Calligraphy 101

2 || Learning Calligraphy

So, you want to learn calligraphy. But where do you start? This is where faux calligraphy cones in. When I was a beginner, faux calligraphy helped me get a feel for up and down strokes. At the time, I didn't own any brush pens or highlighters, nothing of the sort at all. But what I did have (and what you guys probably already have too) is a pencil and a pen.

Faux calligraphy is just writing in cursive text and going back over to thicken the down strokes. This is usually done with either a pencil, a ballpoint pen, a gel pen, or a fineliner. I think it's pretty important you get the hang of faux calligraphy before you move to brush calligraphy. It's not necessary, but it could also improve your skills too.

If you're unsure where the down strokes in a letter are, you can look up some images on the internet to help you. Something like a cursive letter chart will do the trick. I'm sorry I'm currently not able to provide you with the downstroke chart myself, I don't own any good equipment for digitizing my calligraphy. But anyway, moving on.

The next thing you want to learn is calligraphy with cone tip markers. Some good cone tip markers I can recommend are the crayola supertips, they come in a variety of colors and are really cheap. However, there are other name brand markers that also have cone tips, so don't be afraid to try them! Remember, it's not the materials that the calligrapher is using that makes their lettering good, it's the calligrapher that makes the magic happen.

So, why cone tip markers? Cone tip markers are quite hard and do not fray easily because they were made for children's use. So this gives you an advantage. You can learn how to apply pressure at the correct points without fraying the markers quickly. That way, you don't have to spend so much money on supplies.

Next, you can now move on to brush calligraphy. After learning calligraphy with cone tip markers, here comes the real deal: brush calligraphy. Brush markers work the same as cone tip markers; apply more pressure on down strokes, and only light pressure on up strokes.

I think most beginners' mistakes are applying the same amount of pressure on all strokes, or applying too much pressure. When you apply the same amount of pressure on all strokes, the words don't look as visually appealing. The same thing goes for applying too much pressure. In addition to that, if you regularly apply a lot of pressure you will fray your brush marker much, much faster.

I find that mastering brush calligraphy is just applying the right amounts of pressure at the right time. That amount will vary based on the brush marker you are using, and the sizes of your letters. With practice, you can become a good calligrapher.

Of course, learning all these things will take time and effort. It doesn't matter how you start out, just as long as you stay dedicated to your craft. Even the best calligraphers had to pass that learning curve. So fret not, and just keep writing!