Spencerian from the Beginning

This course is designed for beginners and those seeking to refresh and strengthen their foundational skills in Spencerian script. Martha aims to cultivate a supportive and immersive learning environment that encourages consistent practice and builds muscle memory. With a focus on both technique and enjoyment, students will gain a solid foundation in movement and letterform. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the skills needed to advance to Ornamental Penmanship or to develop their unique style of handwriting.

We are offering 25 spaces only on a FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED basis for this class to provide an intimate and comprehensive learning environment to enhance outcomes.

You can read more detailed information about The EPPC Academy and its benefits on our academy webpage.

We will start by understanding the historical background of the script, how to use and grasp the connection between the script and the essential tools and materials. We will continue to explore the required posture, hand grip, the terminology of calligraphy and understanding the difference of movement practices to see and to feel the movement, at the same time also going over the theory of oval shape in the script in relation to the muscle movement, basic stroke, lowercase letters, writing space, line and word spacing, and begin to learn to analyse not only about the letterform but also your hand, we will also learn by writing directly and create a work without the uppercase.

Entering the Uppercase letterform, we will learn more of the uppercase movement practice that will be useful for Spencerian and Ornamental and Business Penmanship, understanding the basic strokes in the uppercase, the capital stem and the oval theory dedicated only for uppercase and the relation with the muscle movement, and how to continue from the basic to both Ornamental and Business Penmanship.

As we develop our skill in both letterform and muscle memory through out the year, you will develop a skill that helps you to not rely only by the guidelines but also use the build up skill to create words, sentence to a correspondence long writing text in Spencerian and your style, and also how, why and where to start and stop the strokes, layouts and composition to create a meaningful art piece. 


We will not only learn the Where, Why and How to connect your Spencerian skill in Ornamental & Business Penmanship, but also understand how to see all of the aspects in the penmanship.

The syllabus will cover

• Lowercase & Uppercase Fundamentals

• Create Exemplar, Wordings and Text

• Long Writing, Poem

• Correspondence + Final Project

Classes are 2hr, Sundays, running from 9am-11am Rome, Italy (CET/CEST).
Catch ups are 1hr, Sundays, running from 9am-10am Rome, Italy (CET/CEST).

[CL1] 5 Jan Class 1
[CU1] 19 Jan Catch up 1
[CL2] 2 Feb
[CU2] 16 Feb
[CL3] 2 Mar
[CU3] 16 Mar
[CL4] 30 Mar
[CU4] 13 Apr
[CL5] 27 Apr
[CU5] 11 May
[CL6] 25 May
[CU6] 8 Jun — NOW 6 JUN
[CL7] 22 Jun — NOW 27 JUN
[CU7] 6 Jul
[CL8] 20 Jul
[CU8] 3 Aug
[CL9] 17 Aug
[CU9] 31 Aug
[CL10] 14 Sep
[CU10] 28 Sep
[CL11] 12 Oct
[CU11] 26 Oct
[CL12] 9 Nov
[CU12] 23 Nov

Note that there are time zone changes throughout this course, so your start time may change. Please check for all dates.

Check your time zone

€ 878,00 {Check your currency}

When you join The Pointed Pen Academy for Spencerian from the Beginning, you’re investing in your calligraphy education for € 73,00 / month with

+ 12 MONTHS of in-depth study of Copperplate with Martha Laurens

+ 36 hours of learning (24 x recorded Zoom sessions combining teaching, demos and feedback sessions)

+ a private YouTube link to the Zoom recordings to watch until 18 January 2026 - add it to your diary!

+ Comprehensive handouts from Martha, as well as the scans of all sheets done during the lessons

+ a dedicated private study room to practice with your classmates open 24/7 for the entire Academy year

+ regular feedback from Martha in the online private class platform

+ the possibility to ask Martha anytime in the online private class platform

Our study program is designed to provide valuable skills and knowledge, and we believe that it is worth the investment. Please take a look at The PPC Academy webpage to learn more about the benefits of an intensive longer course.

Thank you for choosing our course, and we look forward to seeing you succeed!

When you join The Pointed Pen Academy for Beginning Spencerian you gain access to:

• Learning over 12 MONTHS for an in-depth study of Spencerian

• 36 hours of learning (24 x recorded Zoom sessions combining teaching, demos and feedback sessions)

• A private YouTube link to the Zoom recordings to watch until 18 January 2026 - add it to your diary!

• Comprehensive handouts from Martha, as well as the scans of all sheets done during the lessons.

• Access to an online platform to post work and discuss.

• Martha's feedback on submitted work.

Please take a look at The PPC Beginner’s Academy webpage to learn more about the benefits of an intensive longer course.

To register for the class, fill in and send the form below. Cecilia will email you an invoice via PayPal (you don’t need to have a PayPal account or to login to make the payment by credit card). Seats for the class are granted only after payment. Please check your junk/spam if you don’t receive this email within two days after submitting the form.

Sales for Beginning Spencerian will end on 20 Jan 2025 at 9pm CET (or once all places are filled).

EMAIL 1
Once you’ve registered via the form, you will receive an invoice emailed from Cecilia to confirm your place.

EMAIL 2
You will receive all information from info@pointedpencollective.com approximately one week before the first session with the first handouts, details of how to join the Zoom call, and other necessary information.

Online via Zoom

Please feel free to email us at info@pointedpencollective.com with any questions about this course not answered above.

Kate & Cecilia