How to hold a Pen for Copperplate Script

[@MariaNyceDesigns]

So grateful you were both discussing & showing how to correctly hold the pen properly, especially left handed! God bless you Paul!!!

[@Chafalota]

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS ON CALLIGRAPHY AND I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE ONE'S I HAVE WATCHED. THANK YOU I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THESE VIDEOS.

[@PAScribe]

WILD CHILD glad they you are finding them useful

[@kahnaemery7767]

I have a hand tremor and am reluctant to write but I followed along with your technique and I watched myself in amazement writing without the tremor! My hand was so relaxed, holding the pen vertically, that my hand easily created smooth lines! Your tutorial wasn't in vain. I have to go practice.. Thank you so much!!

[@nickrobinson2023]

The way your hand moves reminds me of the arm of a plotter printer, using the vertical and the horizontal to create perfect shapes of extraordinary precision and complexity. I have to thank you for this tip, as it was holding my pen incorrectly, and I believe this has been holding me back from getting any worthy progress. Always take away a little something, viewing your marvellous video tutorials. Thank you very much.

[@PAScribe]

I am glad the content is so helpful

[@stokethestroke68]

Thank you for this wonderful explanation of your tool hold you've developed. I noticed that when doing the pencil practise for copperplate script training wheels that having a loose hold and a more upright pencil helped provide greater control of the pencil. Your explanations in these videos are so valuable. Thank you, Paul. Happy practising everyone!

[@PAScribe]

Glad you found it useful. Gently does it

[@ejliwanag]

Thank you for making this video. My hand, wrist and arm were sore because of all the tension while writing copperplate. But after watching your video I immediately tried it out and could tell a big difference. Everything was relaxed and had the tool work for me instead of my hand working the tool.

[@american-britchick4003]

Thank you so much for this incredibly important information. I am just beginning at calligraphy, so this is very helpful. I look forward to seeing your completed manual.

[@Agent-fg9ol]

I was so bummed when I saw you started a live video and I couldn't watch it because I was at work.... Until I came home and logged onto KZbin and saw you uploaded the entire thing ☺️... I can't reiterate just how much these bits of unexpected information has helped me understand and appreciate this art that much more, thank you with the greatest sincerity and gratitude.

[@PAScribe]

Richard you are welcome.

[@MiguelAngelBriones]

Hello there, thank you for sharing. This video has been very enlightening, I just discover just what you show here and my writing is going to change forever. I have been practicing for about two years now. And my attention to hand position and the importance of drills doing them mindfully, it just has change my perspective completely. Have a great time and stay safe.

[@PAScribe]

Miguel Briones glad the video has helped. There are three in this series on there, but 5 on Shopify if you feel you are ready to delve deeper into the understanding of the mechanics of pretraining

[@MiguelAngelBriones]

PAScribe thank you for sharing, I will check that out.

[@MiguelAngelBriones]

PAScribe have a great day. Do you do video conference?

[@PAScribe]

Miguel Briones I am setting up paid 121 online classes.

[@MiguelAngelBriones]

PAScribe Good morning, I hope everything is fine. I never try Shopify, so I don’t know really how it works. I got in and only see options to register you business and sell, I don’t see options to purchase... 🙃. Enlighten me please...😀have a great day

[@corpowpow]

Thank you! As someone just starting to learn copperplate this is essential to get me on the right path from the start!

[@PAScribe]

Aniroc Rocks just remember to take your time and not to rush the process.

[@calicrafter2697]

Thank you so much for this information. I too have experienced pain in the same areas of my hand where you explained there is stress with improper holds. I can't express how I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and taking time to upload your live feeds to You Tube for those of us who miss you live. You are an excellent instructor. Thank you so much!

[@PAScribe]

Cali Crafter thank you very much! Let’s sort that pain out in your hand

[@Sophiejanefrank50]

Thanks so so much for being so generous with your knowledge, Paul. My GOD, this is revolutionary and has given me the confidence to forge ahead with what I always felt intuitively was right, but which somehow every teacher I've come across veered me away from. Again, thanks for being so generous with time and knowledge. After 40 years plus of inking and scribbling and marking with way way way too tight a grip/ tension, this is gonna be a gamechanger.

[@Aquarellina]

my god thanks! I don't do calligraphy, just watercolour painting, but I've been seeing people hold a pen or a brush like that for ages. I've always knew it was fundamentally wrong, but always heard the excuse of: this is how it's most comfortable for me! I'm glad I've seen someone acknowledge this, because I cringe hard wherever I see people draw like this.

