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THE FOUNDATIONAL HAND is based on lettering from 10th century manuscripts, mainly from the Ramsey Psalter. There are strong similarities to the main forms of the Roman style. Capital letters were not originally used in Foundational and it was some time before Roman capitals were used at the beginning of sentences and for names, as they are now. It is an upright and rounded letter-form. The letters are based on a circular letter 'O' and the pen is generally held at a 30 degree angle. The top serifs are slightly larger than the ones at the base, repeating the idea (as with Italic lettering) that the eye tends to concentrate on the top 1/3 of a line of writing.

About the Instructor:

Marie Hornback is a Penmanship teacher to grades 3-6 in a classical school in Fort Collins, CO. Marie has been teaching cursive handwriting in the elementary school since 2013 and private students and classes since 2009. Marie, along with Michael Sull, is the co-founder and Director of the American Cursive Instructor Certification Program (ACICP) which began in 2015. The ACICP is a 2-day workshop designed to teach people how to teach cursive handwriting and provides a certificate of accomplishment. 

In addition to cursive handwriting, Marie has studied pointed pen, broad edge pen and engrossing techniques with Harvest Crittenden, Michael Sull, Yves Leterme, Gemma Black and attended 3 Master Classes with the late Sheila Waters. Attending IAMPETH Conferences has also provided additional training in painting and flourishing which Marie incorporates into her commission pieces. 

Marie teaches private students and classes in pointed pen scripts, and broad edge hands in addition to cursive handwriting. Marie's online self-paces Classic Cursive Class is available at www.acornartsclassroom.org/cursive. Marie has been on the IAMPETH faculty for the past 4 conferences and is scheduled to teach at the conference in Scranton, PA in July 2023. 

Supplies: 

3.8mm Pilot Parallel Pen (Green cap)

Pilot Parallel Pen cartridges

Layout paper (Borden & Riley, Canson Pro Layout, Paris Paper) Good paper for handling broad strokes of ink.

Ruler (I use the 18”) Westcott graph ruler

Pencil

Eraser (possibly)

To prepare for the class, you will want to copy the guidelines (from the class handouts) on to the layout paper. You can put the layout paper over the guidelines and will be able to see the guidelines underneath, but it’s easier if you copy the guidelines right on to the layout paper. 

Make at least 8-10 copies to use in the class.