Handwriting and Calligraphy Basics with Rajiv Surendra

There was a time when handwriting was a vital skill to most people. Today, the handwritten word has great significance to Rajiv because it can be used as a deeply personal form of communication with the potential to move others with the its beauty.
Many of you have asked for a video about calligraphy and handwriting from Rajiv. He's thrilled to share this skill with you!
Check out Rajiv's calligraphy on his website www.lettersinink.com
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★ TABLE OF CONTENTS ★
• 0:45 Learn cursive handwriting introduction
• 2:30 The importance of letter writing
• 3:40 Start Practicing Calligraphy by marking the height
• 4:35 Back to basics writing out lower-case letters and connecting them •
• 6:17 How to sit properly for calligraphy and practice exercises
• 7:50 How to use your whole arm and hold the pencil.
• 10:28 Do not be daunted by practice. Muscle memory will take hold.
• 11:49 The main 52-degree slant and practice slowly
• 12:20 1800’s practice manual for handwriting
• 14:30 The nib in an oblique pen holder with black walnut ink crystals
• 15:33 The Handwriting of today is Spencerian that evolved to Palmer
• 18:26 IAMPETH Convention for those serious about learning calligraphy
• 19:20 Different cursive script handwriting examples
• 22:09 Calligraphy is turning handwriting into art
• 24:02 Note to Drew Barrymore example in calligraphy
• 25:50 Warm up exercise examples before writing calligraphy
• 28:00 Liberating aspect of practicing on a chalkboard
• 29:00 Years of practice and dedication. Write to my PO Box!
💡 TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO 💡
• Script and Cursive Handwriting 101 and its history
• Writing is a secondary power of speech
• Inform the mind and frame the hand
• Calligraphy history and background
• English roundhand writing -the standard elegant way to write
• Copper plate calligraphy
• Spencerian script- the modern standard today
• Hills manual of social and business forms
• IAMPETH organization and the annual convention
• Ames compendium of practical and ornamental penmanship
• Your arm will guide the pencil
• Fluid movements practice
• The beauty of the curve in one quick motion
• Begin with the pencil. It helps focus on making the shapes.
• Leonard principality nib put into an oblique pen holder
• Do the warmup exercises (make ovals) before writing
• Practice curves and pulls
• International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting
If you enjoy Rajiv's videos and would like to see more, please contribute to the
gofundme campaign that is raising the funds to produce the content on this channel: gofund.me/fbcb3a22
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✅ Twitter: / rajivsurendra
🔴 ** ABOUT THIS CHANNEL **
Welcome to my KZbin Channel! I've been immersed in the creative and domestic arts for all my life and its a real honor to be sharing my interests with you.
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🔎 HASHTAGS
#calligraphy
#Rajivsurendra
#diy
#handwriting

[@jocelynortiz9186]

I’m getting married in November & when I was addressing the envelopes I took the time to write them in my most beautiful handwriting. I was told by a few people, “Who cares?!” Me, that’s who. & videos like this make reassure me that it does matter. Thanks to this video my thank you cards will be even better! Thank you Rajiv. You’re amazing 😊

[@rajivsurendra]

That's wonderful. Thanks for watching!

[@mysteriousu5528]

Wish you many many years of happy married life in advance.

[@melindaferreira9879]

My sister's wedding invitations were all hand written.. it was so much more personal .

[@Englishroserebecca]

Sometimes it’s a bit of jealousy when you do something beautifully why wouldnt people just admire how lovely your writing was and appreciate the time and effort you were putting into it. Your wedding will be beautiful too I’m sure. All the best for your future happiness ❤

[@girirajasuta]

Be sure to have someone scribble the envelopes of those few people! 🙄IF at all they're getting invited, that is!!😂 Enjoy everything about your wedding prep .. and here's wishing you a lovely married life, in advance!!! 💐

[@utahdan231]

My father had a caligraphy lessons between the WW1-WW2. His handwriting was awesome and he was asked to write invitations to officials, thank you notes , diplomas. He was a violinist but made extra money. He paid a special attention to his kids handwriting. All of us were good , we still write nicely.

[@pentachronic]

What a wonderful gift he left you with. 😁

[@debodatta7398]

@@pentachronic Rajiv Surendra is doing the Sri Lankan Tamil community proud

[@joanysmith2u]

❤

[@user-em1ij5yd5g]

I feel inspired, I think handwritings scream a person’s character and how you write also says a lot.

[@user-bh9vf2zu1r]

You should of ran this paragraph through ChatGPT. It's filled with grammatical errors.

[@SharonWilliamson-qd6rx]

My mother passed away at ninety. She had award winning penmanship in school. It was beautiful like yours. Her writing was so important go her that in her last months she would pen over and over, "I wish that I could write". She had dementia. 👍💕

[@M0odyBlue]

That’s heartbreaking. ❤️‍🩹

[@RebeDrawsStuff]

I just realized that you are the actor who was in the Mean Girls movie and honestly I'm so happy to see you thriving. I already subscribed to your channel, your videos and the topics are beautiful. Thank you for sharing some of your insights (I enjoyed your video about journaling so much that I'm checking out the other videos!).

[@arandomperson5292]

You’re right! I knew he looked familiar. He’s the m’athlete’ guy!

[@meridanikole]

I WAS ABOUT TO ASK THIS OH MY GOD

[@lesliemacdonald7976]

Love learning about the gentle, elegant art of calligraphy from this gentle, elegant man. How wonderful to rekindle a love of this important but largely forgotten pastime.

