Penmanship in the 21st Century

During my student days in Sekolah Tengku Abdul Rahman 2 (STAR 2) and secondary schooling in English College (Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar), Johor Bahru, my handwriting was literally like chicken scribbling. It still is now. Albeit a better version.

I took calligraphy in school but never took it passionately. I always envied my friend who had immaculate handwriting. His handwriting in his homework book was like typewritten, all font was perfectly shaped and symmetrical. His calligraphy was literally the bomb and out of this world. It was like scriptures from the heavens. Ridzuan was his name, if I’m not mistaken. A small handsome nearly organized and friendly dude.

In the age of the keyboard warriors, one may think that the age of beautifully handwritten notes are lone gone. You are forgiven. I don’t blame you. But if you take a little time and search internet. You will be amazed that there is a huge movement out there keeping the art of penmanship alive. Each handwriting style is unique to that particular individual. Like your signature, it identify you and is unique to you. You might say it is you thumbprint. 

Jake Weidmann, Peter Deligdisch (Peter Draws), David Parker (Figboot), Brian Goulet (Houlet Pen Company), Neil deGrass Tyson, Stephen Brown (Sbrebrown), Matt Armstrong, Michael Waltinger (Scrively) and Amanda Rach Lee, to name a few. Their passion simply inspires you.   

Here are some of my arsenal. From the left, a Waterman pen, Faber Castell mechanical pencil 0.7, Faber Castell Blitz RT ball pen pearl white, custom pen by Tuan Ab Majid Bujang, Faber Castell Blitz RT pen gunmetal, Selangor Pewter keris letter opener and Faber Castell metal pencil sharpener.     

Lamy 2000, Lamy Tourmaline (belongs to my son) and Onishi Seisakusho Sakura (belongs to my daughter)

My Brassware EDC, Thomas Tool Brass pen, Kaweco Brass Sport Fountain Pen with Raw Bronze Clip, Kaweco SKETCH UP Brass 5.6, Liverby TTLB X Rainier Brass mechanical lead pencil holder, Traveller’s Company Brass Pencil case and Ruler. Although heavier than other types of material but they are a beauty in their own right and will achieve natural patina in due time

The beautiful case the Thomas Tool Brass pen comes in wonderfully inscribed. The inscription by Terry Pratchett is typed at the bottom of this article

Last but definitely not least, Hasbro Black Series Lord Vader with Faber Castell WRITink black fountain pen. It has a wonderful thumbprint logo barrel of the pen. It peels though. Don’t know if it happens to all WRITink pen or only mine due to manufacturing defect. It is definitely well looked after, never dropped and when not in use it’s housed properly  

The final arsenal which is ever expanding is the Tumasek Pewter Arowana Note Holder and Letter Opener    

The pen is mightier than sword if the sword is very shorty and the pen is very sharp Terry Pratchett