Simple Modern Hand

This class is for those who are dissatisfied with their own handwriting. In a short space of time, you will be astounded how you can learn so quickly to write script (cursive) that looks good, is clear and legible, and is fast and comfortable to write .    

The class is for those who don’t think they can ever write nicely but want to. It is also for anyone at all who is interested in the design of letters, such as lettering artists, illustrators, signwriters and type designers who will all benefit greatly from understanding the whole hand movment that is the basis for clear and handsome script. 

The style you will learn is called Simple Modern Hand which was devised for use in Edinburgh Schools in 1962, and then introduced to the schools in Sweden under the guideance of Monica Ekstorm. In the seventies it was the official writing style for Primary Schools in Sweden and derives from the Italic script of the sixteenth century. Any tool can be used and it was devised for biro writers. 

Simple modern hand is not like copperplate which is purposed to be written slowly and carefully. Simple Modern Hand  is highly legible, and extremely efficient to write.  That is to say that writing pages and pages of it will not tire out the writer as this was the era before type did all the work ).    

Learning simple modern hand is  not about robotically following a model. Instead it involves learning a  simple and straight forward series of movments  which you can very to suit your own individuality. Much like the process of type design, the construction process is the same for everyone, but the results are highly customised to each person’s signature style. (Which is where the creativity comes in).    Simple modern hand can be adapted to sign writing, graffiti, for illustration, or simply writing your shopping list!    

Your new individual hand will be the envy of your colleagues, friends and relatives, and  the endless hours of pleasure from handwriting will put a new spring in your step . Whether for your own meditation, and solace, or to express yourself, writing by hand with writing that flows effortlessly across the page makes ideas flow - for as soon as you write one idea, a new one emerges.    It isn’t true that you need a lot of time and it won’t take long to have fun learn these fundamental movements of the hand.   

The class will roll with thorough demonstrations, contextual explanations, to assist your understanding of this style of writing and its relationship to the continuum of western reading and writing. 

MATERIALS

You will need a sharp 2B pencil (preferably .7 clutch pencil), and lined paper  

ZOOM

The class will take place via zoom, and a link will be sent to partipants the day before the class commences. 

INSTRUCTOR: VERONICA GROW

Veronica Grow is the founder of OSNS. She has a long background as both a qualified and experienced educator and academic whose pedagogy rests on the relevance of skill based hands on craftsmanship as a priority. She is also a graphic designer, calligrapher, type designer and lettering artist.