Pens!

The Lamy Safari fountain pen. Image: Lamy

I’ve been gingerly beginning my exploration of the world of fountain pens. Well, on an extremely amateurish level. Mostly, I just like fancy writing, and dislike my own writing. Somehow, a fountain pen will make my handwriting gorgeous and fancy and flowing. Right? That’s how this works, right?

Not write. My handwriting is as bad as ever. My lower case y is a lot fancier, but I’ve lost the lower case f that I actually like. WTF, fountain pen?

I’ve started with the disposable Pilot Varsity, but thinking it wasn’t magic enough, also procured the Lamy Safari that was well-recommended as a good starter pen. And I got it in yellow because it looks magnificent. Both pens seem to write pretty well. But I feel fancier with the Lamy Safari. Plus it has indents to make it easy to hold the pen properly.

Image: Jenny Bristol

I’ve also begun the practice books for Spencerian writing, and am not happy with my initial results. I guess that’s why it’s called a “practice book”. I just need to practice more.

I’m hopeful, but not optimistic. I have an actual problem taking what I see in my head and making my hand draw it. I’ve heard calligraphy and fancy writing described as drawing letters, and, yeah, that’s what it feels like. Much, much more practice is needed.

So here are my initial attempts. I hope to periodically fill you in on my progress.

Image: Jenny Bristol