So you want to get started in calligraphy…
Maybe you’re getting married, or looking for a new hobby, or maybe you are just hopelessly in love with letters like me… Well, you’ve come to the right place. I will share tips, tricks, and some of my most favorite supplies to make the journey a joy.
The theme you’ll hear from me over and over (and over) is that calligraphy requires practice. I made it a point to work on my lettering nearly every day for five years before launching my calligraphy business and friend… if I showed you photos of my early work, you would have recommended I pursue a different artistic outlet. It was rough.
I wholeheartedly believe that if I can do it, anyone can. I look forward to partnering with you on your journey!
Step One - Take a Class
So you’ve been stalking lettering artists on Instagram for a while, and you are ready to take the plunge. Great! Find a local calligrapher who teaches classes in-person. There are millions and millions of resources to learn calligraphy online, but the ability to have real-time feedback and access to a knowledgeable artist is worth its weight in gold. Most — if not all — classes will provide you with a starter set of materials, a lettering guide, and practice paper. (My favorites are below!)
Insider Tip: The key to being great at calligraphy is consistency. Learning the proper way to form letters, spacing, and composition will take you SO far. If you can write an “o” the same way 100 times, you are already better than 95% of the lettering artists out there.
Friends who are local to Dallas-Fort Worth, I would love to teach a class for you. Please contact me for pricing information, dates and availability.
Step Two - Practice
Go home and spend some quality time with your new supplies. Work every day until you get the feel of the way the ink flows out of the nib, how to tell when you’re running out of ink, and when to clean off the ink to start over completely. There are some things that can be taught, and there are some things that are truly learned by feel.
Insider Tip: Before you start writing with a pointed pen nib, there is a protective coating that needs to be removed. You can accomplish this by waving it through a flame for a few seconds, sticking them in a potato for an hour, scrubbing the nib with toothbrush, or spitting on it and rubbing vigorously with a paper towel. No, I promise I’m not making this up.
Steps Three through 17 - Continue Practicing
I’m not joking. There are no shortcuts in lettering.
Step 18 - Start Experimenting
This is the fun part! Now that you’ve got the basic strokes down, start studying the masters and purchasing the supplies you want to make your art reflect your vision. Copy the key principles of the scripts you like best, and once they are mastered, start making them your own. Every calligrapher adds their own signature touch to their pieces. I can’t wait to see what you create.
Supplies You Need (because there are a bunch you don’t!)
If purchasing craft supplies was an Olympic sport, I would take gold in every event. I’ve spent an undisclosed and somewhat insane amount of money (sorry, husband!) finding the items that work best for calligraphy and brush lettering for beginners. I’ve compiled the all-stars for you here. I hope you love them!
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens
These are the gold standard for brush pen calligraphy beginners. Their tips are flexible and hard to fray, so you get a consistent output with these long-lasting pens. Start with the Tombow Hard Tips until you learn pressure control, and then transition to the Soft Tips for more variation in your pen strokes.
Pentel Brush Sign Pen
If I could marry just one pen, it would be this one. These little brush pens are so vibrant, easy-to-use, and sturdy that I have them in every color. (That’s not an exaggeration.) I recommend starting with the Basic Set of 5 and the Pastel Set.
Nikko G Nib for Pointed Pen Calligraphy
While you’re learning calligraphy, it’s easiest to start out with a stiff, non-scratchy nib. This Nikko G is the ticket. It’s still one of my favorite nibs years later because of the gorgeous hairlines and even pressure it provides.
Nib Holder
For dip pen calligraphy, I recommend an oblique nib holder. This wooden nib is not too heavy but also thick enough that it will prevent hand fatigue. Simply use a pair of pliers to reposition the metal parts to fit your nib, if necessary.
Left-handed? Opt for a straight nib holder instead.
Sumi Ink
Please trust me and start with sumi ink. The visoscity is perfect right out of the bottle, writes with an opaque line, and is very easy to manage. My favorites are the Zig Cartoonist Sumi Ink by Kuretake and the Yasutomo Sumi Ink Japanese Bokuju Black
Practice Paper
There is no need to purchase expensive practice paper to sharpen your calligraphy skills. Not all types of paper can withstand wet ink, so the key is to find paper sturdy enough that it will not bleed, but smooth enough to allow you to perfect your pen strokes. HP Premium 32 Printer Paper is the gold standard in affordable practice paper.
Amazing Guidebooks
Here are the books that I cannot live without. I reference them all of the time, and I buy them for my fellow artist friends:
Copperplate Calligraphy from A to Z: A Step-by-Step Workbook for Mastering Elegant, Pointed-Pen Lettering by Sarah Richardson
Mastering Modern Calligraphy: Beyond the Basics: 2,700+ Pointed Pen Exemplars and Exercises for Developing Your Style by Molly Suber Thorpe
Modern Calligraphy: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started in Script Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe
Creative Lettering and Beyond: Inspiring tips, techniques, and ideas for hand lettering your way to beautiful works of art by Kirkendall, Lavender, Manwaring, and Panczyszyn
That’s it! Now you’re ready!
Thank you for following along. Let’s keep in touch — I can’t wait to see what you create. I want to cheer you on the whole way, and if you need someone to geek out about letters with you, I’m your gal.
Cheers!
Shannon
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