So this post had me thinking a lot about my friends who are left-handed. Several of which have lamented not being able to do calligraphy. Tonight was the first night I sat down and did a full quote in Foundational script with my left hand. In hindsight, it would have been easier to start with Textura Quadrata, but why start easy right?
The Quote:
There are many things that seem impossible only so long as one does not attempt them.
André Gide
Right Hand:
This is my dominant hand. I am a little rusty on my Foundational as I”ve been focusing more on scripts I use for award scrolls in the SCA. But it”s still pretty passible and a decent baseline.
Left Hand:
This is my non-dominant hand. It has always been the limb that I have lesser levels of motor control. I can comfortably catch with it, but not throw. Writing has largely been right-out.
Method:
The change that was made on the fly at the Girl Scout Event was what I used. Rotating the working surface 90degrees to the right. It seems like such a simple change, but it works. I”ve found it makes it easier to use standard tools and still keep the nib angle consistent. It also allows for the same letter building techniques to be used. The only difference is they focus on side-to-side instead of up and down, but you”re still pulling and sliding the nib and not pushing against it.
Aside from my left bicep being sore from moving in ways it”s not used to and probably been a little too tense, I”d call this a success!