John shows a wide variety of samples of his calligraphy, copperplate and Spencerian script styles with pointed pen and even on glass with a special high speed engraving tool. Added music.
Yet another leftie, aspiring calligrapher here - thank you for sharing this! Noticed that you rotate the page 90 degrees, a brilliant trick I hadn't seen before that must overcome so many of the problems associated with our "pushing" instead of "drawing" on the page. Can't wait to give this a try... and re-learn how to write....!
Phenomenal!! I do a bit of calligraphy and am learning Spencerian Script as a part of my own therapy after 5 deployments i need to do something to calm my nerves I love it so much!!! wish i had more time to dedicate to it...you are a true master Sir and really enjoyed this video.....Awesome!!!!
Absolutely smooth. Your technique for coming into the writing line from almost a 90 degree angle makes so much more sense. As a lefty myself, I've struggled for years to improve on any style of calligraphy, and I finally see why. Before id tilt forward opposite of right handedness (mainly because nobody teaches this for left handed people, all the books I ever read through were for right handed people) and after finally seeing what you have done, it just makes sense.
OMG! A lefty. I'm a lefty too, just see how his movments of his wrist and hands are. I do ok, but this true penmanship. Penmanship has always been true to my nature, but seen this man is just elegance of free flowing writing at its 100% BEST!
I watched this video because I saw the left hand in the thumbnail! I'm left handed and I didn't think it could be done! I'm so glad to see for myself it is possible!
I've picked up caligraphy 2 months ago. I've begun to get round hand memorized, still need work on my spacing, size, etc. anyway I just want to say videos like these encourage and inspire me to keep with it.
Thank you for showing us this video, it was a lesson simply to watch you write. I've just started learning Spencerian, self-study for now but I hope to take lessons in future. It's terrific to be able to see how the letters and words are formed.
I love the series Craftsman’s Legacy and after watching Master Pennman Jake Weidmann I told my friend how difficult it is for a lefty to do calligraphy I took a one class 40 years ago and gave up half way through. The teacher never mentioned the types of pens you use and being the only left handed student, he didn’t help me much. I always look up the people I see on Craftsman’s Legacy and when I came to RU-vid I found YOU. Wow. You are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your talent. I really am enjoying watching you write. At 68 it’s kind of late to take up this art form now, so I will continue quilting, painting, crochet and scrapbooking. However, I will be watching and practicing your pen for fun. Enjoying all your videos over and over. Thank you soooooo much.
I love this!!! You seem so nice and personable and humble and yet! What beauty flows from your pens, tis magical! I am learning Spencerian penmanship, hope one day I will have decent handwriting.
as a left handed calligrapher myself, i've never thought of writing with that hand form. obvoiusly i'm not even in the same league as you, but as a left hander i'm sure you know the struggles we go through. For regular writing, i use a hook over grip, with the nib pointing towards me, but obviously with copperplate/spencerian that kind of position wont work at all lols. very inspiriational
John, there is no doubt about your credentials as one of 14 Master Penmen as certified by IAMPETH and that your ability, skill, and work are all above reproach. Additionally it was really nice to meet your middle daughter and son in-law but other than a meet and greet of your family members the watching of this your video is 13 minutes and 42 seconds of this video that I will never have back in life. I had hoped before watching this video that it might of had some useful tips, tricks, etc to improve my pointed pen calligraphy but what I watched was in essence a sudo commercial of sorts
***** Take your own advice on life skills and opt to ignore others comments if they offend as much as his comment did, in which case it was blatantly true and not "beating around the bush." And no, the guy in the video is NOT an official master penman, just a guy with the hobby of calligraphy.
What superb writing. I've been copperplate writing all my life, am nearing 73 but have never attained that quality! Those that don't like the preamble can easily skip it. The left-hander who wishes for quicker drying ink can get supplies easily enough. I recently obtained some from Noodlers via a UK agent. No problem para me! Some say a straight on nib is better for most left-handers as the oblique, when handled left tends to 'injure' the paper on the right side and cause feathering. I have always used a straight on nib holder or fountain pen without that happening. Well done John DeCollibus. Keep up the good tuition!
