Which was like, the one thing Kiaya-From-The-Past DID NOT want to do. I did not want to measure millimeters and learn different hands and play with ink and nibs. Nibs are frustrating! I'd always had bad, scratchy, hard, gave-my-hands-all-the-cramps nibs.
So here's the thing.
There aren't enough calligraphers out there. And if -I'm- not writing on words, I have to relinquish part of my total artist control on a piece of art. And that's HARD. It's SO hard for me. That was one reason I started. The other was because I saw how many scrolls Master Harold had to do. He does SO MANY letters for scrolls guys. And I am nothing if not motivated to help where there is a need. It's a problem. And I love Master Harold and don't want him to be overworked. I know - I ask a miracle. But I like trying.
So I dove in and pestered my apprentice brother, Robert, to teach me stuff (he lives closer than Harold. So it's like I'm learning from Harold, but not, at the exact same time). Robert indefinitely loaned me THIS BOOK HERE (which I returned just last week, when he then GAVE ME MY OWN COPY because Robert is a sweetheart and national treasure unto our Kingdom.) and it was one of the biggest helps to me.
The other huge help was to get an AMES lettering guide (again, thank you Robert) and learn how to use that piece of black magic. (YES BLACK MAGIC. IT'S WHACK.) I direct you all to Master Alexandre's blog, where he explains ALL THE THINGS.
And then you spend time. You spend a lot of time with lines and nibs and practicing doing straight vertical lines and transcribing pop songs onto paper.
Master Harold has me use dip pens for a multitude of reasons that are his and his alone. I will say that while the curve for learning on dip may be steeper as you fuss more with ink flow and all that entails, you get a lot on invaluable practice in while you do it, so that when you come out the other end, you're much further along to your goal than you would be if you started with a fountain pen and then had to relearn when you get to dip pens further down the line. It's all in how you learn. I'm happier working harder, faster, for a carrot, than doing really well with training wheels and then backsliding without them. That's my opinion, both ways of doing it are totally valid and legitimately, as long as you're writing letters well on the art, we don't care!
Or at least I don't.
With that being said, right now, I use these nibs, but I'm wanting to try some squishier ones at some point.
I'm still starting, so I can't really help much. I'm blessed to be in a Laurel lineage with some amazing calligraphers and illuminators - all of whom are helpful to WHOEVER ASKS THEM. My biggest piece of advice is to READ THE EAST KINGDOM SCRIBAL HANDBOOK. It tells you all the guidelines and things to being an East Kingdom Scribe. (If you live in another kingdom, read their handbook! Really! Each Kingdom is a bit different and it's important to follow their rules. When we all play by the same rules, we all play a better game!)
And if you're in the East Kingdom, join the appropriate Facebook groups and say hi! Ask us questions because we WANT to help you SO BADLY. I've been in the SCA my ENTIRE LIFE and my biggest regret is legitimately not talking with scribes more because they are the kindest people I've interacted with.
I mean, they're all crazy from the paint fumes. But they're also super nice.
Oh, and buy an X-acto knife.
You'll figure out why later.
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