[@juliehickman2880]

As a teacher of 35 years, I loved teaching proper cursive to students. It was out for a bit, but now it is back in the curriculum. Most students love learning cursive. The brain research supports learning cursive for many reasons. I find it is a both meditative and joyful!

[@RunninUpThatHillh]

Children should learn handwriting first, then printing. It corrects backward letters among other things. It's staggering schools stopped. Hopefully parents kept the responsibility. Doubtful🙄😂

[@user-uv9zr8qs2c]

Eu learns it tho

[@alekhavinash8690]

Love how you put two spaces between sentences. Reminds me of typewriters.

[@wannabepolyglot1584]

as a lefthanded person, cursive was a truly awful experience😅

[@RunninUpThatHillh]

@@wannabepolyglot1584 Really? I rather enjoyed it. There are problems interfacing with the world as a lefty, but I didn't really notice with writing. Maybe the slant to the left? It's been so long I forgot.

[@user-gb3zg4zk8v]

When did Kevin G switch from math to calligraphy? I'm so happy I stumbled upon this video!

[@bettsboo]

I remember vividly the times I learned cursive at 9 years old. I remember I felt like such a grown up. ❤

[@Earthy-Artist]

I felt like an instant grownup on the day I learned how to read too!

[@caitlinbenallack835]

When I was in graduate school, I volunteered at the local history library. I was tasked with organizing court documents from the 19th century. As a millennial who was taught cursive, but grew up with the expectation that final drafts of papers and other more formal documents should be typed up on a computer, there was something so foreign about legally binding documents that were hand written, and not always beautifully hand written. They often were done in very pedestrian looking cursive script.

[@suelowther5104]

I must tell you this- as a high school graphic design instructor, a section of my curriculum included calligraphy. Not only was it important to teach the forms, but how the different fonts originated over time. I was teaching from the front of the room, showing the class how to form lower case italic letters. After making a series of lower case “a’s” I critiqued my work by saying “this ‘a hole’ is too small” at which time the class broke out first in snickers and then full blown laughter!!!!! A little graphic design humor.

[@innerding]

At the 2022 DC Pen show I met a woman who worked for the government for many years as a calligrapher. Her calligraphy skills were used to produce documents, invitations, announcements all by hand. She worked with congressional members, presidents, and other government officials, she had a binder full of the most beautiful calligraphy work. She mentioned that she wrote a letter to her grandson in cursive for his graduation and her grandson was unable to read it, so sad. I hope that more school districts bring back cursive writing as part of their curriculum. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work, I love your videos.

[@alabasterindigo]

The youngest of our family has started learning cursive so they are in some systems it seems. As for how much makes it into the curriculum I have no idea.

[@therheaking]

This is a VERY similar approach to learning piano technique, arm weight control, proper hand shape and posture. And when you speak about exercising with different shapes, lines and curves it reminds me of how I was taught to shape musical phrases. My students and I refer to it as "hand ballet". So cool!

[@Kaybye555]

I'm just learning piano and you're right! I get a similar feeling as I play a song than when I write in my journal in cursive

[@bonnerdebbie]

I am 65 and learned cursive in school, I always got A's and was complemented on my handwriting for years. I now have severe Arthritis in my fingers which makes it difficult to write more than a few lines at a time. I did not realize how much it had affected my handwriting until I found an old journal and noticed how cramped even my signature had become. The letters I write now are shorter and take much longer to finish but I still write them rather than type. Thanks Rajiv.

[@GaiaCarney]

@bonnerdebbie - sorry to hear of your arthritis. Would handwriting supports help? There are cushioned grips, special pens & even straps that can help you hold implement. Good luck 🍀

[@JacyndaMinor]

I have arthritis too, it started at 29 and it has really impacted my writing. I’d say now I lean on cursive more than ever bc my hands just can’t do the hyper-neat perfect writing that I used to. Now I just devolve into this wild, floppy, sloppy cursive. I used to work at a tattoo shop and I got really good at hand lettering, bc I’d draw up script tattoos every day. We had a lot of books on various lettering styles. I wish I still had those reference books! I also miss the structure of drawing daily simply bc I had to. I’m gonna draw today!

[@bonnerdebbie]

Good for you! Draw today! My arthritis started at 18, so I understand.@@JacyndaMinor

[@mahirmax7391]

I hope your arthritis gets better, and you can resume your passion of beautiful handwriting.

[@jangsy33]

My middle school required all writing to be in cursive, and when I reached high school I took an art elective that taught calligraphy. Thank you for reminding me how much I loved it, and for a path to start it up again!❤

[@olympia3909]

Trip down memory lane... learned cursive left handed with a left handed ink pen in the early 1960s when they were encouraging kids to remain left handed. I adopted the hand over not hand under to prevent smears. Well, most smears...

[@MySuriMusic]

I'm an elementary teacher in France (I think my teaching level is 2nd or 3rd grade in the US) and we only teach cursive writing here. It is a very important part of learning how to write altogether.

