SUPPLIES

If you already have a favourite then please feel free to practice with that. If you’re looking for a new pen, or haven’t yet found THE ONE, then here are a few pens that I enjoy using.

Papermate Joy - a smooth Gel pen, comes in multiple colours, really lovely to write with and my pen of choice for the videos.

Gelly Roll - made by Sakura the gelly roll come in fine, medium and broad tips as well as multiple finishes!

Pentel Stylo -a plastic , so less mess and blobs!

Sakura Pigma Micron - I love this as a drawing pen but also to write with. It has a fibre tip and dries quickly.

Uniball Signo UM207 - a gel rollerball, it’s smooth to write with and being a gel pen, the ink dries fast.

For anyone who writes left handed then I recommend using a pen with gel ink - see the top tips for more science info on why it’s best for you.

If you choose to use a fibre tip pen the nib will mould to your style of writing. If you share this pen with someone else then you may find the nib ends up distorted - by all means share a rollerball or a gel pen but if you’re using a fibre tip I suggest you keep it in your bag or pocket! paper You can use any paper you like, I prefer to write on a smooth surface so I chooose a 120gsm Laser printer paper for practicing. Rough papers such as kraft card or parchment will be harsh on a fibre tip pen like the Sakura Pigma Micron so just be aware of this. If you’re going to do lots of practice and don’t want to burn through lots of printer ink then you can buy Vellum or tracing paper which is also very nice to write on.

120gsm Laser Paper Vellum or Tracing Paper (Goldline or Clairefontaine) nOTEPADS AND Journals Rhodia - dot pads or lined are lovely to write on. Clairefontaine - excellent paper, good for vellum/ tracing paper too. Leuchturm - the classic journal - beautiful to write on. Moleskine - another classic, at the higher end of the pricing. where to buy I recommend you check out your local art shop as they often have some lovely pens availiable. I would also suggest trying to keep your purchasing local where possible, it is easy to jump on to Amazon or Cass Art, and I do... but the indie businesses will love you more, where possible I choose independents and here are some of my suggested places to buy.

ONLINE IN STORE www.cultpens.com Glasgow - Millers Art Shop www.nikkissupplystore.com https://www.facebook.com/millersartshop/ www.thewritingdesk.co.uk Glasgow - Draw Art Store https://drawartstore.wordpress.com/ www.purepens.co.uk Aberdeen - Grays School of Art Shop https://www.facebook.com/graysartshop/

www.toastytype.com five TOP TIPS for BEAUTIFUL WRITING

GRIP IT REAL GOOD 1. Hold your pen in whichever way you feel most comfortable the ‘dynamic tripod’ is the most common way to hold a pen but i’ve seen all sorts of strange ways over the years. Hold your pen however you feel most comfortable and relax... the looser your grip, the less strain on your joints, the nicer your writing will be.

Dynamic tripod Dynamic quadrupod lateral tripod lateral quadrupod

relax 2. Seriously, relax! If you’re all tense and jittery it will reflect in your writing. If you’re gripping your pen so tight that your fingernails are digging into the palm of your hand or your wrist in a great big knot then you will struggle to write well. Loosen up, take a minute to think about how you’re sitting, get comfy, put both feet on the floor, give your hands a shake and shrug your shoulders a few times. Whenever you feel tense repeat this!

NOT ALL PENS ARE THE SAME

3. Find a pen that works for you - I like a gel pen or a fibre tip. I’m not keen using ball point pen as I find my writing runs away with me. Choosing the right pen for you takes time, but doesn’t have to be costly. I’ve got a few suggestions that you might like to try.

LEFTIES!

4. Gel pens are your friends. Science fact - Gel ink is solid until a force is appiled and then it becomes liquid. When the ball of a gel pen touches the paper this is enough force to make the ink flow, once the ink is on the paper and there’s no further force, the gel solidifies again. It’s not quite instant but it’s close, so these pens are good for any of your overwriters prone to smudging. I also like the Sakura Pigma Micron as they dry very fast.

practice makes perfect... really.

5. Changing your handwriting won’t happen overnight, you need to spend time un-learning bad habits and re-learning how to create letter forms! The workbooks include blank practice sheets which you can print off again and again... or if you prefer a journal or a notepad i’ve made some suggestions in the supplies list.

www.toastytype.com