Part 6

The student must also use regular showcard color for ink. Don’t use pen ink for brushes. It will not work, and is too expensive. Procure some regulation showcard colors in the 2-oz. bottles costing about 25c. Professionals use the term showcard “colors” to designate the brush water colors from the inks used for pens.

With the brush and ink ready—secure a small piece of cardboard for use as a palette or mixing board, and by dipping the brush into the showcard color several times, there will be sufficient quantity on the palette to proceed. Have a small cup of water handy, and into this dip the brush for moisture. Pour very little water into the show color itself—moisten and work up the color on the palette.

In doing the “mixing” also endeavor at the same time to work the bristles of the brush into a sharp “chisel” or flat edge. This is necessary to do good work.

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.

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Plates used by permission of Ely & Walker Dry Goods Co., St. Louis.]

INSTRUCTIONS—LESSON NO. 5

The “Egyptian” Brush Alphabet

Show card writers give this alphabet the name “Egyptian” when it applies to the plain lettering as shown on following page. There are many other names that apply—when the alphabet is “trimmed” up with various embellishments known to professionals. There is the spurred “Egyptian” when the lines are finished off with “spurs”—either heavy spurs or hair line spurs, and a host of other “embellishments” according to the taste and originality of the card writer.

The student will do well however to stick to the plain alphabet until the various letters are thoroughly mastered.

Among printers, this alphabet is known as “Gothic,” and some showcard men call it a “block” letter. The term “block” comes from the fact that most of the letters should occupy the same amount of spacing.

While not a beautiful alphabet—it comes in very conveniently, and is a splendid letter for making bold lines. As an illustration—the word “HATS” is a comparatively weak word on a large show card, unless the lettering is heavy, or embellished with some shading or outlining. With a broad brush—if in a hurry—the card writer can dash off such a word very quickly in “Egyptian”—thus saving time, and yet making a good, bold card.

The word “HURRAH”—sometimes used to attract attention—is very weak—unless lettered in bold “Egyptian.”

Large prices on full sheet cardboard signs and letters on cloth signs are also often done with this alphabet.

Don’t be discouraged when first attempting it with a brush—and make it only with the brush.

Pick out a brush that has a good even edge. A “ragged” brush is useless for heavy strokes. And when you find a brush that will work well, leaving the perpendicular and ends of the vertical lines even and neat, KEEP SUCH A BRUSH FOR THIS STYLE LETTERING, and use it for nothing else. In contrast to the “Egyptian”—a brush for the Roman alphabets must be pliable and of a “texture” to permit of light and heavy lines being made alternately.

In forming the “Egyptian” the brush must hold its “chisel” edge, and keep an even stroke; therefore the necessity of using the right brush.

First practice the letters that contain the straight strokes, E-F-H-I-L-V and W. Keep practicing these capitals until they become easy. Then take up the remainder. For the capitals—draw your cross guide lines about two and one-half or three inches apart. Regulate your lower case letters accordingly.

Learn to twirl the brush between the thumb and second finger, using the first or index finger as a sort of guide to keep the brush in place.

Roughen up the polished ferrule of the brush with sand-paper, or a file. Some showcard writers wrap adhesive tape about the ferrule, others wind that part of the brush with small rubber bands. All these “tricks” enable you to hold the brush more firmly and make the “turns” much easier.

Making the curves is a combined arm, wrist and finger movement and the student must bear in mind at all times that the hand must drag the brush. Do not try to push the brush. KEEP THE HAND AHEAD OF THE BRISTLES, and keep the chisel edge of the brush always at right angles with the width of stroke.

Also endeavor to keep the brush somewhat more perpendicular than with the Roman lettering. Many showcard writers hold the brush so that the handle is exactly erect or horizontal and a trifle forward of the third joint of the index finger.

Keep the head well over the work, almost directly over the work, and you will find the lettering can be done easier.

i l [symbol] \/ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z & $ ¢ A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 $45·00 Ext. Cond. FREAKISH!