[@user-sg4ov7ng4h]

We don't write as pretty as him though lol

[@macoeur1122]

I'd almost "bet" that the "fluid thought" that cursive handwriting encourages has to do with using one's "right hemisphere"...which, according to Iain McGilchrist (author of "The Divided Brain" and "The Matter with Things") is something that our "modern ways" have been inadvertently "dis"couraging...and leading to imbalance and even societal problems. So both YOU and Iain McGilchrist's work are both HUGE motivators for me. People often ask him what strategies we might employ to help balance the imbalance of our hemisphere usage caused partly by our overuse of computers...cell phones, etc....and by other modern ways of thinking and operating. He doesn't usually want to provide such a "formula" because there are many many ways in which we could do so. Apparently, part of what the left hemisphere does, is to deal with "things" as "parts" or "fragments" which when all put together, make up another "thing"....Whereas the right hemisphere tends to have a better understanding of "wholes" and their "meanings" and "flow" and tends to be much better at deciphering what's "actually" occurring in any given process it's attending to. Basically both of these hemispheres are like different tools....both of which we need...but many of the things we've dropped in modern times (possibly cursive handwriting is one example?)...due to our inability to understand or see the subtle but very important value of....is leading our societies into becoming far too tilted toward left hemisphere thinking and "doing"...which is leading to all kinds of problems. He even often used the example of learning to play a song on an instrument and how one must first learn the notes...and then practice playing the notes together, etc...until eventually one no longer needs to think about the individual notes, or the timing, etc.., but rather, then, hands it over to the right hemisphere from which one can then play it as a "whole piece" and enjoy it the way it was intended to be enjoyed. Anyone who's interested in checking out his latest book, he has a video series in which he summarizes each chapter Here is a lilnk to the introduction: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWPcmHeYZ6iisKc

[@MariaM-yn9tl]

💃🏻💕Loved this episode! I went through 12 years of Catholic school. I started script writing in 3rd grade. I even won a penmanship award! School was taught by the nuns & your handwriting was very important. Thanks to my Mother who also had beautiful handwriting. I’m 61 now & my 4 children still make fun of my handwriting. They never practiced script! I always get such compliments when people see my handwriting but my children think it’s like another language. Thanks for sharing a lost art. I would love to send you a handwritten note since you may be the only person on earth that would appreciate 12 years of practice. You don’t know how many lives you touch. Thanks for making my day! Bravo to your beautiful calligraphy! 💃🏻💕Mariaknits27

[@youramericanfriend9478]

I have two very old framed practice cursive handwriting pages that my friend from New Zealand sent me. I love them so much! They’re so beautifully written it’s hard to believe someone did them by hand. One page reads, “Earth rejoicing drops of rain. Edward I, soldier and lawgiver.” The other one says, “By fairy footpaths winding down. British Battles on Land and Sea.”❤ Lovely works of art.

[@Patti-1962]

Years ago, after my children were born, I decided to improve my handwriting. Unfortunately, this was before the internet was readily available. The first thing I did was to slant my letters toward the right. I had always written my letters straight up and down. I practiced the way I wanted it to look,. and made the change. So my letters are completely unique to me, practiced during my children's nap time. I enjoy writing letters, and have purchased embossed cards and envelopes with my initials on them. Having nice paper to write on helps so much. I have learned much from this video, and hopefully I can take my writing to the next level at 61!!

[@user-ny3qy3dz5o]

Rajiv's Apartment Video was the first time I "met" him August 2022. I was so inspired by his chalkboards that I took up calligraphy and slowly have gotten to the point where people say "wow!." I know I have a long way to go but Rajiv inspired me and I have come a very very long way. IT DOES TAKE INTENSE PRACTICE. Thanks Rajiv! PS. My regular handwriting is practically illegible.

[@allyson--]

:~)

[@adamhasissues5625]

I recently picked up a calligraphy copy manual at a used bookstore, I’m very excited to improve my hand writing. I never learned cursive in school, I’m 17, but I’ve taught myself cursive recently and it’s been a bit of a struggle but so rewarding, I get lots of complements even on messy schoolwork, my peers find it fascinating and want to learn cursive as well. Thank you for this video Rajiv, and for the initial inspection to learn cursive.

[@allyson--]

Very nice!

[@Earthy-Artist]

Great that your picking up on cursive, hand writing can truly can be an art as Rajiv has so beautifully demonstrated. I only just found out from this video that students are no longer being taught cursive anymore, which seems so completely strange to me.

[@adamhasissues5625]

@@Earthy-Artist My district removed cursive from the curriculum just as I was entering school, my older brother was actually reprimanded once for using cursive on an assignment if you can believe that. We learned to print and they tried teaching us to type properly but I never quite got the hang of it. Nowadays the majority of my school work is all online. Not just typing essays but quizzes, worksheets, articles, last year Texas even changed our state test to be online.

[@itsgiag]

I'm 16, and I was taught cursive. I still write in cursive. Most of us do. I hear it varies from country, so maybe that's why, but I'm very happy you learned it. Keep it going.

[@raulitageiger7643]

Yay! I'm so excited for this series, Rajiv! I've always loved handwriting and have been wanting to learn calligraphy for a while now. When I was a little girl, I had a teacher with beautiful cursive that I was obsessed with - I hated my own handwriting, so I would trace my teachers notes over and over again until my handwriting looked like hers. Weird, I know, but 30 years later I still have nice handwriting, so I have no regrets! 😅

[@NdnUrbanCat]

As a child with asthma, I sat out p.e. and recess. I practiced handwriting until it was perfect. I still get complements. I'm 66 now.

[@user-sq1vg5wi8z]

Hí Rajiv, so nice to see the calligraphy book we sent you be used and appreciated. We still keep up with watching the various presentations that you make and wish we were even 25% as creative as you are.

[@rajivsurendra]

Aww, thank you! I love that book!!

[@TheAnimalsMagicShop]

It's a beautiful book, I noticed it right away on Rajiv's table, and it went to the best home for sure.

[@floraluxla]

I was hoping the sender of the book would comment. What a gorgeous and thoughtful gift!

