Lessons - Ornamental Penmanship

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Lessons in Calligraphy and Penmanship
Ornamental Penmanship

Welcome to the IAMPETH Lessons pages. Here you will find a wealth of material for learning calligraphy and penmanship. Cursive handwriting, Ornamental Penmanship, Copperplate, Spencerian script - we have lessons on these and much more.

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The materials on these pages are for personal use only and
may not be reproduced without the consent of the authors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (click the links below to go directly to that page)
Getting Started with the Oblique Pointed Pen	Copperplate/Engrossers Script	Left-Handed Penmanship and Calligraphy
Ornamental Penmanship	Broad-edge Lettering Styles	Needle Stitch Script
Spencerian Script	Cursive Handwriting	Guide Sheets
Flourishing	Spencerian Ladies Hand	The Business Educator
Signature Writing	Tips on Nibs	About Inks

Documents marked with an * are Adobe PDF documents
(download free Adobe Reader)

Ornamental Penmanship Example

Ninety-five Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, C.W. Jones , 1914
Lessons in Dashy Writing, F.B. Courtney
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, P.Z. Bloser and E.A. Lupfer
ADOBE PDF Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, C.P. Zaner, 1920
Exemplar, C.P. Zaner
Exemplar, H.P. Behrensmeyer
Exemplar, L.P. Spencer and H.W. Flickinger
Ornamental Capitals, Mary Champion

Del Tysdal's Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship

Del Tysdal was a student of W.C. Brownfield, who was Louis Madarasz' last student. Del has shared with us these lessons on how to do Ornamental Penmanship the way the old Masters did it. Thank you Del. (Thanks to Dr. Joe Vitolo for compiling the posts and creating the pdf files.)
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 1*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 2*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 3*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 4*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 5*
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, Part 6*
Video Del Tysdal demonstrates OP technique
Analysis of SJW signature in D. Tysdal video, Dr. Joe Vitolo

Signature Writing Example

Signature writing is a unique specialty of Ornamental Penmanship. Characterized by elaborate flourishes and joined capitals, it is an artform all its own.
Ornamental Penmanship Signatures, C.P. Zaner, taken from Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship, 1920
F.B. Courtney Scrapbook, F.B. Courtney, courtesy of Bob Hurford

Del Tysdal's OP Signatures

This is a series of posts and photos by Del on how to do signatures in Ornamental Penmanship. These were posted to the Ornamental_Penmanship Yahoo Group during March-April 2006
Instructional Posts on OP Signatures*
Photographs of Signatures

Study as much as you practice.
Know what you want to execute.
Use only the best materials.
Keep your pens very clean.
Watch your slant carefully.
Master one style at a time.
Sit up, don't slouch, and breathe regularly.

- Louis Madarasz (view image)