posted
After looking at CJ's post regarding the on-line lettering course, I was wondering how other people hold a quill. (and other types of brushes) This could be interesting.
a) two finger grip b) three finger grip c) drummer's grip d) conductor's grip e) hockey player's grip f) depends on the situation g) other h) I'm not saying, but I do have a smart-ass comment to make (always welcome)
The reason I'm asking this is that I think I have more control twirling a quill with a three finger grip, but unless I'm conciously forcing myself to use it, I keep reverting to a two finger grip. (As a matter of fact, when I'm "in the zone" and not thinking about it much - I keep falling into a state where I'm painting more like an oil painter than a lettering artist... I can't seem to shake it)
I don't really remember, but in school I think the "proper" way was whatever you were comfortable with - so I'm not so interested in making this a discussion of "the right way", but more what method you use (and why if you wish).
While I'm in a poll taking mood - do you use a mahl stick? I used to dread having to do a layout with hand-over/hands down - but now I seem to have much better results and prefer it. Do you use a mahl stick all the time or only when it lends itself to the task at hand?
I know - lotsa questions... but I don't say a lot - so please indulge me!
-------------------- Bob Darnell London, Ontario, Canada
posted
I don't use a mahl stick, except when doing glass gold leaf.
Grip all depends on the job! When doing walls with a cutter or a fitch, grip is differnet from a flat doing window splashes, which is different from when doing a sign or vehicle with a quill!
To me a 3 finger grip gives more control when using a quill.
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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2 finger grip on sable/quill work, 3 if a flat or big and loose. I learned handdown and mahlstick at the same time, so do what's easiest at the time. wall stuff,3. never use bridge or hand-over. Pallete card with prethinned paint, try to do more dip and letter, but old habits... using sables, bite the brush handle to get a re-grip... saw Tony in my signclass(1963) do this, he was year ahead of us, looked cool...PLUS he was working p/t at Woolworths DOWNTOWN in San Diego, making real dollars !
ps, i'm a lefty.
John / BTG
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Give me two fingers worth of SoCo... or is it a three finger bag... Hmmmmmmm... Misspent youth... LOL!
I use three fingers while lettering with a quill, two fingers while using the computer, and one while I drive.
Have a great one!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6464 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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it's the pointing finger on the right hand, middle finger and thumb that works for me.
at any given time i use the "middle finger" method
seriously, i bought the mike steven's vhs tape from signcraft many years ago and learned a ton on how to hold the brush. tight curves require the pointing finger and thumb. it depends on the stroke.
you keep on doin' what i have seen you do bubba and you will be fine.
mark
[ July 10, 2002, 10:28 PM: Message edited by: Mark Fair Signs ]
posted
I use my pointing finger and thumb... sometimes my middle finger too.
For cleaning up the concrete carving I use what ever finger(s) ain't bleeding yet... that concrete sure wears out the fingers... but there aint't a tool made that works better My crew likes to wear gloves... sissys the lot. I like to carve NEKID! The more you suffer the better the work! The skin always come back in a few days though. I haven't had fingerprints in many years
Mahl stick... Well sometimes but mostly its the hands over. You can't get a decent wiggly line using a mahl stick I find. And I don't do straight lines.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8761 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
...two finger...three finger letterer. Use a mahlstick on almost everything.
I wave with one finger...well..at least i'm waving...
-------------------- Jackson Smart Jackson's Signs Port Angeles, WA ...."The Straits of Juan De Fuca in my front yard and Olympic National Park in my backyard...
"Living on Earth is expensive...but it does include a free trip around the Sun" Posts: 1002 | From: Port Angeles, Washington | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
iam a lefty...and paint left to right, no maul stick..ever...i use right hand about the same way i use it when i throw pottery on a wheel. its a bridge for my left hand. i do thumb and middle finger..when paint curves...thumb and index for straight...when using quills...fitches...its 4 fingers..and little finger is bridge.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
The lettering school I attended taught the two finger method, but it was too unnatural and I proceeded with three. Before the course was over, they asked for my practice work to make a new manual, go figure.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Out of interest when I was working at the college, I used to have a look at how different students held their brushes. Its as personal as your handwriting Some students held their brushes in a manner that looked terribly awkward to me, but the quality of their work was excellent. I assume its a combination of what you were taught, along with whatever you picked up as personal preference. For me I hold the brush with the first two fingers and thumb and use a mahl stick. On the occasions that my daughter wants to have a go at my brushes I teach her my grip, which seems to contrast quite a lot with the way she is taught to hold a pen at school. Interesting subject David
-------------------- David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Services Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com Trying out a new tag: "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth Peter Ustinov Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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