This Was Hard. I Had to Dig Deep—and I Got There ✒️ | Letter W

(Left) This is the letter “u” (Right) Is the letter “w”.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you will know the underturn stroke was my nemesis. I seriously dreaded doing this stroke. There are two underturn strokes in the letter “w” just like with the letter “u”. The letters “u” and “w” are written the same with two underturn strokes. The letter “u” doesn’t have the apostrophe and the end and the letter “w” does. I posted pictures above of both letters, so you can see the comparisons. 

It took four practice sheets, but I did it. I can tell you what used to stump with the underturn stroke. It’s doing the heavy downstroke into that curve and transitioning into the light upstroke going up. My hand would shake and sometimes come off the paper. In calligraphy, the underturn stroke is supposed to be one fluid stroke. It was really frustrating.  

The letter “w” has two of them next to one another. I had a bit of trepidation at the beginning of the first practice sheet and starting the fourth practice sheet I was gritting my teeth in frustration. The letter “w” wasn’t coming together. 

I paused for a moment. Stared at the paper and said, “I’m doing this. I’m getting this. I didn’t come this far to be stumped by the letter “w”. I went back and watched and analyzed my instructor Becca’s video again. I figured out I was going too fast. I had to slow my speed down just a bit. I understand why I was going fast. I just wanted to get the stroke over with, and this hindered my progress.  

Sure enough, voilà!!!! I got it. By the third row I saw progress and on the last row, I saw the letter “w”.  I will say this, the letter “u” helped me face my and the letter “w” made sure to address any lingering issues with the underurn stroke.  As they say, I had to put my big girl drawers on and do it. I can proudly say, I did. I have mastered the underturn stroke and the letter