[@work-in-progress]

I still hand write alot. As a little kid I learnt cursive but unfortunately people are so far off they can't even read cursive anymore. So I changed it to print, but I've found some handwritings that have the elegance of cursive but are print and I've been practicing them alot. This video is so helpful, especially a great reminder these practices were so practical in the sense of our health. I didn't even realize how important the position of our arm is. I just tried it right now and I wrote so much more clear and my back doesn't hurt. Thank you so much!

[@hmadrone]

Thank you for this, Rajiv. One thing I have learned as a left-handed person is that I need to figure a lot of things out for myself, but it's still very true that improvement comes with practice.

[@gracemoore384]

I’m a 71 yr old grandmother and I love to see my friends & families handwriting. It’s so individual that when I see a recipe written by my mom or a card from my son I feel connected to them. Nothing will remind you of a long lost friend faster than seeing their handwriting. I belong to a scrapbooking group & we are encouraged to hand write in journal form about the photos we arrange in books. Hopefully this will make the reader engaged in the story of our lives.

[@linaD08]

In this mechanical world we live in and which applies to my livelihood using a computer I have to use pen/pencil and paper to smooth my workflow… something about writing it down crystalizes it in my destiny…. Also, I have learned that when my writing is “ugly” it means I am stressed out and need to attend to my soul. I attended parochial school and calligraphy was its own subject in the early years. Much emphasis was placed in the development of cursive writing. And as with any art endeavor I have developed my own style. Thank you Rajiv!!!

[@paulenechrabaszcz6860]

The swirls and up and downs are called push and pulls. In the 1st grade I learned Palmer handwriting. No printing. 2nd grade near the end of the year we received some ink in the ink well in our desk top right and a pen with a tip. We also got a piece of blotter. When we were finished we brought our ink well up to the table and emptied it into a basin. Circa 1948.

[@skyebluelake]

Woe for us left-handers. We wanted that ink well to be on the left side of the desk and we wanted to begin writing on the right side of the page and finish on the left side of the page. Writing from left to the right side of a page left our hands & letters smudged as we made our way across the page. Please recognize that our brains are different and we don't wish to become right-handers. It's not natural for us.

[@gladyssanchez1825]

❤️❤️❤️ I’m 76 and learn the cursive writing at school was the normal way. Thank you for sharing. Love those flower 🌸,you have so much talent 🤗

[@kadididucantoo]

Hey Rajiv, I bet I’m not the only one who’d love to know the story behind your gold bracelets. If you’re taking questions for a future vid, please consider. Thanks much.

[@KJones-qs7ju]

Agree, i love them!

[@Vladimir_Putin_2021]

In India ,we call it kada(in hindi) which people wear it....mostly people wear silver bracelet ....and Rajiv is also an Indian origin ...

[@ceeyum]

@@Vladimir_Putin_2021 Almost every region across India have distinct terms for referring to a bracelet. It's important to not make sweeping generalizations by announcing specific words in a language, as something common for every denomination within the country.

[@dawnmelton]

So happy you chose this subject. My Mom was born in 1940 and she learned it in school. I wanted so bad to learn. So now I guess I can ❤.

[@J4Julz]

I adore your videos, so much. This one in particular because I have always loved calligraphy, all styles, and different languages. On the loss of cursive study in schools, I had a pitiful experience with that- I left a note for a plumber about some installation in my bath. I came back in the house to find him and the apprentice puzzling over my note. I asked if there was a problem, and the apprentice (late 20s) said he couldn't read cursive, and the plumber (50ish) was himself struggling to decypher my handwriting. I was shocked. Access to older documents, notes and letters from grandparents and such, are completely lost with the loss of cursive study. Such a shame-is it a lost generation?

[@LindaLoganLDLCreationsLLC]

Oh my...thank you Rajiv for this wonderful tutorial. It has been years since I practice cursive. I write everyday, but it has been turned into a hurried chore. Two of my grandchildren taught themselves to write cursive. It is now back on the curriculum at our schools.

[@Katiedora122]

I'm glad I learned cursive in elementary school, but I was always annoyed at how every teacher had a different expectation for how they wanted us to print/write/type, plus I'm a lefty and it's a constant battle against smudging. As an adult, I've always kept a handwritten journal or planner, but last year I got into fountain pens and it's become a nice exercise in practicing my cursive because the tool lends itself well to the flow.

[@diffendur]

I'm 26 and during my schooling here in Brazil we still had to learn cursive and use it extensively (during tests and homework) not just as an exercise. I'm not sure how it is now, though. The script we used was very similar to the spencerian, but a lot less slanted, which is interesting.

[@asaldanapr]

When I went to grade school (when dinosaurs still walked the earth) I went to Catholic school with American Nuns and we were taught cursive by them, beautifully flowing. My best friend went to a different one with Spanish nuns and was taught completely differently. My parents went to neither, jjst Public schools and their handwriting was do beautiful. When I was older I met a very old Italian man who had been a scribe at an office I guess where there were no typewriters and his handwriting was impressively gorgeous. He gave me recipes in his own writing that I still keep.

[@inannamystyrica3762]

Since i was a child i practiced my alphabets. i can't count the number of times i've changed my handwriting entirely. Or, like you mentioned you liked a J... i have found letters i've loved and shifted my individual letters. When i was about 10 our family went to Disneyland and we got these silly hats for my grandparents with their "names" (Grampa Jack and Gramma Jo) and i LOVED the uppercase cursive Gs and Js - they were so florid - i stole them and practiced them for the rest of my vacation. Then, in my mid-20s, i saw an older person (i'm in my 50s now) write a T at the end of a word by coming back up instead of lifting and crossing, and i loved it... it took me a couple weeks to integrate that into my handwriting.

