IAMPETH 2025 - Ornamental Penmanship: Letters and Flourishing - Michael Sull

INTERMEDIATE | POINTED PEN

Beginning with the basic lines of producing curved strokes and shades, students will learn how the reference shapes of Spencerian letters and the basic techniques of Flourishing (non-lettering penmanship) can be transformed into the elaborate elements of Ornamental Penmanship.

The arts of creating Twisters, Super Twisters, Compound Capitals, and Composition Flourishing will be explained and demonstrated in detail. The practical layout and use of these methods in designing the overall composition will also be shared. Students should already possess at least a Beginner’s skill level in pointed pen writing to participate in this class.

CLASS SUPPLIES

• Tracing paper
• Graph paper
• Black lead and several colored pencils
• Soft pencil eraser
• Ink-friendly paper (both lined and unlined)
• A good oblique penholder with a new pen nib of your choice
• Ink for pointed pen writing (recommended:
  • Iron gall ink such as McCaffery’s Black
  • Carbon inks such as Sumi or Moon Palace
• A sheet of thick, soft paper (recommend blotting paper) to serve as a cushion sheet
• Several fine-line markers (recommend Pigma Micron #005, 01, 03, 05)