Spencerian Script For Beginners: Practice Tips, Examples + History

Want to try the Spencerian script? The Spencerian script is a beautiful calligraphy style that’s a bit different from the popular Copperplate style. Today we're going to answer all of the FAQs surrounding the Spencerian script, plus show you examples and give you a beginner’s tutorial on how to try Spencerian for yourself!
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-------- CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction To Spencerian Script
00:22 What Does Spencerian Script Look Like
01:02 Why Is It Called Spencerian?
01:40 How Is Spencerian Used Today?
02:07 Digital Spencerian Examples
03:05 Spencerian Versus Copperplate Calligraphy
04:46 Spencerian Compared Versus Cursive Writing
05:24 How To Learn Spencerian
07:24 Basic Strokes Of Lowercase Letters
08:28 Spencerian Practice Word
11:08 Spencerian On An iPad
13:34 Digital Spencerian Course
-------- RELATED VIDEOS
👀 8 Basic Calligraphy Strokes (+ Practice Sheet!): • 8 Basic Calligraphy St...
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Happy Lettering,
-Jillian & Jordan
Founders of Loveleigh Loops
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[@neetabudhraja]

I loved the details you shared about Palmer method and how Spencerian started. Also I loved the way you simplified all the strokes

[@LoveleighLoops]

Thanks Neeta! You're going to LOVE the course :)

[@denisewoodley4829]

Aha, I've been writing using Palmer script since a child and never knew it. Love Spencerian - I'm off to practise. Thank you, great video.

[@LoveleighLoops]

Your experience with Palmer's script is going to give you a HUGE head start with Spencerian! Lucky you!

[@SaveliyShabanov]

Well, from as far as I know, in the Palmer method, we don’t move our wrist at all, while in some of their earlier European or American style of writing people may have wrote with combination of two, which is the whole arm movement and wrist/finger movement, but they still were primary taught to do the arm movement because it was the most important thing, considering that people were taught to be a penman and at that time, people wrote much more than they do nowadays, and this way, they need it to learn to write in a way, which wouldn’t cramp their hands, which is the whole arm method was possibility of little bit wrist/finger movement.

[@LoveleighLoops]

Thanks for sharing your insights! And great observation about the importance of using a grip/movement that doesn't cause cramping as penmen had to write much more than we do these days.

[@Rumeel12708]

Awesome video and the importance of the script!!!! One thing that I always put off and that I greatly use now to practice and has tremendously helped me is, using a 2mm lead holder or normal pencil as a flex nib!!!!!!!!! When I first started I wanted all the fancy tools and nib holders along with nibs, markers, parallel pens, brushes, you name it, I did not even want to practice with a pencil (seemed so boring to me). Yet now with way more skills than I had first, a 2mm lead holder is amazing!!!!!!! Learned how to press harder on the down strokes or on any portion of the letter I wanted to make thicker and it works!!!!!!!! It is even helping me now as I am learning Japanese (kana and kanji)! I've been waiting for the new Ipad Ultra for some time holding back on the Ipad pros. enormous beast for calligraphy and renderings and for school!!!

[@jimmihshs]

Amazing video! Thank you for clearly and conscisely presenting this info

[@LoveleighLoops]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your commment.

[@karenmitchell6189]

I appreciate this. I would love to learn Spencerian. I don't use an I-Pad but am great at tracing then repeating the letters. Thank you!😊

[@LoveleighLoops]

It's such a beautiful, delicate script! Thanks Karen :)

[@writersofrohan]

Even more excited now! Loved the fun facts; I didn't realize how "modern" school-taught cursive was!

[@LoveleighLoops]

I find the history fascinating!! Helps put things into perspective and feel like you're part of a tradition :)

[@AirKhan45]

Wow finally EXACTLY the type of video I have been looking for.

[@LoveleighLoops]

That's so great to hear, thank you!

[@laurielyon7740]

That was as good as anything I’ve seen on the subject. Well done! I need to watch this again…….

[@LoveleighLoops]

Thanks, we appreciate it! :)

[@laurahurst1960]

Excellent demo

[@kathyb1188]

ARGH! the suspense is killing me. Can't wait for this. Thank you for the teaser! 🎉

[@LoveleighLoops]

Yay, you're welcome!! Doors are finally open and we'd love to have you in the course!

[@akshata892]

Very nice explanation in short time

[@LoveleighLoops]

Thanks!

[@juohan]

how do you actually write with your arm? is your hand/palm lifted off the table and only your elbow area is in contact with the table surface?

[@Nihonat40]

If you don't mind, I'd like to ask a question about paper position when using a fountain pen (not an oblique pointed pen) and writing in cursive or Spencerian. For the main slant downstroke, I sometimes find that on the downstroke the nib splits because the right tine drags as I come down. In other words, my nib is pointed parallel to the main slant on the way down. I don't know if that makes sense. I am struggling with how to describe it. I feel that I am stressing my fountain pen nibs on the downstroke because the nib is at an awkward angle. Thank you.

[@Error-xl3ty]

Maybe try adjusting your nib?

[@kreativeblends]

Since this is taught w/an iPad/Pencil, will these skills transfer over if we use a different medium? Say ink/pointed pen?

[@kreativeblends]

Ah I kept watching and see you doing it with a notebook/pen!

[@LoveleighLoops]

Great question Kristin! Taking this course will absolutely help you learn the letterforms and get some of the muscle memory down. When you go back to pointed pen, you may feel like your lines are more shaky because the Procreate brush does help smooth out your strokes. Does that help?

[@kreativeblends]

@@LoveleighLoops Sure does! Thank youuuuu!

[@MaureenVickery]

Do you sell your Spencerian Procreate brush separately?

[@LoveleighLoops]

Hi Maureen! We have a version of the Loveleigh Spencerian on Etsy: www.etsy.com/listing/790142991/pointed-pen-spencerian-procreate-brush The course will come with a more beginner-friendly version of the brush too. Thanks! -Jordan

[@ruskyhrahsel7723]

What is the app that you're using to write?

[@LoveleighLoops]

Hello! The app is called "Procreate" and you can find it on the App Store.

[@Mcleod.G.]

Thanks 🎉

[@LoveleighLoops]

Thanks for watching!

[@barbaracarragher7012]

Great video. I am taking your course to learn pointed pen. But I am learning so much from each style (faux, brush, etc). Loved the history lesson too.

[@kathleenking47]

@@LoveleighLoops we need to be teaching cursive in 3rd grade Some teach cursive in 1st grade. Kids tend to do loops

[@LuisA70PY]

(using Google translator) now you confused me, there you have the alphabet 0:29, but in the writing the capital letter "A" is written in another way 0:47 *(articles of argument)* , so which is the correct one, this made me remember that I cannot understand and it has me fed up, they are already I've been trying to correct my handwriting for a year and I can't understand what type of font I use. I have copperplate capital letters mixed with some Spencerian letters and my lowercase letters are American cursive but I write the "q" with a cross at the end, my life Has no sense 😢

[@LoveleighLoops]

Excellent observation! The A in 'Articles' was the original way the letter was written by P.R. Spencer. The version at 0:29 in the alphabet (which looks more like a lowercase 'a') is also an acceptable way to write the letter--you'll find this in later documentation of the Spencerian script. Whichever one you prefer is okay to use :)

[@jlowrie33]

$197 for the course? lol.

[@LoveleighLoops]

Yes, our iPad Spencerian course is currently $197 :)