AA Italic Calligraphy With A Rotring Pen

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

I am using Higgins Eternal ink. I don't use the rotring cartridges or their bottled ink. Pelikan 4000 is also good for smooth writing. One thing I always do to my nibs is sharpen and polish them just a tiny bit with 2000 grit wet/dry diamond dust paper. Crocus cloth is too abrasive. You can generally find the paper at auto body supply shops. They use this fine paper prior to applying clear coat. I hope to produce a few more videos soon - some with Rotring, some with Lamy and some with quills.

[johnnyfisalive]

i have a question i have the same pen, but mine doesnt write smoothly like yours my ink flow is coming out right? why?, any suggestions?

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

That ink is actually a dye. It is similar to the Jet Black of Schaeffer. You can also get an ink adapter and use Higgins 4001 or a diluted Higgins Eternal. if your stationer has none of these I can send them to you. I have several and rarely use them. Visit my website for images and videos. Blessings! tj

[johnnyfisalive]

@TimJohnsonPhoto what is your website?

[58mohit]

ink cartidge which came with the pen was amazing !!! i wanna purchase rotring calligraphy ink but ..not available in india thats sad....

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

Rotring is the source of the ink problem. They package their cartridges & sell dyes, not pigmented writing fluids. To get dense and sharp letters you need Higgins Eternal, or something similar. I rarely do anything with dyes. I use a #6 pointed watercolor brush & then write. Dyes fade - likeinkjet printer inks. I want what I write to last.You can get international delivery & suggestions from John Neal Bookseller, Greensboro, NC USA. Best regards, Tim

[58mohit]

i have this pen set :-) its amazing ...but problem is" INK " there is no dark calligraphy ink available in my region :-(...

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

That is an ampersand (&). It just seemed normal to put it there actually joining something rather than being all alone. Good catch!

[shweeeen1]

whats a letter in between 'y' and 'z'?

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

This is the instrumental version of Vanessa William's song, "Save The Best For Last". It is thoughtful, romantic and carefully performed.

[misztaqken]

whats the title of the song?

[janetkatz1]

Gorgeous. Thanks.

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

Eliz - Being left-handed means you are in your right mind, a good thing. Rotring does not make an oblique nib, but you can use crocus cloth or 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper and add an oblique angle to the nib. I am right-handed but have learned to do lettering with my left hand so that I can demonstrate for my lefties. When lefting it I do rotate my paper. make sure you are using your whole arm instead of just the fingers. Also, add a couple of drops of water to thin your ink a bit. Blessings 2 U.

[eilztoner]

Wish I could get my Rotring pen writing to look this good, I'm left handed and due to the struggle with availability of left oblique nibs and pens I have taught my self to do Calligraphy right handed instead, I'm not as steady on the long strokes yet but I'm working on it. Wish I had this control!

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

This sample is slightly formal lettering - many lifts and breaks and a few flourishes. Joined or "cursive" calligraphy is faster. One important thing about good writing is that is easy to read and it gets noticed. I send and received correspondence from many people and they say that my envelopes are always the first they open. If you practice and enjoy it, the writing gets faster and easier.

[rrostie]

Do you use your wrist more with smaller script? I'm just learning how to write using the whole arm and it's not easy. It's also nice to watch what order you do the strokes in.

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

Good question. The pen and nib are by Rotring. I am using a 1.1 mm nib here. I don't use their inks - too wimpy, I brush-feed them with Higgins Eternal.

The flex you see is due to the age of the nib - about 10 years and the variation in pressure. I try to allow for enough fredom to do lifts, swashes and serifs.

The Lamy, also made in Germany, is more naturally flexible but they offer only one broad edge nib.

[thenoamchomsky]

what nib is this, it looks slightly fexible

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

Thanks for your kind comment. I reside in RTP, NC, USA and do international design & graphics. However, I have had many fine students from Asia who are dedicated to learning the historic European hands. Here is a contact from Singapore. Peace & Blessings tj

SINGAPORE

Singapore Italic Writing Calligraphy Interest Group

39 Chancery Lane

#01-26 Villa Chancery

Singapore

The Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore

[Xandavalin]

Beautiful! Do you reside in Singapore or do you know anyone in Singapore who I can hire as a calligrapher? thanks!

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

This is the instrumental version of Vanessa William's song, "Save The Best For Last". It is thoughtful, romantic and carefully performed.

[tedsonleo]

what is the name of the song of this song?

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

This is an nstrumental of "Save The Best For Last". Melancholy, but hopeful. tj

[facebooker121]

wat song is playing

[jeangrey123]

does anyone knows where can i get this pen in Singapore?? Its so hard to find one

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

@jeangrey123

these people will help you

SINGAPORE

Singapore Italic Writing Calligraphy Interest Group

39 Chancery Lane

#01-26 Villa Chancery

Singapore

[PorkyWizard]

@jeangrey123

ebay have them by the bucket load

[aslamartnet]

Very fine writing and pen control. Thanks for sharing your discipline in this rare art.

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

There are many colleges that offer courses but only one that I know of with a degree. sunderland.ac.uk/study/course/­1016/foundation_degree_in_call­igraphy_with_design

Most calligraphers have backgrounds in graphic design, fine arts art history and use calligraphy as part of their career. I am a commercial photographic illustrator & just recently got a motion picture role because of my calligraphy & pretty hands. Pursue the best tutors & use only the best tutors.

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

The Rotring pens are commonly available as sets or as individual pens with specific nibs. They come with broad or "blip" nibs. You can order them from Brown's or Farhney's or, to save money, Askew Taylor, 110 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603. I am using a 1.1mm in the video. They also come in 1.2, 1.5 and 1.7mm., plus the blunt nib for general writing or sketching. They can use cartridge or bottled ink with an adaptor. Rotring does have a decent website.

