How to do penmanship

Why penmanship?

- I don't like my handwriting and I want to improve it.

- I want to relax.

- I want to learn something new.

These three reasons will most often lead you to penmanship. But don't give up handwriting completely. You can project your handwriting into your penmanship and set yourself apart. And handwriting is said to be good for the brain.

What is cursive writing anyway?

Cartooning refers to beautiful writing. It is also commonly referred to as calligraphy. Although many people don't know it, there are differences between different types of calligraphy or cursive writing:

CLASSICAL CALLIGRAPHY 

• Calligraphy pen with flexible nib, ink.
• The width of the stroke is influenced by the pressure of the pen.

MODERN CALLIGRAPHY 

• Brush marker (brushpen), brush.
• The width of the stroke is influenced by the pressure of the marker or brush.

FALSE CALIGRAPHY 

• Writing utensils (marker, pencil, pen) with a fixed point.
• The stroke width is formed by doubling the stroke, which can then be embellished at will.

LETTERING (Painted writing)

• Fix, pen, brush, crayons, chalk, etc.
• The letters are painted, their form and shape influenced by the font chosen.

What do I need to get started?

A lot depends on what kind of writing we want to do. In theory, a soft pencil would be enough to start with, as the pressure will make the difference between darker and lighter strokes. For traditional calligraphy, you need a handle, a pen and ink. For modern calligraphy, you need a brushpen (brush marker) or a brush and paints (ordinary watercolours or watercolours will do). Fake calligraphy is done with a hard-tipped marker. With lettering, you can play with anything. Paper is also an aid that matters. It's a good idea to choose smooth paper (e.g. Canson Marker 70 GSM), which will ensure that the markers glide nicely over it and won't fray the tip. Feel free to use printer paper, just be careful not to let the markers bleed through the paper. If you're going to paint letters in watercolour or try blending, use watercolour or acrylic paper.

Do I have to take a course?

You don't have to, but expect that it may take you longer to master your drawing. On the course, the tutor will show you everything on the spot, and you can ask questions straight away if you don't understand. Without a course, it's a good idea to get some handwriting books or print out the basic strokes or the alphabet in a font you like and practice.

TIP: Putting pause paper over your chosen alphabet or sentences will create a quick and easy template.

How to learn to doodle?

The most important rule for all types of krasopats is very simple - the up stroke is thin (light hand), the down stroke is thick (with pressure). First learn the basic strokes, then the individual letters, and finally combine everything into words and sentences.

It's always a good idea to do some research before writing. This helps your hand to relax and prepare for changes in pressure. Especially in the beginning, your hand may hurt when writing because it has not yet got used to the new movements. You can prevent pain by practising regularly. Practice regularly and for a shorter period of time, rather than suddenly and for a long time. Plus, the more regularly you write, the faster you will see results.

BASIC STROKES

PENMANSHIP ALPHABET

I know the basics, and what else?

Try decorating the font, learn blending (mixing multiple shades), paint on different materials, shade... The main thing is to have fun creating.

What about left-handers?

There is still a myth that left-handed people can't do krasopsat. It's not true. I'm left-handed and I do krasopsis. Left-handed people just have to be careful not to erase their writing. It's especially good to be careful that the tip of the marker is not perpendicular to the paper, but rather "a little flat". A tip perpendicular to the paper will spin exactly where you don't want it to, and the tip will fray more quickly.

About the author of the article:

My name is Veronika, I create handwritten decorations, I run modern calligraphy, baking and bullet journaling classes. I also make name tags or cards for any occasion.

FB: @suvero.creates

IG: @sudova.veronika