Changing
pen-angle

This exercise is meant to show you what happens to
letters when you completely change the angle of your
nib. The stresses of the strokes alter and you are faced
with a new set of design problems.

Just turn your broad edged pen, or calligraphic felt
pen, around so that the fattest stroke is the horizontal.
Then the upright becomes the hairline. You may not
produce beautiful letters to begin with, but trying an
unfamiliar pen-angle will certainly make you think
about what you are doing.

Briem demonstrates this above and shows that it is not
a new idea. This typeface, Nebiolo (below), designed by
Aldo Novarese, has been in use for quite a few years.

abcdefghijklm
ABCDEFGHI

20

Timothy changed the angle of his pen to write these
quick capital letters. They improved as he got used to
the unfamiliar angle.

Lynn is a student who did not particularly enjoy
formal lettering. But she has a good eye for design. She
was sketching a logo for a dance studio, and when she
changed the pen-angle the design gained strength. The
strong horizontals brought the idea to life.