[@henryro7439]

I never really properly "learned" cursive due to my school having no curriculum in place for left-handed students, but this inspires me to wipe the slate clean (pun not intended, or maybe it is) and learn how to write cursive legibly without getting cramps after two paragraphs. Thank you!

[@Julie-bq6iz]

I'm 68, and I was taught handwriting exactly as you presented it, in Catholic elementary school, in the Midwest. The sitting position, the circles, all of it. I still mostly write in cursive, but I developed my own style over the years.

[@carmenflores4795]

I also went to a Catholic elementary school but in California. The sisters where adamant on how to sit and hold the pencil or pen down properly.

[@bernadettedevereaux8694]

Last month as a new patient at a medical clinic I was given a stack of forms to complete about my medical history and provide a medication list. Upon completion the receptionist reviewed the documents. She complimented me on my beautiful script and asked if I attended Catholic school. I attended Catholic schools for 12 years beginning in the 1960s. After high school I took a calligraphy class as a leisure evening activity at a local high school.

[@bernadettedevereaux8694]

I was dismayed to learn that cursive is longer being taught in school. How will they be able to read handwritten notes? How can authorship of journals and personal correspondence be documented if everything is typed?

[@grateful808]

I started teaching myself calligraphy a couple of years ago and it was so meditative. This is my sign that I need to take out my tools again😊 I also learned cursive in school and I use every day, even if it’s only writing in my journal. Thanks for another wonderful video!

[@allyson--]

:~)

[@dlamark1234]

What I love about this channel is that you encourage us to take things slowly. In all your videos you espouse the virtue of practice and gradual improvement. It is so relaxing to know that I don't have to go fast and expect things to be done immediately. I'm in it for the long haul and it feels GREAT! We need more channels like this that tell us to take our time and not to expect immediate gratification. I have learned over time that often the JOURNEY is as important as the destination. The joy of practice!

[@riffz6065]

I'm 30 years old and learned cursive while I was in school. Most of my life I've typed on keyboards but something drew me back to cursive and neat writing. This video is exactly what I needed.

[@caterauschy]

We started cursive in school in 3rd grade too, but I remember my mom buying me practice books before then... I remember spending long afternoons holed up in the basement practicing--undoubtedly her plan was to keep me occupied, but so began a lifelong love of handwriting. I even remember taking lecture notes in cursive to practice 🙃 Thanks, Rajiv for the inspiration, as always!

[@kathleenmathews6096]

Taking 4 years of lecture notes in cursive caused my handwriting to look closer to scribbles. Now that I have more time, my writing has returned so that it is legible.

[@caterauschy]

I only did it for the slow-moving ones... it helped pass the time 😅

[@zvezdoblyat]

I've started writing my lecture notes in cursive... algebra has never looked prettier lol

[@debcarroll8192]

I recently started using and collecting fountain pens. I especially love the vintage and antique ones. Writing with a fountain pen is very intentional and meditative, and I love it! I even joined a local fountain pen club, where we share pens, inks (there are hundreds to choose from!) and papers with one another. Most of us found that our handwriting improved with fountain pens.

[@janehex]

Yay, one of my favorite subjects! I learned cursive in kindergarten, back in 1978 😁 I still use it all the time. Cursive is superior to printing in so many ways. Back when writing was only done with dip quills (so for a couple thousand years), cursive was most efficient and tidy because you didn't lift the nib off the page as frequently as one does with lifting the nib constantly for each letter. Cursive is faster!

[@uppercanadaweaving5589]

This video reminds me of the mini lesson you gave me at my dining room table. I have always loved writing cursive, but your pointers and tips were really gave my handwriting a boost. Beautiful!

[@pegoneal797]

My gosh. Watching you felt like I was back in our parochial school in the early 50’s. Being left handed made everything more complicated but the sheer beauty of handwriting was instilled in me for my entire life. What a gift to be able to create beauty each time you have a pencil and paper (including a Big Chief tablet). Thank you for reminding me. - Palmer Method. “ovals” “push/pulls”

[@pattynabozny1503]

Oh - the Big Chief tablets - I hadn’t thought of them in decades, but instantly pictured them when I read your note. Thank you for the memory.

[@annawozniak6807]

lately I am trying to learn gilding and illuminated letters...but i should go back to the basics and learn calligraphy. You are so inspiring Rajiv

[@HeatherShreve]

Last thing, I’ve been painting for 50 years and you’re 100% right in order to make it look easy fluid, authentic and spontaneous, you need to spend decades. My tip is -do it quick and don’t think, to unleash your genius. And in this case, Your inner beautiful handwriting.

[@yankeecitygirl]

the warm -up exercises remind me of learning penmanship in Catholic school. A few years ago I was pressed into service to teach calligraphy to children in summer camp. None of them knew cursive, and for the most part they were thrilled to learn this new skill. I hope your channel is part of the Cursive Restoration in the Anglosphere! 😊

[@Jonsmama1]

When I was in school, we had to learn cursive and typing. I love those skills to this day, and both have been useful. I have had typing jobs, and when I take notes in church, I can write fast using cursive, and my journal looks pretty as well. My thoughts just flow on the pages. I homeschooled my children and taught them both of these skills.

[@dragonfly5220]

Thank you for bringing beauty to the world. I belong to a few art groups and we exchange things and mail them, I have had a few returned by the Post Office as "address unknown" for a long time I was puzzled as the address was correct on each envelope, with beautiful font. Well, what I have figured is that the person trying to deliver these envelopes simply could not read them...which brought me to a research and finally realized they had remove cursive from the schools. I was shocked and so disappointed! So glad 23 states have brought this class back, still less than half of the country.

