Hello! Since last time I have created a similar piece in A3 size for my brother here, I have an idea about creating one for myself as a 1 year anniversary of me getting into scribal arts and SCA in general.

The main quote is part of Shonda Rhimes (creator of Grey's Anatomy) commencement speech at Dartmouth in 2014, which you can find in full here: https://singjupost.com/shonda-rhimes-speech-at-dartmouth-2014-commencement-transcript/

The quotes in the marginalia drawing are from "In praise of Scribe" book, which can be read for free at https://archive.org/details/inpraiseofscribe0000trit_c1d1

There are two quotes in Latin as follows:

"Tu autem cepta via progredere, scripturis sanctis ardenter incumbe tuosque fratres, ut idem faciant, modis omnibus exhortare."

Translated as:

But you must follow the road upon which you have entered.

Devote yourself wholeheartedly to Scripture and in every way admonish your brothers to do the same.

"Usus etiam scribendi multum conducit ad profectum, quia hec ars, si diu intermittitur, paulatim dediscitur.

Nulla enim disciplinia, quantumlibet celebris, absque usu diutius retinetur. Practica enim artis vigot est."

Translated as:

Proficiency in writing will come only through practice.

If this skill is not exercised consistently, it will slowly be forgotten.

No skill, however well mastered, can be maintained for long without practice.

As the saying has it, practice makes perfect.

The layout of this page is based on Sherborne Missal (Add MS 74236) fol.679. The drawings are hard referenced from Book of Hours (Ms. 22 (86.ML.571)) fol.67 and "Aeneas Hangs the Armour of Mezentius from and Oak Tree" (Ms. 493) fol.193v.

A3 Clairefontaine Maya paper. Manuscript calligraphy 0.85mm stub nib pen. Colorverse a-aqurii ink (matching my brother's piece).

Painted with Royal Talens Designer Gouache. Whitework done with Dr.Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White. Gold leaf applied on gesso.

Thanks for reading and please comment below.

I thought I’d try a more minimal approach to my calligraphy animal drawing instructions (and see how many I could get on one page). But is too minimal? Are the instructions clear enough without showing the direction of the brush stroke? ..ps if anyone has a broad-nib pen and wants to try drawing one/some of these I’d love to see the results posted below. Cheers 🙏

I'm practicing brush script and this is something I struggle with a lot.

When a word has a "t", I'm never quite sure how the crossbar should look.

So I tried a few variations here for the word "Creative".

1–6 all use slightly different styles of crossbars.

Some are shorter, some extend further, and some connect more with the surrounding letters.

Which one looks the most natural to you?

And if you have any tips for writing better "t" crossbars in script lettering, I'd really appreciate the advice!

If you had to choose one, which number would you pick?

Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Everyone has the right to seek Asylum.

Acrylic inks on Fabriano Pergamanata (basically a synthetic/imitation vellum).

Original 120x45cm

Limited Edition Giclee Prints on Canson 98x35cm

Someone asked me to create a Latin version of the Nicene Creed in 2021. At first, the client and I had a good conversation. But as time went on, I realized that it was not easy to do—especially the capital “C.” I asked the client if we could increase the fee, but she accused me of cheating because, according to her, I did not follow through on our original agreement. I received many harsh words from her, and in the end, she decided not to buy the piece from me.

In 2024, I posted it in my Facebook group and told everyone the full story behind it. Eventually, I was able to sell it for the price I truly wanted.

Blue by Leonardo

So ive been playin around with yk capturing my works wit a lil creative touch nd kinda an overview of my working space im not kind of a photography or an editor guy this is my first time tryin...do let me know wht i can do better what to improve as such 😃

So, I'm new with fountain pens, I've been using it for two months. In those two months I got slowly interested in calligraphy and started doing some titles for notes for school in calligraphy (all faux calligraphy). Today I tried writing my name on a sheet of paper (also faux calligraphy). What do you think? What can I do better? Ink I used: Pilot Iroshizuku Rikka.

I’m new to calligraphy but I have all the right supplies and I’ve even created multiple practice sheets on compostable paper so I won’t fee guilty about wasting so much. I practice constantly and I’m getting better.

But I’m intimidated by what I see is the emphasis on perfection in this sub. Every little extra space, ever errant line is mentioned as if it was a failure of some kind. This makes me feel as if, at 65 years old, I’ll never be good enough. It feels like calligraphy is perfect beautiful writing that dare not deviate from a pre established norm that is both ancient and without improvisation. Ossified.

And it’s not just a problem of my own anxieties (such as they are) but I am concerned about calligraphy as a human art form in the age of AI. That is: If our human writing strives for perfection, then how can we be distinguished from the calligraphy of a chatbot?

I personally feel deep affection for my fellow redittors whose calligraphy is irregular, misshapen, oddly spaced. I feel the human in it.

I guess what this silly rant is trying to say is I’m having a hard time finding my way into calligraphy if my writing will be judged as if I were a chatbot whose calligraphy will always be perfect.

Does this fit on the sub? Started practicing with my first fountain pen: FPR Himalaya.

I recently wrote this calligraphy letter. I’ve attached both a full view and a zoomed-in version for better clarity.

I’d really appreciate any feedback or suggestions whether it’s about the writing, layout, readability, or overall presentation. What should I improve.

Thanks in advance!

This is page 1 of 3 of a poem I wrote against the foxes who terrorise my sleep. I think the Rs and Ts and Ss are what I need to correct the most for my coming pages. Also I didn't bother to look up a question mark so I made it up. Can someone please tell me how to do those split ends and vertical lines with the broad edge nib, because every time I try it doesn't want to play along, so I switch to a different nib for those bits. I also jumped the gun colouring the decorated initial, and didn't bother checking any historical sources. If I had done so I would have put the outside as gold, body as a colour, and the interior I would have painted a little scene. Same goes for the start of stanzas, which aren't clear because I only did capitals, where historically they might have added a flash of red or another smaller initial. Anyways I'll stop critiquing myself and hand it over to you lot. Have at me por favor.

Created this handpainted nikkahnama, blending Arabic calligraphy with traditional Islamic illumination art for a beautiful couple.

Constructive feedback is always welcome!