Thread: Oblique Calligraphy Pens (holders)

Sometimes you can make a Calligraphy Pen out of the cheaper fountain pens by using the nibs out of a $2 shop! Amos
PS you might even make a whole set with different nibs for each pen.

Besides calligraphy, there's a whole tribe of artists who work in pen and ink. I did a lot.
The finesse thing with a "straight pen" is to find the point of balance, somewhere around
the web part of the thumb/index finger joint. It's personal, too.

Speedball makes a huge variety of nibs. As they are all nearly the same weight, the 'nib-grabber' and
the nibs themselves add weight to the nose of the pen. Must include those in the design.

Having said all that bumpf, I'd love to draw with what you've made, the two pale ones on the left, in particular.
Bunch of B-series Speedball nibs. . .. ..

Ill get some Nibs from a cheap shop and some B series from somewhere .. not sure as most shops are in Brisbane.

The Rollerball Oblique seems to have a universal grabber/flange.... good design. heavy ?

I've been trying to make flanges like Christopher Yoke does on his Utubes. ... kind of fun and something different.

The two on the left are Silky Oak.. I threw some timber on the lathe and had a go. Could have been any of the tonnes I have in my sheds... Silky is a medium light timber .... The acrylic is much heavier in comparison. I have timbers which could be matched to the personal needs .. pen length, size and weigh ... eg Queen Ebony ( heavy) thru to the cedars mostly light)

I was referred to a US site ... Ash Bush .. which has a great explantion of the different ergonomics .... I also found a site where they custom make ergonomic obliques ... really interesting .... I've make similar with normal pen kits where I turn ( get it sized) and then finish off with a scroll saw and carving chisels ...

IMG_2409.jpgIMG_2410.jpgIMG_2407.jpg

Well! There you go!
I'm old. My hands are old. Pinching anything with thumb, index & second fingers hurts most days.
Not much but it's progressive. Even picking up some damn little pill can hurt.

My nib holders have fat, cork-sleeved grip areas (store-bought). They are bigger and the cork is sticky enough that I can relax my grip a little.

That' no good..... perhaps I can help

I have made ordinary ergonomic pens to suit a friend who has arthritis and broken fingers.

Ive found a few designers on Google who make ergonomic shaped holders ... example

https://www.jakeweidmann.com/collect...descent-purple

( well out of my price range )

Would these shapes be more helpful or do you need something sticky or grippy to hold too ?

or just large and chunky to grip ?

I found some timbers which can be quite grippy in an unfinished form. Another trick I've used is to make out of acrylic and finish with grooves for grip.

I understand balance is also also important with grip ..

Randal

Ergonomic any help ?