[@Rositasparks]

I’m always a bit more enlightened and smarter each time I watch Rajiv. I’m definitely going to make handwriting a priority ❤ ✏️

[@lalalondon5602]

I’m about Rajiv’s age. We learned cursive in school in 🇮🇪 Writing cursive lines over and over in a long rectangular copybook is so seared in my mind as we did it for hours every day 🥱 I hadn’t given it much thought but now I’m wondering how people who weren’t taught this write? Surely their signature is cursive. 🤔

[@zvezdoblyat]

Absolutely not, lol. My sister has the most hideous signature, it looks exactly like these words I'm typing out. My eldest sister and my brother went to a school where penmanship was important in school, yet while my sister has lovely handwriting and a beautiful signature, somehow my brother must have ignored all his lessons. His writing is like a doctor's 😂

[@amylee9]

They write in separate letters. I am older and learned cursive. After second grade we were not to write in print …only cursive. So when I see hand printed writing, I think it was written by a child….

[@veronicatrakal9399]

Oh, I'm so happy with this! I've been thinking about calligraphy for quite a time when I met you. I'm so inspired I'm beggining a course in two weeks. My daughter and my son went to a Waldorf school here in Argentina, they begun using cursive on the third grade, at first with a real feather and wulnut ink (both made by themselves) and then with a pen and ink until now that my son is on his twelve grade. They are developing a thesis that has to be written by hand and bookbinded. It's is wonderful for them, and so beautifil!! Thank you very much Rajiv for inspiring me in so many ways!!

[@Kaybye555]

Wow that seems amazing! I would have loved to do that in school

[@zvezdoblyat]

I'm jealous! I love the idea of dipping a feather pen in ink

[@IrishAnnie]

My aunt would always write me a letter at Christmas. Her handwriting was stunning. She is gone, but I still have all her letters….God Bless Aunt Helen….

[@meuteacher]

Awesome Rajiv I teach languages (portuguese and English) and the most important exercise that I REQUIRE students to do is to write down on paper by hand ALL of my feedback, with correct and corrected language. And they must send me a picture of it.. I can tell whether they were writing consciously or mindlessly. Which then has an impact in memorization and acquisition. So yeah... handwriting has this power to make them reenact language, and by putting it on physical paper they make it real, and when you make something real you wanna make it right. - I have also exchanged letters with friends from a few countries.. it's amazing. - Thank you

[@henriquemachado1125]

Meu professor de inglês exige o mesmo e apesar de ser um saco, ajuda muito 😅

[@meuteacher]

@@henriquemachado1125 seu Teacher faz muito bem 😁

[@shinobiwannabe]

Sounds horrible, I’m realizing now that I was never taught how to hold a pencil. And I believe I’ve received a lot of negative biases from my language teachers, left a really bad taste. Being accused of not taking work seriously and being mindless because of poor handwriting is incredibly demoralizing, especially when you know you put the effort in.

[@shinobiwannabe]

I’m left handed btw, relearning how to right from the bottom up

[@meuteacher]

@@shinobiwannabe yeah, every student must be seen individually. I don't require that exercise anymore dor everyone. I do think it's effective for beginners though. Sometimes i replace it by oral practice of my feedback. Seems to be as effective.

[@DwarfDragonwulf]

Thank you, Rajiv. I woke up in the middle of the night and my mind was being very noisy. This video of you talking about handwriting has calmed the noise in my mind. I may even get back to sleep. Thank you.

[@bgrateful8153]

How serendipitous. I was going to request a cursive class on your last IG post and thought I need to check your KZbin channel first to make sure you hadn’t already done one. And then this. The universe is amazing. ❤

[@ArchADB]

Mate as a 45 year old man i cannot believe you are becoming my role model. Thanks man ive been struggling

[@laurasnow1811]

This is wonderful! When I was in first grade we learned the alphabet by sight recognition of the printed letters upper and lower case. No writing. Printing is for machines. Then we began longhand one letter at a time on lined paper. Once we got through with each letter day by day we next began connecting a to an all the away across the lined paper. Then came the letter b. Each letter connected in its unique way. Then came making words. I loved it. It was calming and developed mindfulness. We also said the Lords Prayer and pledged allegiance to the flag and sang the national anthem after roll call. Non of this is done anymore. I was in a government school not a private faith based school. Unfortunately the problems in our divided country are increasing in a deadly way. At any rate I hope children will learn about reading objectively and question authorities governing our lives. Thank you for bringing the beauty of writing to KZbin. ❤

[@elysesully6679]

Hi Rajiv, I was just remembering how I found your channel and I wanted to share the story. I found your channel when I was in a very fragile mental state. I had taken a very high dose of mushrooms all by myself on a Sunday at home one day. I overestimated my readiness for this unfortunately. At first it was fun, but then I felt very scared. The effects were extremely intense and I was tripping too hard, to the point where I felt cut off from regular human experience. In this depersonalized state I turned on the TV looking for something comforting, and I found myself searching "crafts". The first video suggested was the video of you recaning the wicker chair. I loved watching the wood materials. Everything about your set up and your delivery of the information was comforting and reminded me about the fundamental truth of what it means to be human. It was so primal and enjoyable and it brought me comfort on a very scary and destabilizing experience. I just wanted to thank you for being a port in the storm. I will always treasure your videos because of this experience. Lots of love to you!

[@usthanik]

The way he moves is beautiful. Respecting the little things that we would consider to be tasks and rush to finish. Hope you are doing good now!

