Only perfect practice makes perfect

There comes a point in the practice of calligraphy when the act of writing becomes one of choreography. For a practitioner, skilled but far from mastery, you know how to write the basic letterforms. It’s in your brain, and you have written out each letter in painstaking repetition countless times - your hands are beginning to remember how to do it without thinking, but if you think too much, or too slow, or too fast they wobble. When practice is going well though, and the rhythm flows, particularly with a beautiful flowing script like italic, they begin to dance upon the page. One day perhaps, you can direct that dance into flourishing in the right places (but mind not too much, else you mark yourself out like a beginner), and your words will breathe their own life into song.

I had a nice practice session today. It has been an entire long summer break since I have had calligraphy practice time in my studio, so I know I’m a little rusty from where I ended last term. A couple of hours yesterday found me frustrated at wobbly lines and uneven letters. This morning however, is a new day, and when you’re in the right mood, you are in the right mood, finding a nice flow and making each line in the way I wanted (to the best I can do a this moment in time).

As you may perhaps know, I’m working towards my CLAS National Calligraphy Diploma, starting with italic at Foundation Level. I have to submit at the end of the school year, so still a decent amount of time to finish what needs finishing. Hopefully a few more practice sessions like today and I can blow all the rust away.

I can see the errors, but it’s not insurmountable, and once I have the pure basic italic cracked, maybe I can give a little more flirtacious!

Happy practicing

Angelique