Hi,

I am a penman/calligrapher that specializes in a form of shaded script (see my image posted below) that is known by many names including Roundhand, Engraver’s script and Engrosser’s script. This particular form of shaded script is sometimes described as ‘engraving on paper’. Most modern calligraphers would could all of these variants named above as ‘Copperplate’.

I have been teaching instructional workshops on this subject for many years. In addition, I have made ALL of my instructional materials (articles and videos) available online without cost on the website of The International Association of Master Penmen, Engrosser’s and Teachers of Handwriting at:

http://www.iampeth.com

I am very aware that the approach to forming letters is different for a pen versus your tattooing needle; however, the resultant letter forms should be the same visually. A penman once told me that every shaded stroke of the pen has two lines. As you already know, the pen nib forms these lines in one stroke whereas your tattooing instrument requires separate strokes. I took his advice to heart and spent MANY hours drawing my letters one line at a time similarly to the way the Engraver for form the letter.

As I’ve said above, I make ALL of my instructional materials available without cost since my day job pays my bills. I am not selling anything. If any of the artists on this site are interested I’ve decided to make my complete Copperplate Script Workshop Handout available to anyone looking to improve their letterforms. There is no cost and no catch. You may download and print the complete 87 page Workshop Handout at:

http://www.zanerian.com/VitoloBookHandoutComplete3.pdf

The instruction manual is composed of several of the articles I’ve published over the years. Please keep in mind that these are individual articles pasted together; therefore, the narrative does not read as a cohesive book. Even though it is intended for pointed pen instruction it is my hope that Engravers will find the concepts contained with in helpful. I will be posting additional concepts in script under this post.

Regards,

Dr. Joseph M. Vitolo