[@fammnak852]

Hallo Paul. I just found your channel two days ago. I am learning Copperplate and its flourishing technique from your videos. Your videos are so helpful for me to learn. I just would like to say thank you, for sharing your knowledge to the world, you’re such a kind man spreading inspiration to a lot of people, it would be my dream to participate in one of your classes if only I lived nearby 😭 (but for now I have to get that manual you made). Thank you so much I can’t believe I found your channel . You might not read this but here I am expressing my gratitude and admiration to your works. Hugs Fammina from Germany

[@PAScribe]

Fammina K just read Germany. I was just teaching in Milan. Will plan a German trip later in the year

[@ibrahimabubakarsiddiqui880]

@@PAScribe plyz your whatsapp number ?

[@ericchilver9113]

Hello just found this, I will look for your manual..love to be a fly on the wall perspective on your working day. I remember at school in the early 60s using dip pens, I’m a complete newbie, recently bought some dip pens and fountain pens. Also water colours and brushes. Looks very informative.🇦🇺 hi from Australia

[@kwright5853]

Newbie here!!! Love you videos!! VERY INFORMATIVE!! Thank you sooo much for all of your guidance! Will be investing in your book soon!

[@audioacc]

I know there’s a bit of messing around between instructions, but I’m secretly enjoying seeing all your brushes and pens that you try out and decide if it’s appropriate for your needs, seeing all the bottles of ink on the shelves, and seeing your other pen and brushes in the background. On subject, My hand has been sore from all the Christmas cards in EXACTLY the area that you pointed at! I’m going to need to use this new holding method. Thank you for sharing this! 😃🙏🏽✍🏽💕

[@99snapsnap]

HNY. Very good advice, so essential. I’m really looking forward to seeing your manual.

[@robincooper9323]

Love this! Thank you. I am just starting to dabble in calligraphy and copperplate is my favorite. I'm learning that some of my problems are due to what paper/ink I am using together. So much to learn just to be able to dabble! lol

[@PAScribe]

Robin Cooper it is tough at the beginning now more than ever. In the past we didn’t have social media to help us but we also didn’t have as many tools. Now there are so many different materials.

[@julianahinojosa]

Did I see correctly that you were writing Spencerian with both your right and left?!? That is amazing and being left handed I have trouble finding tutorials that I can benefit from. I’m so happy to have found this!

[@PAScribe]

t is not an easy task - but in order to teach lefties you need to understand it issues they encounter with writing

[@camillewu4390]

Seriously thank you so much for this video!

[@dianasaur2131]

Thank you, pain in the palm was something crippling I suffered during busy times doing precision work in the dental and max fac laboratory from the pressure needed with the hand tools. It is agonising so thanks for that tip. Consequently calligraphy is the same holds but teaching my hand not to grip the life out of the pen. It's a hard thing to do when strength pressure and a strong precise grip has been necessary for over 20 years of delicate exact carving. I don't know why I've never held my paint brush hard like I do a pen, I'll try to think brush more. Your dead right going to brush first, people automatically become lighter. For some reason pens encourage carving mindset rather than painting. I might try fitting a dip nib to a straw so if my grip gets tight it'll crush the straw. .

[@PAScribe]

Diana Saur look for the video on the death grip that will really help you a lot as well.

[@theorboguitarmaker8155]

Thanks Paul for your efforts in teaching calligraphy. Just a little hint in physics here: keep your camera away from transformers to reduce pick up hum from ac currents ;-)

[@PAScribe]

theorboguitarmaker this set up was problematic as I didn’t have a stand for the phone for that angle.

[@rmac2489]

what a difference!!!!!!!! thank you so very much!

[@TH-tl1mk]

This is brilliant. Can I please ask where can I find that 'transparency' sheet with the predefined lines as you have at 0:24:33? Many thanks.

[@PAScribe]

They my own grids printed on to acetate.

[@donna30044]

Even with a fountain pen, holding a pen higher and at a steeper angle is much more comfortable for me and my handwriting is much better than if I hold closer to the nib. A bonus is that a higher hold does not aggravate my arthritis nearly as much. Another bonus is that holding at a higher angle seems to improve the ink flow of most of my fountain pens.

