Michael Sull
Encyclopedia
Michael Sull is an IAMPETH master penman and author living in Mission, Kansas
, United States. A world-class expert on penmanship, he was Ronald Reagan
's calligrapher after his Presidency and is known worldwide for his skill and teaching ability. He regularly teaches handwriting
, calligraphy
, and engrossing
programs throughout the United States
, Europe
and Asia
.
Considered America’s foremost living Spencerian penman, he is author of Spencerian Script and Ornamental Penmanship, Learning to Write Spencerian Script, and American Cursive Handwriting, and publishes various other educational materials focusing on pen writing. He also manufactures period style oblique dip pen equipment for use by penmen today.
In Geneva, Ohio
(Platt R. Spencer's
home town) Sull has run annual week-long seminars dedicated to Spencerian script
known as the Spencerian Saga since 1987, wholly devoted to Spencerian Script and Ornamental Penmanship.
Sull’s career, however, didn’t begin in the penmanship industry. After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in forestry, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. It wasn’t until his discharge from the Service that he began to pursue his interest in calligraphy. Sull’s passion for penmanship has lent itself to a lengthy career in the field, enabling him to found a calligraphy guild, work as a calligrapher and lettering artist at Hallmark, and start his own ornamental penmanship company.
Today, Sull serves as Master Penman for Zaner-Bloser
, performing public demonstrations and representing the company’s dedication to handwriting excellence. He is also the current director of the Master Penmanship Program at IAMPETH (The International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting). He currently resides with his wife, Debra, in Gardner, Kansas.
Mission, Kansas
Mission is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 9,727 at the 2000 census. The city is a first-tier suburb in the Kansas City Metro. In 2003, Mission absorbed the neighboring city of Countryside.- History :...
, United States. A world-class expert on penmanship, he was Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's calligrapher after his Presidency and is known worldwide for his skill and teaching ability. He regularly teaches handwriting
Handwriting
Handwriting is a person's particular & individual style of writing with pen or pencil, which contrasts with "Hand" which is an impersonal and formalised writing style in several historical varieties...
, calligraphy
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
, and engrossing
Engrossing
Engrossing, forestalling and regrating were marketing offences in English common law. The terms were used to describe unacceptable methods of influencing the market, sometimes by creating a local monopoly for a certain good, usually food. The terms were often used together, and with overlapping...
programs throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Considered America’s foremost living Spencerian penman, he is author of Spencerian Script and Ornamental Penmanship, Learning to Write Spencerian Script, and American Cursive Handwriting, and publishes various other educational materials focusing on pen writing. He also manufactures period style oblique dip pen equipment for use by penmen today.
In Geneva, Ohio
Geneva, Ohio
Geneva is a city in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States. The area which would become Geneva was originally settled in 1805, and was incorporated as a city in 1958. It is named after Geneva, New York. The city's population was 6,595 at the 2000 census....
(Platt R. Spencer's
Platt Rogers Spencer
Platt Rogers Spencer was born in East Fishkill, New York, on November 7, 1800, and died in Geneva, Ohio, on May 16, 1864. Spencer is credited as being the originator of Spencerian penmanship, a popular system of cursive handwriting....
home town) Sull has run annual week-long seminars dedicated to Spencerian script
Spencerian Script
Spencerian Script is a script style that flourished in the United States from 1850 to 1925.Platt Rogers Spencer, whose name the style bears, was impressed with the idea that America needed a penmanship style that could be written quickly, legibly, and elegantly to aid in matters of business...
known as the Spencerian Saga since 1987, wholly devoted to Spencerian Script and Ornamental Penmanship.
Sull’s career, however, didn’t begin in the penmanship industry. After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in forestry, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. It wasn’t until his discharge from the Service that he began to pursue his interest in calligraphy. Sull’s passion for penmanship has lent itself to a lengthy career in the field, enabling him to found a calligraphy guild, work as a calligrapher and lettering artist at Hallmark, and start his own ornamental penmanship company.
Today, Sull serves as Master Penman for Zaner-Bloser
Zaner-Bloser
Zaner-Bloser, Inc., headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, publishes research-based handwriting, reading, writing, spelling, and vocabulary programs.- Company history :Zanerian College of Penmanship...
, performing public demonstrations and representing the company’s dedication to handwriting excellence. He is also the current director of the Master Penmanship Program at IAMPETH (The International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting). He currently resides with his wife, Debra, in Gardner, Kansas.