After each letter or two, repeat the chiseling out strokes on the palette, and always carry sufficient color on the brush to do good and easy work. Don’t permit the brush to dry out so that the letters are weak and poorly “covered.”
Now for the lesson. Hold the brush with the point at an angle—the same as the pen was held, in forming the alphabet in the previous lesson. The first stroke is a very short, light one—then, rest the brush, and bear down slightly until the bristles are well spread. Come down in an even, straight stroke. This is the first stroke. (See first stroke on next page). When almost to the base line, stop and go back to the thin spur, and fill in the open space. (Note the second stroke on next page). Then resume position as in downward stroke and taper easily and slowly toward the right, touching the baseline. (This is stroke 3). Next place the brush a trifle from the bottom and come downward to left. (Making stroke four). Then across the bottom of the line, completing a very neat spur with stroke five.
This is the manner of lettering the lower case “i” and also the lower case “l.”
Close observation will show the exact manner of finishing “off” the capitals. In the practical use of this alphabet, avoid using lines of all capitals as much as possible—and then, use only the simple capitals. The fancy letters are for use only as the first letter on a showcard or for capitals in the main display lines. It is difficult to read lines of all capitals at a glance, and for this reason they should be used sparingly.
In doing color work, students will find that regular showcard color, somewhat “thinned out” with water, and placed in a separate bottle, will serve admirably in pen work. This is particularly true in lettering with the pen, on mottled mat board, or other “pulpy” surfaces.
BRUSH “ROMAN”
Plates used by permission of Ely & Walker Dry Goods Co., St. Louis.