A short lecture

 Since I am nearing the end of my trip, I have run out of time to do new videos and exemplars - but I do have time to talk about some things that might help.

PENMANSHIP AND CALLIGRAPHY ARE NOT THE SAME THING

Many people who become fabulous calligraphers report that their everyday penmanship is terrible - and they are convinced that they cannot repair it. I do not argue with them. Their minds are made up. It is their loss that they do not want to apply what they have learned to their penmanship. Mostly, they just need to slow down. But, they have their perspective and they are free to maintain it.

Your penmanship has been with you since approx the third grade - or whenever you learned cursive. It has been with you for so long that you have all kinds of muscle memory. While you can find examples of business penmanship or any other style of cursive - and you can learn the strokes - the way you learn calligraphy - that is only step one and you will not be curing the problems that you have established over the years.

With calligraphy, people learn the basics and they make them carefully and slowly. There is a lot to think about. But given time, the strokes will be memorized and they will speed up. At this point, they need to work on the rhythm. Any of the rock stars in the world of calligraphy will talk about the importance of rhythm. It is one of the main things that makes rock star work stand out next to *beginner* work. 

HOW TO FIND YOUR RHYTHM

The italic might not be a good fit at all.

Spencerian might be perfect.

There is also a very round style that works for some people.

You won't know until you try all of them to find which one works best - or feels best.

WRITING LARGE

I know it feels funny to write so large - so - feel free to write at a height that feels right to you - and see what happens.

You have to hit the guidelines. Creating muscle memory at a specific height is important. 

LETTING YOUR EYES TAKE CHARGE

People already know how to form cursive lettering - to reform your cursive you need practice where the strokes flow gracefully - up down up down --

You are working to reform years and years of writing in a haphazard way.

Your memory and hand are fighting with your eyes -- and they need to work together - eventually.

Your eyes have to take charge - in the beginning.

It's a battle -- but, as soon as your eyes decide that they can make your hand and brain hit the marks - your hand and brain will fall into line.

Eyes have all kinds of power -- but it is hidden power -- and the hands and brain like to gang up -- and take over.

Let your eyes show hand/brain who is boss!!

Eventually, they will all work together.

We need for you to bounce along with a happy feeling in your hand/wrist/arm/eyes/head

Try combinations of just two letters if you are having problems finding a rhythm.

FIND A PARALLEL

With people in classes - in person- I always try to talk to them about other activities they have mastered that took time.

Whenever we find something that took time, they can make the connection to that feeling of struggle - and then breakthrough.

Some people get too focused on the end product --

We have to get you to relax and bounce along - almost mindlessly.

Think about how cute little kids are when they decide to dance... and are not self conscious.

I guess there are adults who are the same way --

you do not need to have formal training to enjoy dancing and people can see that you are relaxed and enjoying it.

That is what we are looking for in penmanship.

Joyful bounce.

INSPIRATIONAL WORDS

Once we get through all the letters - we will look for words that bring you joy that include all the letters.

For some people - writing words that are inspirational is way better -- so feel free to send me words (or short phrases) that you like and I can do exemplars based on those words