Finally! The Hogwarts Invite

[juno]

This piece has taken me so long to get right, but at last I'm happy with it:

More on my Web site -- http://www.curiousgood.com/?page_id=333

 

[rhboyd]

Oh!!!! It's beautiful, Tiff... great GREAT work!!!!

thanks for sharing!!!
-r!

 

[jheilman]

Cool! All done by hand I assume? :thumbsup

 

[juno]

My original was -- you're actually looking at photos of the replica (printed). I've really tweaked out my inkjet to lay down good looking faux calligraphy.

 

[jheilman]

Ah, so you create a master, scan it and print them?

Is that the same process you used on the Narnia arrest notice? I'm guessing that's something different?

 

[Sumatra]

That looks amazing Tif. Handwriting it really adds a level of realism I've never seen on this prop before.

 

[The_Mike]

I love it! I want one! Great work!!!

 

[juno]

Ah, so you create a master, scan it and print them?

Is that the same process you used on the Narnia arrest notice? I'm guessing that's something different?

Nope, exactly the same process!

 

[jheilman]

That's impressive. Can I ask what model printer you have?

Also, the Narnia piece appears to be printed on a non-inkjet type paper. Or is it really a specialty inkjet stock? If so, I need to investigate some more. I really thought this was done with a specialized print-making process.

 

[juno]

I go through inkjets like candy. I'm currently on an HP Photosmart 7850. I also have a wide-format HP Deskjet 9800. I can't remember if I did the Narnia warrants on the 7850 or the printer prior to. I usually get a new printer after two sets of ink.

The Narnia warrants were on special paper (as is the Hogwarts invite). The trick is to massage your settings -- ink amounts, overspray, etc. I also play with layers and such in Photoshop, deepening and lightening pen strokes, sometimes adding under layers that might add more randomness to the pen.

The hardest part of this replica is actually the envelope -- it's very thick and tends to jam the printer. Luckily, the die I had made had score lines for the envelope folds, so that takes down a bit of the thickness.

 

[jheilman]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Petseal]

This piece has taken me so long to get right, but at last I'm happy with it:

Extremely nice work there, especially on your letter size and spacing!
Most people might not realize that back in days of yore when everyone, well those who could read and write, hand wrote letters, they were taught and practiced to the point where it was as natural as breathing to them!
So if as you say you are left handed that means you are either dragging your hand over the ink or trying to find an angle, usually uncomfortable, to compensate! And a novice too, I am very impressed with your work!
I have taught a basic Calligraphy course at a few local grade schools and one thing I found is left handed kids have a greater sense of adventure. It is very easy to give up but very few did! They left with more ink on their hands and smudges over the paper but proud of what they had done!
Oh, there was one other thing I found! It did not matter how many times I told them not to push upwards with the pen someone always got splattered with ink! I could be wrong but they may have been doing it on purpose!


I have found that there is no greater joy then hand writing a poem of epic proportion...then misspelling the last word on the page! Very quick way to go through nibs if one is of ill temperance! Luckily I do not fall within that category, cough, cough!

Thanks for sharing your work juno! Something to be very proud of!
Later, Petseal

 

[Kadajiroth]

That's amazing! :eek

Fantastic work.

 

[juno]

Well. . . I'm not quite a novice, but I've never done any running hands -- mostly unical and blackletter for display pieces. I find the running hands impractical for my everyday writing since they have to be constructed backwards (and thus take more time). I've actually taken several calligraphy classes in college, but the left-handedness has always been my weakness.

I'm working on modifying my writing so that I write under as opposed to hooked above, but it's difficult to retrain the brain! (And I hate left-oblique nibs!)

I'm glad to hear you're teaching it in grade school, I really loved calligraphy in high school, and can't imagine how much fun it would have been to do in elementary. I would also love to see some photos of your work!

 

[Robot Monster]

If you are going to sell them please let us know. I want on the list.

 

[teecrooz]

It turned out magnificent! Well worth all the time you spent.

Just curious, but how many hours do you think you put into that piece?

 

[Kevin]

Great work Juno!
I knew that if anyone could do an accurate version of this it would be you.

Talk about attention to detail. I wondered where you found the envelope, but it never occured to me that you had a die made specially.

 

[franz bolo]

Nice work!!

FB

 

[TheGreenMachine]

Wow! Nothing to do but echo the sentiments of the rest. Looks great!

Funny I'm right handed but I've been told all my life I write like a left handed person since I write using the hooked position.

-TGM

 

[mtsbspidey]

very very nice....you really do the most amazing work