[@PAScribe]

Ankle Donna but it also contribute to an increase in ink flow due to gravity, so be careful with the fountain pen in a higher hold

[@donna30044]

PaulAntonioScribe I've found that out and I've been experimenting with different ink/pen combinations, as well as "attack" angles. So far, a 65-75° range seems optimal for almost everything, and it's a very comfortable angle range for me. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@Colombiano671]

@@PAScribe I am confused are we supposed to hole the pen at a steaper angle or lower angle? As in do we want to hold the pen more perpendicular to the paper or more horizantal with the paper?

[@PAScribe]

Colombiano671 steeper gives less spread of the tines making it easier to control the script

[@Colombiano671]

@@PAScribe thank you very much for replying! Also does it matter if in the tripod grip my index finger is on top of the pen vs at the opposite end of my thumb?

[@PregoGB135]

Thank you!

[@MelchisedecCarrasquillo-vf6ej]

Hi have magic marker caligrafic

[@spuzzgekk]

Very good and informative!!

[@nash4343]

Great video! What is the orange brush you use?

[@PAScribe]

Natasha Morford it is a Kuretake Vermilion brush pens

[@dianasaur2131]

What a lovely dip pen. I've bought tons of ink, some bleed, others feather apallingly, what ink do you recommend for dip pen copperplate?

[@PAScribe]

Diana Saur I think this is Yoke Pen Co his penstaffs are magical

[@MiguelAngelBriones]

Hello Paul, just wanted to ask you something, maybe you can help me decide with something. I am sure you must know Nakaya fountain Pens. Well I bought one about a year ago, and they did this Cuztomization for Spencerian, but they did it son fine that it was like needle and it got stuck in the paper always, so I stop using it. And now they are going to fix it for me and they are going to change the nib. I was thinking on going for the Soft Fine Nib, with no customization. But I am not sure about that, I am practicing more Engrosser... well I intend to learn with your courses once they are available. Thank you for your time, best wishes. Miguel Angel.

[@PAScribe]

Miguel Briones I cannot help you with this question! I don’t know the tool you are referring to nor how it works.

[@MiguelAngelBriones]

PAScribe thank you Paul, have a good day, stay safe. Please let me know when you begin your courses👍🏻👌🏻🙏🏻😉

[@Colombiano671]

Soo....hold the pen in a tripod grip, raise the pen to a higher angle?

[@MelchisedecCarrasquillo-vf6ej]

I do had written left had

[@hemessy7306]

Thank you so much !!!

[@scribebytamers2175]

I have a question I am a lefty however I write like a right handed person in relation to the hand paper relation also I hold the pen normally should I use an oblique nib ? I have written italic calligraphy for years I always loved The copperplate but afraid of trying the script until I found your videos last night thank you for your videos

[@PAScribe]

Scribeby Tamers the upcoming Manual has a lot of Info for lefties.

[@varshakarekarsadgurudhanya3193]

Dhanyavad 🙏 I learning from your video.

[@성경책-y5g]

Very good

[@jmel227]

I have a question that has nothing to do with writing. Please forgive me. Is there anyway to remove ink that has spilled on paper???! Do you know of any tricks to remove ink? Thanx so much for any advice. Even if its.."No sorry..your project is ruined..." lol

[@PAScribe]

Melody Mena that depends on the paper, the type of ink and the amount of spillage.

[@jmel227]

@@PAScribe ok, the ink is Dr.Ph Martin's black indescent and the paper is a....marriage license. 😖not sure what kind of paper that is. It has a little bit of gloss and thin. 😓

[@PAScribe]

Melody Mena sounds to me like you are kinda screwed. Thin AND glossy paper! No chance.

[@jmel227]

@@PAScribe 😭😭 I've been able order a copy 😪 thank you sooooo much for your advice!! Keep up the great videos!! They r so helpful!

[@ibrahimabubakarsiddiqui880]

@@PAScribe aid me in whatsapp [phone]

[@adonchris]

Hello. Can I have the link to the video of Chris?.. you mention in this video? Thank you!

[@PAScribe]

Christopher Adonopoulos look up Chris Yoke

[@adonchris]

Thank you!

[@sophia-luciakwon2792]

WHAT is that ORANGE Brush pen? please please Pls :3

[@PAScribe]

Kuretake vermillion brush pen

[@canadaverydry]

Thank you Paul! : )

[@kaashee]

I need to know where you got your rings from

[@ma.paulinavidegaray4780]

Thanks a lot it is so interesting, but whats about the kind of nib I must to use:

[@PAScribe]

Ma. Paulina Videgaray that depends on what you are writing

[@ma.paulinavidegaray4780]

PaulAntonioScribe I am learning copperplate script and the ink does not flow for thin lines.