Thank you for sharing your whole process! Including your support staff! Enjoyed your humor , loved the make-up brush dancing across your face while speaking. :) I got started on the calligraphy journey last year so I could pen my Grand daughter's wedding. That project is complete, just had the wedding 2 weeks ago. I would like to continue learning this craft so, I am very happy to have found your vids.
Thank you very much for all your hard work and time you have spent through the years. Your calligraphy/penmanship is just stunning. You inspire me to practice. I just received my first true calligraphy pen and ink, and paper for Christmas. I can only hope that I may be as close to beautiful penmanship/artist as you. Thank you for sharing this video with us. Just brilliant!
And old and cherished craft. Disappearing with time like blacksmiths, sword and knife makers, etc. However, when Intel lays 4 billion transistors on a silicon chip, well, thats pretty impressive too..
I started teaching myself calligraphy a few years back as I draw my whole life I am also left handed and have been fascinated With penmanship since I was a kid I always took my time to write things out I want to find some classes as I am also in Massachusetts people always told me I would have shitty handwriting and ended up having some of the best penmanship out of all my class mates from grade school through high school
Beautiful work! I've never seen a left handed calligrapher! I've always wondered if it was even possible. It's great to see the family involvement as well!
I my training the hard way. Most left handers, like me will usually go hook writing. I trained myself from the ground from as an underwriter... breaking fountain pens, dip pens, the whole lot. I suggest you may want to look at the IAMPETH website and their rare books to see how past masters taught their students how to hold the pen.
Thumbs up for the nice humorous vid. It's really very nice handwriting. For a demonstration of skill I would have expected a larger variety of fonts than just one from a master penman though.
My only material wish for this Christmas is to get a Jake Weidmann penholder. I can't afford it at this time so I need more side calligraphy work to do. Very inspiring work of art.
Usually turn volume off, but honestly, does it get any more civilized than a master penman’s mesmerizing choreography with Pachabell’s Canon in the background? Rhetorical question.
If I was your son I would be like “dad I need you to write another break up note for me” I mean she can’t be that mad if the letter is written beautifully.
I am new to lettering and it's really frustrating being left handed. I'm scouring the internet looking for videos from left handed penmans. I honestly don't know if I can ever be good at it.
I know what it's like to be told not to write assignments for school. I was told to just print my assignments, etc as my handwriting was so bad. Calligraphy is an entirely different way of writing!
It's because of the angle the pen needs to be held at; I believe it's something like 50 degrees. Your wrist would hurt like heck if you tried holding a straight pen like that for very long.
I too am a lefty and have always been fascinated with calligraphy. I have always considered myself artistic and have always had good handwriting but I cannot seem to get calligraphy down. My question to you and other RU-vidrs is; What type of nib and/or pen do you use?
This is so great! As soon as you said you were left handed you had me! LOL...I loved penmanship and calligraphy as well and self taught quite awhile ago...however, it was difficult. I was trained in the field of drafting and design and of course the only drafting machines at the time were all right handed! I had to even learn how to do the "Leroy" lettering on my drawings which were designed for right, however, I managed to do it with my left....I would like to know how you managed not to get carpal tunnel as a result of doing this for so long?
You can't do Copperplate like he does with a chisel tip marker but you can do some other calligraphy styles like gothic or uncial. Check out calligraffiti. With a can I guess that's up to you and your level of can control, but it'll be very hard to get those super thin hairlines like he does.
John, I have been watching your videos since 2007. Have been practicing and have gotten quite good at it. As a florist, I do all my cards in calligraphy, which is a big hit with my customers. I have also managed to get some invitation business as well. Please do tell people that since all papers are not suitable for ink, it's viscosity can be adjusted with gum Arabic to improve the hair lines. Also, I still haven't figured how you can do your flourishing strokes with such speed without the nib splattering ink all over the page when doing up strokes. Please do comment on this
Holly fuck wow that is to dope love what I saw ? I'm a lefty myself n I do have a nice writing myself but when doing calligraphy I kind of have to wait for the ink to dry you should do a video on how to set the paper reason for is cause I'm sure it's hard to write a name from the end to start hope you get what I'm saying .
