Here is our calligraphic assignment:
1- One SMALL paragraph of text (think of 2 sentences). What the text says is not important, you can get an excerpt from a magazine, a novel you love, etc).
2- The paragraph should occupy the center of the page. Pay attention to the following:
3- Leave space for a Rustic Capital, like the one you see above or below (it doesn't have to be as ornate). This rustic capital drives the energy of your page. Think of it first, design it & rehearse it in a different sheet of paper. The rustic capital takes a good part of the left hand-side of your page. It's part illustration part lettering.
REMEMBER YOU LEAVE THIS FOR LAST (after you have finished the paragraph).
4- For the paragraph. Use a blank 8x11 inch sheet. Determine how many lines your paragraph will have. In pencil, draw very, very thin lines to guide your lettering. Don't write ON the blank paper without a line matrix to guide your script. Only then, you may write your paragraph.
5- The style of your lettering will be calligraphic (meaning cursive with ligatures) and symmetric, meaning do not change the letter's "type" once you adopt them. This is a chance to explore ascenders and descenders. REMEMBER: DON'T CHANGE A LETTER ONCE ADOPTED!
6- Pay attention to your ligatures (the serifs connecting the lettering). Rehearse your ligatures before doing them on a project sheet. Practice how to connect your different letters.
For example,
7- See that each capital after the first rustica is smaller. DO NOT IMPROVISE! Better to achieve uniformity. LESS IS MORE!
8- No smudges, no mistakes. DON'T GO FAST. LET YOUR HAND PULSE BE SLOW AND DELIBERATE.
9- LEAVE MARGINALIA ON LEFT AND RIGHT.
GO AHEAD!