Developed by Edward Johnston (1872-1944) in the mid-1920s, Gothicized Italic is a versatile Gothic hand that combines the advantageous elements of other Blackletter styles, such as compact and narrow forms of the Texturas, the pointed'o of the Batardes, and the energy of Gothic Cursives.

This broad-edged style, sometimes also referred to as "Pointed Gothic," "Heavy Italic," or "Johnston's Compressed Hand, was further developed into a more vigorous and lively script by the late Sheila Waters (1929-2022), making it an instant favorite among scribes looking for a more modern Gothic hand. In this class, we will learn: broad pen basics, Gothicized Italic rules, drill exercises, stroke-by-stroke formation of minuscules and majuscules, spacing, simple variations, and monoline capital flourishing.