[@PAScribe]

Ma. Paulina Videgaray it is about the ink the nib and the Paper. You need to get the right combination. It is a long and complex answer. I have something in the manual on this.

[@ma.paulinavidegaray4780]

PaulAntonioScribe I get it, then it’s not that I’m clumsy.

[@danielasmale8835]

Thank you. I dont death grip my pen anymore.

[@havefundrawing]

I hold the pen similar with you , maybe not so high. I don’t hold it really tight either. But I get thumb base strain after 15-20 min of writing. I can’t do more than two sessions of 20 min writings a day. I am prone to all sorts of joint and tendon injury, so there’s probably some genetic component to it. But do you have any idea what might be causing this? I tried a chunkier holder but it doesn’t seem to help a whole lot.

[@PAScribe]

icedventimocha I would have to see you write to be able to give a possible cause or suggestion.

[@seraphim7416]

the way you hold the brush is same like chinese calligraphy! using the strength of the wrist

[@PAScribe]

seraphim there is a slight difference but yes ‘the strength of the wrist!’

[@druida16]

Haver you ever considered singing opera?

[@PAScribe]

Had a voice class with an opera singer in NYC a few days ago! He was amazing and really made me want to start back singing

[@druida16]

brother....I can see you nel Scala di Milano

[@druida16]

Clearly a bass

[@nicolerobbins2817]

I have pain actually in my wrist, I have it on the top of the wrist. Is that from using my wrist to write or from using my fingers? I am very conscious of holding the pen further back but not sure if I'm using my fingers or wrist. I just want to be able to write calligraphy without the wrist pain. I also paint but the pain didn't start until I started writing calligraphy 3 years ago. Thanks so much I cannot wait to get my manual which I have already preordered!!

[@PAScribe]

NS Robbins Unfortunately, I cannot say what is causing the pain without seeing what you are doing. If could be the pen hold, it could be to high? It could be the action of the writing itself, if could even be something in your shoulder. There really isn’t any way I can tell you what is causing it if i can see it. So sorry. Thank you for preordering the manual. I hope some of the hand hold information in the manual will help you.

[@nicolerobbins2817]

Thank you that makes sense I didn't know if you had heard of anyone else with that sort of issue, you mentioned the pain in the hand which is something I don't have. I will definitely look when I get the manual to see how I might be doing it wrong. writing and drawing letters is something I truly love from graphic design typography to calligraphy so I don't want to stop doing it.

[@madasaboxofrogs]

Not just me who lines the text up to the cap then! 😉

[@gurpreetgp5295]

Me too

[@dianasaur2131]

I think it depends where you're from, Americans like to post the cap, English tend to hold it in the left hand or place on the desk, I don't know why but I can't write with a posted cap unless it's a biro, but even then I tend to hold it lightly palmed by pinky and ring finger. Just something I've observed, I've no idea why it should be that way.

[@ducksauce2285]

I can't hold the pen like u because i have HUGE GORILLA HANDS LOL .I tried n tried how he tells u n it just don't work for me. I had develope my own way but other than that ,Paul Antonio teaches very well I've learned plenty from him n I like the way he wants to teach everyone the right way 👍👍

[@PAScribe]

Actually you are wrong there. Anyone can learn my hold. It works for both lefties and righties and it gives a huge scope of dexterity. Many of my followers have changed their hold to my hold and have all said how it made writing easier and less stressful on their hands. Your hold is yours, keep it and enjoy writing with it. I just know my hold makes a huge difference.

[@ducksauce2285]

I did forget to put its because I have huge hands ✋ lol No disrespect PA I've learned a whole lot of other things from u .ur teachings are good I will edit, it didn't sound good how I wrote it .sorry

[@PAScribe]

@@ducksauce2285 I have really big hands too. The hold is about axis of the penstaff and lightness of hold. The position of the penstaff also increases dexterity and scope of movement. It increases lightness if touch and line work and it removes the death grip as once the tendons are damaged, as in my case, they cannot be undamaged. I developed this hold because of the pain writing caused me. I did not want anyone going through that.

[@mirfanshehzad880]

Hello sir...