Unlocking the Secret to Smoother Ink Flow: Heating Your Calligraphy Pen
In my calligraphy journey, I recently stumbled upon a fascinating technique through a YouTube video—”Prepping your nip for calligraphy“_ about heating the tip of my calligraphy pen to remove residual oils. This simple trick has had a noticeable impact on the way the ink flows on paper, making strokes more consistent and precise. What I…
Refining My Calligraphy: Movement Exercises and the 52-Degree Slant
I have noticed that my writing tends to be too straight and vertical, whereas traditional scripts require a graceful slant. To improve this, I focused on movement exercises and consciously adjusted my writing angle to 52 degrees. At the end of the book, Spencerian Key to Practical Penmanship, I found a page that helped me…
The more I dive into it, the deeper it gets!
Exploring the Rich History of Calligraphy: A Treasure Trove of 17th-18th Century Lettering Manuals As I continue my journey into the art of calligraphy, I am constantly amazed by the sheer variety of styles available through online resources. From modern brush lettering to classical copperplate, the wealth of tutorials, videos, and guides has provided invaluable…
Elements of Digital Citizenship
Integrating the nine elements of digital citizenship into classroom instruction is essential for preparing students to navigate the online world responsibly and effectively. Here’s how I plan to approach each element in my teaching: Digital Access: Ensuring equitable access to technology is foundational. I will assess students’ access to devices and internet connectivity, collaborating with…
Getting the hang of it!
The right tools can make all the difference in any craft, whether it’s art or mechanics. Just as a digital torque wrench ensures precision by beeping when the correct tightness is reached, calligraphy tools shape the quality of each stroke. In my pursuit of refining my calligraphy tools, I experimented with transforming a traditional Persian…
Digitalization and Our New Culture of Participation
Our Digital Reality: A Shift in Education and Culture The digital world has fundamentally altered how we communicate, interact, and learn. As highlighted in the lecture, technological advancements have not only changed the tools we use but have also reshaped our relationships with knowledge, media, and each other. McLuhan’s idea that “we shape our…
The Art of Experimentation: Qalam or Copperhead Nib?
In my pursuit of refining my calligraphy tools, I experimented with transforming a traditional Persian reed, or Qalam, into a makeshift nib pen. Though the process was intriguing, the results were far from ideal. The reed lacked the precision and consistency I desired, leading me to appreciate the superior craftsmanship of the copperhead nib. Its…
Shotcut: A Free, Open-Source Video Editing Tool
Introduction Shotcut is a free, open-source, cross-platform video editor that offers powerful features without the complexity of professional-grade software. As a student producing a class project, Shotcut provides an intuitive way to edit videos with a range of effects and transitions. In this blog post, I’ll explore Shotcut’s features, provide basic instructions to help you…
My First Steps into Blending Persian and Western Styles
Why Blend Persian and Western Calligraphy? What excites me most about this journey is the opportunity to see how two distinct traditions can intersect and inspire each other. Persian calligraphy, with its continuous, flowing lines, feels almost like poetry in motion, while Western styles tend to be more structured and segmented. The challenge (and the…
“The Art of Screen-Time Balance: My Journey with Technology”
Technology has become an indispensable part of my daily life, serving as a tool for productivity, connection, and entertainment. Whether it’s for academic purposes like research, attending online classes, or personal activities like social media and streaming, my screen time often feels endless. However, I’ve realized that striking a balance between these uses and ensuring…