

Starting with monoline letters is easier. Within a Parent Box, O and Q fill up the space. About 1/4 wider is the M & W. The C, D & G fill up 7/8 of the Parent Box. Then you have the letters that fill 3/4 of the Parent Box: A - H - K - N - T - U - V - X - Y - Z.

B - E - F - J - L - P - R - S fill 1/2 of the Parent Box. The letter "I" stands alone. And spacing between letters can take years of practice! Some say spacing between words is equal to the small letter “o” yet others say spacing is between the stems of the “H."

omans are necessary 






for my White Vine calligraphy click here: https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/03/creating-white-vine-letters.html also my Checkerboard calligraphy:  https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/02/coloring-checkerboard-calligraphy.html

Alternative ways to write variations of Roman capital letters are fun! 

Playing around with calligraphy placement.

Fun experimenting with different kinds of paper and ways of writing! Writing on Strathmore Parchment Paper and bouncing the letters, writing every other letter above the line, gives a certain lightness to a quote.

This is the book I made in Peter Thornton's class with my notes and calligraphy exercises.

I enjoy the practice of calligraphy! Please send me any questions in the Comments section.