Calligraphy is one of the most useful things when it comes to cards, school projects and even just impressing people in general. With these simple tips and tricks, you will be able to master this skill in no time. If you don’t have a brush pen, don’t worry, I will be teaching you a method with which you can attempt calligraphy with only a pencil or fine liner.
What you will need:
brush pens/fine liner
A ruler
A pencil
An eraser
Smooth paper (if you intend to use a brush pen it is important to use paper with as little texture as possible as this will fray the tip of your pen)
Calligraphy with a brush pen
Brush pens are the most commonly used tools for calligraphy. Follow these few steps to get perfect calligraphy in just a few days:
1. Understanding pressure- one of the most important aspects of calligraphy is knowing when to apply pressure to give a thick line and when to relax pressure to get a thin line. The formula is simple: upstrokes are thin and down strokes are thick. What this means is that each time you move your pen upwards the line formed should be thin and each time you move your pen downward the line made should be thick.
So when you go down like when drawing lines of a ‘w’ that slant downward, apply more pressure. When drawing the lines that slant upward release the pressure on your hand. To get used to these pressure differences, it is helpful to do a few practice strokes.
For a practice stroke template, you can print out this PDF.
2. Letters-
Once you are familiar with the pressure differentiation, it’s time to move on to that alphabet. It is very important to get used to drawing letters before making words. To help with the letter proportions, draw 4 lines with equal distance between each to creating me three sections.
The middle section (x-height) can be used as a guide for letters like a, i,o, and x that are of ‘average height’. The top section (ascending letters) can be used as a guide for letters like l,h,t, and k or the ‘tall’ letters. Lastly, the bottom section is used for letters like p,g,y, and q or letters that dip below the line. In this pdf, you will find templates for both capital and lowercase letters.
3. Figure out your style- while writing letters make sure you explore the different ways to write the same letters so that you can figure out which kinds you like best.
4. Making words- if you are familiar with your letters then the word should come to you naturally. It isn’t necessary to connect each letter to the next but it is totally up to you. I would recommend lifting your pen after each stroke as this give you cleaner lines. You can continue using the 4 lines as a guide but feel free to go ahead without them.
5. Bounce-Once you are comfortable writing words, it’s time to have some fun. You can now add a bounce to letters by elongating and dipping some letters more than usual. This gives your words a more exaggerated and whimsical feel.
Calligraphy with a fine liner
If you don’t have a brush pen this method will work just as well:
1. Write a word in cursive or joint handwriting
2. Pick one side and make a line on each vertical line of the word on the side you have chosen. Make sure you stick to your side otherwise your letters might come out looking disproportionate.
3. Fill in the space between the letter and the line you have just drawn.
Voila! There you have it, calligraphy without a brush pen. This works with both fine liners and pencils
Calligraphy with a pencil
This method is a great substitute to calligraphy with brush pens if what you are writing is small.
1. Try a few practice strokes with a pencil making sure to apply pressure on the downstrokes to obtain a dark line and releasing pressure on the upstrokes to obtain a lighter line.
2. Write letters using the same principle of pressure and soon you will be doing perfect calligraphy with a pencil.
Practice
In all three of the above methods, practice is essential. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get it on the first go. Keep at it and I promise you won’t regret it. Remember that practice makes perfect!
Beautifully simplified & illustrated, the intricate process of calligraphy !
very useful and informative