[@alexbuddy406]

Just took 1 minute 40 seconds of the video to give it a ‘Like’ already .. great intro!

[@constanzagalleguillosrubio8977]

Where were you when I learned to write! I'm 35 now and have an old lady hunch back! I enjoy painting, knittig, crochet... everythig you have ever taked about and just now I realized that I do all of those things leaning foward and with my legs crossed! It hurts doing it the right way as you teach it, but i'll still be trying it everyday. Thanks Rajiv! Hugs from Chile , you´re my guru hahahah when I grow up I want to be like you (even though I have 3 kids, am a woman and probably way older than you !) but you get the gist or whatever its spelled

[@stormeliz7406]

My husband and I watched this video together and have committed to better handwriting. Thank you!

[@annelefevre9457]

I just can’t believe that penmanship is not taught in school anymore. It was so important when I as going thru school. We even had a catagory of penmanship that we bc were graded in on our report card.They probably don’t have report card anymore either. Yikes! I learned nice penmanship because my mother was a first grade teacher and somehow it ferried over to me. I enjoyed your lesson very much.

[@gardeninginthedesert]

I didn't learn cursive in school in the '70s in uk. A few years ago I taught myself and loved it. It's fallen by the wayside so I'll definitely start up again now. It really does change the way you think. It made everything else I do more purposeful.

[@ProdigyHighlights]

Born in '83, we had cursive writing in public school in the 3rd grade. I think it helped me with my language processing because it forces you to slow down and think ahead to the next word in forming the sentence. But at the same time, the you need to concentrate on the physical technique of the cursive script. So it was like my brain was activated simultaneously in both physical and language processes and helped me calm down enough to enjoy writing.

[@tonistrother8266]

Almost the same day I heard that cursive is no longer taught, I saw my grandsons’ practice pages. At least in their school, handwriting is valued.

[@umaraghavendran1347]

Hi Rajiv, I really love your videos. I just wanted to let you know that in India, children are taught cursive writing right from when they are in class 1, about 5 years old. The books are called 4 line note books and double lined books to write Capital letters and lower case letters.

[@indie825]

I agree with you on using a pencil. It has an natural drag on the paper, where as a pen dependent on the flow of the ink over the rolling ball on the tip. I had to laugh when you mentioned people not being able to read old cursive writing. It reminded me of a 1960's comedy album Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America, Volume 1. Track 7 - Declaration of Independence ("A Man Can't Be Too Careful What He Signs These Days"). Thomas Jefferson knocks on Bed Franklin door late at night to sign a petition. As Mr. Franklin reads "When in the coarse of human events...and among these are Life, Liberty and the Perfuit of Happineff?"

[@allyson--]

Lol

[@estherpowell2372]

A man after my own heart. I make my living with my handwriting. But more importantly, both my parents are gone and their precious handwritten letters and other treasures are priceless. What a tragedy if this art is lost.

[@chloebennett5620]

I always get a excited when I see you've posted a new video! I always save them for a part of my day where I have no distractions and can bask and learn from your teachings. 😊

[@hashsid096]

Any Doctor's in the chat?

[@VictorAFaria]

My pathology professor told me to buy a calligraphy book 😂.

[@Dr.Harish_Sharma]

Here

[@mojay-mz9ip]

😂😂😂

[@sumi1010]

Me😂😂

[@bbrkk]

Hi

[@danthomas6587]

As a kid I was taught by nuns. I learned the Palmer Method and discovered I liked writing in cursive. There was something cool, even beautiful about the letters. My mom had even more cursive instruction than me and her handwriting was beautiful. I also got smacked with a ruler if the nun didn't like my progress. I never thought it would benefit me to learn how to write but many people who see my handwriting comment about it. Good video. Thanks for sharing.

[@Likorca]

The algorithm presented to me this video, I clicked out of curiosity for the info but stayed because this Rajiv fellow was incredibly charming. Well donde sir.

[@claudiamann7111]

You have such beautiful handwriting. Unfortunately my son was in school when they stopped cursive. What a grave mistake. Thank you so much for sharing all this.

[@main2333]

I’ve watch quite a few of your videos. Your such a good teacher. With my teachers were like you when I was in school. My handwriting has been told it looks like a boys handwriting by a teacher. Chicken scratch by my mom. I’m hoping this will help me have a beautiful handwriting.

[@jaynefranck1]

Thank you! Thank you! I’m 72…I learned handwriting in elementary school and to this day, I am grateful it was a part of school curriculum. I’m incredibly sad my grandchildren have not been taught this fundamental, ancient, historically significant, beautiful, artful way of communication. My older sisters, 89, 79, and 75, all have incredibly beautiful handwriting, each unique to them. I treasure, hold sacred, all the letters they have sent me through the years. In my religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we have, The Articles of Faith. Here is, in part, #13….’If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.’ Well done Rajiv! Well done!

[@abigailh4109]

When they took cursive writing out of the school curriculum in the past, now this future has caught up with that decision. As a College Student Instructor, when I write reminder notes to them(because I am “old school” LOL) they have a very difficult time reading them. And they admit that reading cursive is challenging. I am glad that they are bringing back this beautiful form of writing.

[@quickstep145]

This is lovely. I learnt curvasive writing in school, but it was a little tricky being left-handed.

[@heatherinparis]

As a "lefty" myself I couldn't agree more about how tricky nice handwriting can be to produce. I am so thankful that my mother and grandmother made me practice pages and pages of written sentences and corrected how I held the pen so that my hand wouldn't drag over the words I had written. To this day I am the only lefty that I know personally who doesn't hold the pen improperly (sort of curled over backward) but doesn't drag the writing hand over the written lines.