Good question - thanks for asking.

[denisecarruth]

whered you get the pen



[d3nikk]

this is just AWESOME

[poppa2006]

WowWie, beautiful writing. I purchased my first Rotring 1,1 Artpen about 3hrs ago. Maybe in approx. 5yrs I'll be writing like you. I couldn't get a bottle of ink though so for the time being I'll be using the Rotring cartridges, until I find the ink, i.e. I also purchased a Moleskine book to practice in. My nib is a bit scratchy, glad to know I can smooth it out with sandpaper. Thanks for the demo.

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

It is their 1.1. It has been sharpened with a 1200 grit sandpaper to make the entry and exit strokes a bit sharper. I also sharpen my Lamys since they are stainless steel.

[spinacz777]

to author: what is the thickness of this artpen?? 1.1mm or 1.5 mm??

[jonasbrothersluv705]

wow this is amazing!

[Sypheck]

I really love that "AB" ligature. I've recently been dabbing into calligraphy to further my knowledge in Typography as I'm a graphic design student. I just bought this pen set and since I'm a newbie I'm having sort of a hard time writing properly with these tools, especially the wider nibs. I know its mostly a matter of adjusting yourself but I also notice that you can sharpen these nibs but I'm a bit nervous to fiddle with them. Any tips or reference you can provide to do this properly?

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

Sypheck - Let's assume you have good nibs and you want to add a fine edge to them. You need Crocus cloth or 1200 grit wet/dry sandpaper-from an auto body shop. If your nibs are flat, maintain that by approaching the grit with about a 30 degree angle. Use water or inks as a lubricant. 6-8 strokes on the writing side will usually do. 1 or 2 strokes on the top will remove any burr. Don't sharpen gold-plated or iridium coated nibs. There's more information on my older posts on my website.

[Sypheck]

Thanks for the tips. Also, I got the piston converter for this pen. What type of ink do you recommend using with these Rotring artpens to provide smooth inkflow? I was thinking of getting Private Reserve.

Thanks again for the quick response.

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

Higgins Eternal will not let you down. Do not use waterproof inks. Rinse the nib through the converter - that way you get both cleaned thoroughly.

[laranjo123]

whats the tittle of the track ?

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

@laranjo123

It is an instrumental arrangement of "Save The Best For Last".

[MrSpeedcuber]

could you tell me which font you are using in this vid? is free to download or commercial?

[aaateam111]

would anyone like to tell me what mm that pen could be?

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

@aaateam111

The nib I am using is their 1.1mm. It has been sharpened with a bit of Crocus cloth. Thanks for asking

[RobertMSchneider]

I want to be able to write like that so bad! How did you learn? was it hard? Did it take you long?

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

Robert - I've been doing commercial calligraphy, design and photography for over 30 years. Most of my students do very well with their writing after about a year of classes and regular practice. I had world-class tutors and practiced carefully with the best tools. You can visit my website and see samples of my formal and informal work.

[Shasfin]

It takes long to learn to write like that. But it takes much less time learning to draw letters very similar to those.

When you can drawing - you can drawing letters too. But it's slow. It isn't really writing, it's drawing letters.

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

I am not drawing the letters, I am writing. Drawn letters are for posters and decoration. This is simply the way I write. Vertical is a bit slower and more formal with fewer joins and slanted is faster with joined letters.

[Shasfin]

I've never doubted it. I just said, that it's really easier and faster learn to draw the letters, instead of writing them. It was only an advice for RobertMSchneider and others, who want to "write" like that without years of classes. Personally, when I'm "writing" "Gothic" (and it's at least once a week), I'm just drawing the letters. (Because I've never learnt calligraphy and it's less than one year that I'm trying to write this way).

[barnumeffect5]

this looks great.

i have a calligraphy pen and don't know how to use it. any tips? I mostly wanna do sheet music

[skeptikulo]

Amazing! I want more! Could you show us the same version in the Sütterlin script? Say yes, please.

[cookie8142]

your handwriting is beautiful! Im gonna cry o.O especially the song is calming XD I WANT THAT PEN SOOO BADLY

[koma9005]

OO Good!!

[johntrevy]

wonerful.Does it take long to get to that level?Also, is the pen a cartrige one, or dip. Or is it a piston fill?

[evansXx]

if its the normal rotring its just cartridge

[CamiloSanchez1979]

hey you missed the Hello and Good Bye..I hope you get to talk to a lot of spirits!

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

The spirits talk to me and tell me to keep on writing! Rarely do I write just alphabets - but my beginning students like to use this as a reference. The other videos are more fun and there are more to come. Much happiness to you!

[skaterRuss]

holy shitake mushrooms nice handstyle. calming song too

[menderfire9]

absolutely mesmorizing, hypnotic, soothing. Thanks for one more way to meditate!

[misaki13rin]

its awesome how you make te letter "g"

my teacher makes her g same as yours bu a lot faster

i like your pen btw

can you write fast with that

btw how much did u buy that pen?

[GazeRock12094]

what's the name of this style of calligraphy?

[lischell]

wow.

[TimJohnsonPhoto]

The fingers never leave the hands. i hope you enjoy the others as well. More are coming soon. I hope you can take a class. The ones i teach are a lot of fun. Tj

[passionplus07]

wow real kool,, how do u learn to write like that?

[DjZisko]

Wow that was great nice and smooth , i know it takes long time to learn this, great job 5Stars