New assignment entirely different, from calligraphic point of view, at least. Gives perfect opportunity to analyze “Doing Calligraphy” as art vs writing. Patron often talk regarding this difference. Many scrolls done where illumination catches eyes. Calligraphy needing nearly same or sometimes more effort to achieve appropriate look. Often, scribe “writes” words. Calligraphy, according to Patron, similar to what engineers call “lettering,” but in essence, letters are arts. Calligrapher not writing “word,” Calligrapher makes downward oblique left line, followed by downward oblique-right line, then repeats pattern. “w”. Size, height, thickness of strokes all play into what being “appropriate” for hand.

Can talk much about hands and differences, but more that for other time. This post subject about opportunity to practice arting words. Most commissions done in English, with couple few notable exceptions: Elena-Po Commission, Kadan Cornelian, Aleeah Laurel and Narah Fleur. These done persian style with faux-arabic hand or in case of Po – Tengwar. This hand from Ansteorran scribe with arabic letters with english “appearance.” Patron teach this hand as practice for calligraphy with many reason to focus.

First – letters unfamiliar. Scribe forced out of “write letter” mentality and into “execute strokes.” This change in mind helps scribe tremendously, taking away expectations of motions and flow of hand. So many subconsious actions happen when executing repetitive tasks, people not thinking about them. Why does Pell work or Kata help martial artists? Why is practice for professional athletes made up of “drills?” All these designed for building subconscious response actions. “Writing” has drills done during childhood and creates same thing. For Calligraphers, UNLEARNING those very things proves difficult, so actions that break programming help. Working with unfamiliar letters is a way.

Second – FLOW different. Another programming break is writing left-to-right. Without thinking, scribe maps letters in head and that leads to expectations, and training from above. Patron’s drills on Faux Arabic offer another break. They are read left-to-right, but paragraphs right-justified, giving appearance of writing right-to-left. In fact, Patron advised practice in writing that way. Form Right-most shapes first, moving across page to left.

Integrating all this helps calligrapher recognize needed effort for practice. Commisioned art may have much illumination, but also many many pages practice so writing matches art.

Relevancy to current effort – upcoming commission from Hebrew bible, and language is Hebrew. Patron had text transliterated to Hebrew, and calligraphy will be in Hebrew. Very unfamiliar all hand, form and layout. Practice on flow will be essential for all above reasons. Highlights “arting” words.. and artform of Calligraphy.