OFPOD - A SInging Jon

[sleigh]

From the 1978 MWC, here's Jon Singer, one of the most inventive, brilliant minds I know. He's also the reason why, whenever I'm asked to personalize an autograph, I ask the person how to spell their name, no matter how common that name is. They very first time I was asked to autograph something I'd written (a story in Analog, I believe), it was Jon who made the request. I'd been introduced to Jon verbally a little earlier by a mutual friend, but didn't take note of his name tag. So I wrote "To John..." then was rather embarrassed to realize that I'd misspelled the name. *sigh*

Comments

[barondave.livejournal.com]

And he's been known to warble a song or two.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I thought you were going to tell a Singer calligraphy story.

K.

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

"Please tell us a Singer calligraphy story, Gramma Lovey!"

[jonsinger.livejournal.com]

Uhh, geez. What can I say? (http://www.jonsinger.org/pictures/calligraphy/i5.half-uncial_geez_Pilot-Parallel-Pen.14c.jpg) I had rather a lot more hair then...

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Perfect!

[jonsinger.livejournal.com]

Well, being the dyed-in-the-wool vacillator that I am, I vary between wanting a nice bold broad line (as above) and preferring something lighter and more airy, like this:

(http://www.jonsinger.org/pictures/calligraphy/i5b.freestyle-half-uncial_f-and-sf_Hero329.14c.jpg)

(Slightly sloppy, but hey.)

This is why we have nibs in several widths. It makes for a crowded shirt pocket, but them's life.

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Sloppy? All I can say is "Wow! That's gorgeous!"

[jonsinger.livejournal.com]

Not to say that I don't like it — I do, else I wouldn't have been willing to post it; but if you show it to a proper calligrapher they will probably peer at it somewhat askance. It is quite ad-hoc: no guide lines, no pencilled predraft, just take pen in hand and scribble, and I have taken massive liberties with several of the letterforms. It probably isn't too bad, considering those things; but I'm not exactly the world's expert, and I did write it myself, so you can take my opinion with a grain or two of salt.