Meditation and the body

This is a beginner’s guide, so you don’t have to know anything about calligraphy – or the art of “beautiful writing”, as it translates from the Greek (κάλλος (kallos) = beauty and γραφή (graphe) = writing).

Calligraphy is easy to learn, but like any craft, it needs practice. And actually, in this case practice is a lot of fun: it’s very enjoyable and calming to fill pages and pages with letters and curls and different words. I like to say practicing calligraphy feel like zen meditation to me – it certainly helps me to be more mindful of what I’m doing.

So now, on to the practical part.

Get the necessary supplies (paper, ink, nibs, guide sheet)

You’ll need a few essential supplies to get started. If you use quality tools from the beginning, everything will be much easier and you’ll see great results more quickly. Calligraphy isn’t very expensive, though. All you need in the beginning is a writing tool and a surface to write on. I’ll talk you through all the needed supplies and tell you in the end where to get them.

Nibs

The first thing you’ll need is a nib. Modern calligraphy is written with pointed nibs. These nibs have a pointed tip and are very flexible – this is what makes the letters look so interesting (this is also the factor that makes practice necessary). There is an overwhelming variety of different nibs, but for the start, you can focus on one or two models until you become comfortable using those. I usually recommend the Nikko G for beginners – it’s a very reliable and sturdy nib. You can read more about other suitable pointed nibs .

Nib holder

Next you’ll need a straight nib holder – these are available in plastic or wood, and the basic models are usually fairly inexpensive. Make sure you get one that features a general holder (see below). To insert the nib, wedge the back end of the nib between the metal ring and the inner prongs (not between the prongs) and make sure it sits tight.

Ink

Paper

As for paper, you’ll want to start practicing with a smooth paper that is a bit transparent, so that you can see your guide sheet underneath – Layout Paper does a good job. I use the Hahnemühle Layout Pad, it doesn’t bleed and the surface is very smooth so that the nib won’t snag. Normal printer paper is usually not a good choice, generally the ink will bleed to much on it. Certain printer papers work, however. You read read more about that . While layout paper is great for practice, later on, when you design your own projects, you should choose thick paper that’s not too textured. Bristol paper and some kinds of watercolor papers are a good choice.

In the beginning, you’ll probably want to use a guide sheet to keep your writing in straight lines. Guide sheets are available in a variety of flavors, you can download this one I’ve prepared for you, with slanted lines or without:

Lastly, you’ll need a bowl of water, a clean, soft piece of cloth and some rubbing alcohol or soap to clean your new nib before first usage.

Where to get your supplies

Preparing the nib and your workspace

I’ve prepared a  which you can print out and reference while you’re writing.

Words

It will take a long time to learn those letters, but be patient and stick with it – it’s worth it! If you don’t want to simply go from A to Z, try writing your initials or your name. Write the letters until you feel comfortable and don’t have to think about how to write – this is called building muscle memory. If you want to write whole sentences, you have to know how to write those letterforms in your sleep.

I’ve created a few worksheets with different calligraphic styles that have letters you can mimic and practice. Just choose whichever you like best, or write a whole page of A’s, B’s, C’s to see how many variants you can come up with, and then practice one until you master it.

• No. 1: A basic round, classic style
• No. 3: a very elegant style, with a few flourishes
• No. 4: an informal upright script style

• Try to keep your Downstrokes parallel
• Keep the x-height and the cap height consistent
• Ascender/Descender height

Don’t push the nib into the paper, it will catch on the fibers and the ink will likely splatter. Don’t apply too much pressure when writing upstrokes.

The ink wont flow:

This can happen if you hold the pen wrong – remember the 45° angle. Sometimes it’s a combination of nib and particular ink: try putting the very tip of your nib into water.

After a while of writing, ink can clog up your pen. Clean your nib in water and wipe it off with a clean cloth. When the ink is too thick, dilute your ink with a little bit of water (take a new container for this).

Important: keep practicing!

The most important tip that I can give you is to keep practicing (x3!), even short amounts of time every day make a difference. You will get better with practice over time, even if it doesn’t look like it after the first few minutes. You will get used to handling the pen, and you will see beautiful results if you keep consistent with your practice.