IAMPETH 2026 - Foundational Hand: Its Origin, Evolution, and Application - Tamara Stoneburner

ALL SKILL LEVELS | BROAD-EDGE PEN

Foundational is an unusual creature. Its core existence revolves around being thoroughly consistent, both in its spacing and letter shape. It is a humanistic broad-edged bookhand used for its ultimate readability within text; its warm, compatible aesthetic; and even overall texture. This is an intense course offering the breadth of information covering Foundational’s history and origin story, and its contemporary development into a hand that pairs well with many other and varied hands, both broad-edged and script. Students will come to appreciate Edward Johnston, who is credited for modernizing its use from 10th-century letterforms, and apply his 7-point system of analysis. This is the hand you learn before tackling any other broad-edged lettering. There will be demonstrative discussions focusing on the geometry inherent in Foundational, as well as how to space and balance it visually, especially with use of ligatures and specific trouble-shooting methods.

CLASS SUPPLIES

• Borden & Riley Marker Layout Pad, 9” x 12” (50 sheets)
• Higgins Eternal bottled ink (or a tube of gouache in a color of your choice if you prefer to mix your own ink)
• Either a Speedball size C-2 nib with a straight holder of your preference (wooden or Speedball standard black plastic) or Pilot Parallel Cartridge Pens (2.4 mm or 3.8 mm size)
• Mechanical pencil
• Pearl White rubber eraser
• 12” ruler

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES

• T-Square