Reblogged from BILL'S SPACE:

At the time of writing, according to the stats available to me, there have been  19,901 views all-time at Bill’s Space since we moved to WordPress from Spaces Live in September 2010.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have looked in to see what we are doing, especially our followers and those who drop in regularly, whether to check out the new links, follow the lessons, hints and tips, or to read the latest blog. 

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Updated to thank all entrants and to congratulate the winner.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have looked in to see what we are doing, especially our followers and those who drop in regularly, whether to check out the new links, follow the lessons, hints and tips, or to read the latest blog.  Oh and, of course, to Gill, who proofreads my work and frequently has cause to look upon herself as a computer widow.

To show my appreciation I would love to offer to write a Namedoodle for everyone, but time and energy just will not permit.  So, for the one person who leaves a request in the comments box of this article during the two weeks after the 20,000 mark is reached, and whose name is drawn from the hat.   I will make and  publish your Namedoodle, incorporate it into a “how to” blog and send you the original.  You will be consulted as to the style of N/d you require, name to be written, a short quote to be incorporated or birth details etc.

UPDATE :-

The 20,000 mark was reached on 20th April at about 0900 hrs BST.

The competition will end and name picked on Friday 4th May.

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks again to everyone for your support. I shall look forward to seeing your response.

Cheers.   Bill.

UPDATE 4th May 2012

The winner has been drawn from the hat by my Facebook friend, Nongluk Lak Pituktammanat.  Thanks Lak.

Thanks to all who entered.  Who knows, you might be next.

I am pleased to announce that fernando lembo di Pino has won this Namedoodle.  I shall be blogging all through the process to give an idea of my working methods etc.

Keep watching this space.

As a youngster, the only books in the house were a 10 volume Arthur Mee Childrens Encyclopaedia.  The many articles and illustrations of ancient civilisations, carvings and manuscripts that I found there really fuelled my imagination and have been my inspiration to this day.

At about age eleven  I was lucky enough to have an art teacher who had a great interest in calligraphy / lettering.  He taught us a form of italic and issued licences to those of us who became proficient enough, to use it in the classroom.  To my great shame, I never attained the standard required and so, was not allowed to use italics to write my essays and compositions.  I did, however, at that early age, have my own fountain pen.  I don’t remember how I came by it, but it was probably a Christmas or Birthday present.  This pen was an Osmiroid 65 with a medium italic nib and I was soon in great demand in the neighbourhood to write cards and envelopes and suchlike, but my first real commission, for which I received one shilling, was The Lord’s Prayer written in a spiral.  That pen was lost some time ago but I found another on eBay complete with ten nibs. Writing with it really brings back memories.  One other thing I was taught at that time has been a great help all through my life.  When drawing or colouring letters,  don’t turn the paper to give better access to the brush, crayon or whatever.  One day you might have to put your letters on a wall, so learn to always work  in the one position.

Not my first commission, but very similar.

Here are a number of links and videos all with a view to teaching children to enjoy the making of good letters.  Whether you are a teacher, or a youngster, or an older beginner, there will be much here to stir the interest and get you or your class started .  Don’t forget the links to Lessons on the right of this page.

This first one is from the Monica Dengo calligraphy teaching site.  In Italian but the enthusiasm shines through just the same.

An educational philosophy encompassing all creative subjects backs up the teaching of handwriting in France.

The French believe that giving children the ability to write will free their minds to perform creatively throughout their lives. So they teach handwriting as a subject in its own right.And they teach handwriting in a uniform way throughout primary schools, using traditional calligraphy to produce a distinctive, ornate hand.This programme visits a school in Lyon to see how students in Year 1 and Year 6 develop this ability.

Calli and Graphy

Home Education Resources  Free printable practice sheets

Alphabet Handwriting worksheets plus colouring pages etc.

See also the rest of the series

Learn to Write Calligraphy

Teaching cursive

See also the rest of the series

As I come across new material on this subject, I shall add it on, so keep watching this space.

Meanwhile, colouring ready made letters is a good way of getting a feel for letterform, so here are a few to play with.  Print them off and have fun.

Enjoy.

Please let me know if there is anything you are unsure of.  If I don’t know the answer, I’m sure to know someone who does.

Easter Greetings to all my visitors and friends.

See also EASTER

Good Friday Meditation

See also Good Friday