ISJ

I almost forgot to add the Neuland Lesson for today. If you are seeing this post first, scroll down to some other postings earlier today.

If you are working on Neuland, hop back to Monday, July 26 to see the ISJ samples. To make the S, start by putting in the least amount of curve to *ess* the line. I tell people to think of driving a car and the two front wheels are on the corners of the nib. You drive down the paper, curving back and forth.

The skull and cross bones is to imply *death-to-the-crescent..* The whole point of Neuland is to keep EVERY SINGLE STROKE FAT/WIDE. All thicks, no thins. In person, I get all fire and brimstone about all thicks/no thins. I suppose it is time to get out the video camera and start posting to YouTube.

If you do make a thin stroke, just go over it with the nib and fatten it up.

Now...the J. You drag the nib down and just before you hit the baseline, you drive your car to the left. NO THINS. You may let it dip a little below the base line or you may curve it so that it is entirely above the baseline.

It might not be very pretty all by itself, but most of the time it is in a word, so it does not have to be pretty by itself.

Another good way to practice Neuland is with a foam paint roller, about 3 inches wide. Choose a wall in your house for practice and do the letters about a foot high. The paint roller wants to drive like a car and it will not let you slide into those nasty crescent points. What? You are not willing to devote a wall to practice. Where are your priorities? If you are renting, you can get a roll of kraft paper and tape it to the wall. Then you will have a nice supply of wrapping paper.