[@quickstep145]

@@heatherinparis I think you're Grandmother and Mother did the right thing. Incidentally I also wrote (still do ) under the words and not over them, a la Prince William or Barrack Obama..I always found it uncomfortable..

[@extrememindee]

For years as a kid when I would color, I would end up with markers or paint on my hand and forearm and could never figure out why! Or graphite in the same placement in school. I finally taught myself to turn my page to the right at almost 90 degrees to avoid the curled over backward posture of holding the pencil and dragging my hand over my writing.

[@quickstep145]

We had to find our own ways to make it work. I do the same sometimes, it depends. @@extrememindee

[@michaelgray1123]

Great Video..........cursive writing is a lost art.................. your handwriting is amazing!!!!!!

[@joyrowancasey788]

I started learning calligraphy when i got a gift of an Irish calligraphy art book as a tween. I learned different forms of lettering during the early bullet journal phase of the mid 2010s, and I slowly started learning penmanship almost unconsciously. It was genuinely so much fun, and it made studying literally anything more interesting by being able to make it even a little bit beautiful

[@suecorliss2874]

I'm alway surprized when people write you letters. Its nice to know that people take the time to write. I'll watch this video twice. Thank you.😊

[@Print229]

Piano is like this for me. SO much practice to make it "effortless". *edit* P.S. As a mother of boys, I can't have the beautiful home but it is in these areas of practice and action that I can get precision and beauty. :)

[@johannechampagne7332]

Lovely and it is sad a whole generation missed out on this fine motor skill.

[@lamoinette23]

Too many people thought it was silly and pointless in a modern society, and literally tried to erase it.

[@followyourbrush]

As a child, many years before you were ever born, 😉 I diligently worked on my cursive skills to make sure that they matched the charts on the wall. I also had a wonderful teacher who taught us well. I cringe when I see what folks call “cursive” today. Thanks! Great video!

[@noahsoh9231]

about a year ago I viewed your video on letter writing, and ever since I have been completely entranced in both letter writing and journaling, I cannot thank you enough!! You have been a monumental inspiration for me!

[@sharongolightly1]

I have an old book from a high school. Every note in there was beautifully written .

[@wezugo34]

I'm ashamed to say that I did not know that cursive had been taken out of school way longer than the past decade. My son almost 30 now....not that long ago I asked him for his John Hancock.....He looked at me confused??? So I said....Your signature??? He printed his name and I'm sorry to say...it was terrible....I was so shocked.... That's when I found out that cursive was never taught to him. Me who all I do is write..and mostly write in cursive and not to brag...but its about as beautiful as yours Rajiv. I was so disappointed to know that he never learned it in school..... So today I teach him as much as possible. I told him, this is an art form now and if you can draw...you can do do an art like cursive and calligraphy.

[@return_ofthe_native]

I am teaching my sib’s kids how to write cursive, they are in elementary school. I told them, if you can write, you’ll be able to read my letters and journals…all are written in cursive.

[@5xdoodlesportchampion329]

Thank god i bumped into this. I've been writing cursive since 8 and now in engineering i did bend the cursive aesthetics and it got worse. This did help me and get motivated to practice again.

[@user-gs2bu5ez9i]

Your are the reason I took up penmanship and letter writing! I applied to get a senior pen pal and derive so much joy in the ritual of sitting down to write my letters and make them ornate and decorated with sealing and stamping! Thank you so much!! I’d love to see a video documenting a day in your life to experience the ritual moments of beauty in your day!!

[@JerriCouncil]

This was WONDERFUL! Many, many moons ago in Elementary School I'd always received A+'s or 100%'s in Penmanship! And, at almost 75 I'm still complimented on my penmanship. Rajiv, you've inspired me to purchase The Spencerian Workbook(s) 📚and have placed 'em my Amazon shopping cart🛒...Woohoo Thanks, sooo very much.🙏

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

Those gorgeous documents of the 17th century!

[@kimviegas1132]

The intention and attention you put into your videos is so warm and welcoming - wholesome. This time i felt like i was sitting with a friend who's thrilled to share a skill they know and love without holding back. Thank you. Shine On! ❤

[@leeleelovestoshop72]

The memories of Sister Mary Sabina teaching third grade penmanship. She wrote on the board using her entire right side of her body while her left hand held her veil behind her so all of us could see her detailed instruction. We practiced cursive every day that entire school year. Sister Sabina also taught us how to make book covers out of Saran Wrap, another skill that I smile to think about. Thank you for your wonderful channel.

[@oompsta]

What a delight to find this video! As someone who grew up writing letters, I am glad that there are those who are keeping aspects of this art alive. I completely agree that a handwritten letter is special and has a significance that a text or email cannot and will never match. Thanks for taking the time to share your passion!!

[@MariaAya]

omg, i'm from Greece and you just reminded me the Calligraphy lessons in the 80's at my school, loved it and I fall in love with them, I became an artist :) Graphic designer, painter and choreographer

[@penelopeza9497]

i am from greece too...there was calligraphy lessons at school...?!! cant remember that at all...😊

[@MariaAya]

δημοτικο 1975@@penelopeza9497

[@deliberatelyrandomCR]

are you listening in my house...or in my head?! LOL every week you make a new video and it's related specifically to a conversation I have had or thought about. You are magical, love your content, thank you for making it and sharing with us.

[@rajivsurendra]

Thank you!

[@someoneno-one-km5yg]

​@@rajivsurendra what is the name of the song you used