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3 - A Blunt-Serifed Alphabet – Miniscules
9 Lessons
Class 4 in the Writing with a Bent Nib series by Randall M. Hasson
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The class starts as soon as your payment is processed. The class runs on YOUR schedule and does not expire!
The Speedball D nib, introduced in 1926, is an easy-to-use nib that creates subtle thick and thin lettering and a prominent “blunt” serif. Used for playful, vintage styles of lettering and the famous Metropolitan Poster style of the art deco era, this nib will be an easy adaptation for the calligrapher.
This is the fourth class in Randall’s Writing with a Bent Nib five-part series. Note that each class in the series is sold separately or you can also purchase all five classes at a special bundle price!
Students are invited to a private Facebook Group as well as a monthly Live Zoom session with Randall Hasson where you can get more information, ask questions, share your work, and meet your fellow students.
The duration of the B Series Nib class is 3.5 hours. Scroll down to view curriculum and watch preview movies.
The oval-style D nib is one of Randall’s favorites. The D nib derived from the popularity in the early 1900s for a casual style of lettering with a blunt serif. European poster artists such as Hans Rudy Erdt and Lucian Bernhard, as well as the American F. G. Cooper, used this style because the thicker blunt serif made posters more readable over long distances when compared to thin Roman serifs.
The D nib is perfect for creating this casual alphabet reminiscent of the show card styles of the 1920s. Calligraphers might find the D nib a little easier to use because the pen is kept on a consistent angle, just like you’re used to with a broad-edged pen. Randall used this style for the cover of his upcoming book, Teaching America How to Letter, the story of the Speedball Textbook.
After the lowercase letters, the capital letters are also covered in-depth with lessons both by letter group and with the full alphabet. Then Randall invites you to explore his philosophy of writing in his Mahara Watercolor Journal, which he designed for Paper & Ink Arts. You’ll learn about the challenges of writing on a hand-sized textured surface, as well as adapting to writing without lines.
One of the most famous Ross George styles, Metropolitan Poster is an intriguing alphabet reminiscent of the 1930s. Building on your skills with the D nib, you’ll learn how to build up letters as well as add variations to this casual alphabet. Randall demonstrates the interaction of letters and proper spacing by writing a variety of words using Bister Inks on cold-press watercolor paper.
To learn more about this series, please visit the Writing with a Bent Nib page on our main site.
“The Speedball Bent Nib is a new and unusual tool for me but I am really enjoying the journey. It is wonderful to learn about the history of these beautiful letterforms and to see just how versatile these nibs can be. The course content is wonderful and Randall is an amazing teacher!”
Heather Victoria Held
heathervictoriaheld.com
$400
Special bundle price ($100 savings). You will automatically be enrolled in each class in the series.
Learn more about the Series
$70
Six monthly payments. Total $420.
($80 savings)
You will automatically be enrolled in each class in the series.
Learn more about the Series
“Great course! Not only for beginners, but as a good refresher for experienced copperplate calligraphers. Barbara makes everything clear, concise and professional. A nicely produced online class for everyone interested in pointed pen.”