Many people admire the beauty of calligraphy and enjoy doing calligraphy, and it is no wonder why they do.
Calligraphy is a wonderful outlet for artistic expression and also a deeply satisfying personal skill.
But...
One common remark is "That calligraphy piece is so beautiful, but I'll never be able to learn it."
That can't be further from the truth.
Calligraphy is simple, fun and easy to learn if you know the exact steps to take.
This article will teach you how to learn calligraphy by just following this simple, proven 5-step method.
But First, Which Calligraphy Hand Should You Learn?
Before we start, you have to first decide the calligraphy hand that you want to learn.
There are many calligraphy hands: Spencerian, Copperplate, Italic, Gothic etc. and each has it distinctive style and characteristics.
However, it is strongly recommended that you start out with the Italic Hand, because:
However, that being said, you should choose a hand (style) which you like or wish to learn.
If you decide to learn Italic Calligraphy, the following 5 simple and proven steps will be particularly useful in showing you how to learn calligraphy.
Here are are 5 proven and effective steps that you can take to learn calligraphy quickly and easily.
Step #1: Gather Your Supplies
Before you start with anything, the first thing you've gotta do is to gather your supplies.
The supplies needed to write or learn calligraphy are simple and inexpensive. This is a list of recommended supplies:
1. Calligraphy pen (broad-edge nib)
2. Paper
3. Pencil
4. Ruler
5. Eraser
Step #2: How To Hold Your Pen
With your supplies in hand, it's time to move on to step #2.
Once you have the right tools, you can start practicing how to hold your calligraphy pen correctly. You should ensure that it is always held with the nibs point away from your body, upwards and slightly left. Keep it at a 45-degree angle constantly.
Once in awhile, you may realise that you have the pen slightly a little to stay comfortable, and the angle is no longer at 45 degrees.
That should be fine, as long as it does not go past the 35-degree mark. However, the optimal angle is still 45 degrees.
If you want to create a thick line, you will need to use the wider part of the pen, do the opposite to create a thinner line. You should be able to do this by holding your pen firmly in a 45-degree angle:
You must remember this point because if you do not get this right you will NEVER be able to write beautiful calligraphy (no I'm not exaggerating).
Step #3: Letter Formation
After learning how to hold your pen and understand how to wield it, you are ready to move on to forming the calligraphy alphabet!
Also, always pay attention to your pen angle - always keep it at 35-45 degrees to get the most desirable effect.
Also, it would help to have model examples (exemplars) of how letters should be formed.
Find an exemplar, then copy and trace the letters shown in that exemplar for practice. You will see yourself improving fast.
It is also recommended that you create your own calligraphy rules when learning how to form the letters.
They keep your letter size consistent and even - bid goodbye to uneven, chaotic calligraphy!
Practice rules generally consist of 4 lines - the ascender line, waist line (or x line), base line (or writing line) and the descender line.
These lines are typically separated by a distance equivalent to 5 widths of the pen nib that you are using.
When you learn calligraphy and practice your letters, calligraphy guidelines ensure that your letters are of a consistent size. You will find that they are a great deal of help in your practice.
Step #4: Keep On Practicing!
If you want to learn calligraphy, you've got to practice.
There is no way round that; there is no shortcut that takes practice out of the equation. However, if you follow these 5 steps and practice accordingly, you'll be able to create your very own calligraphy masterpieces in no time at all.
There are 3 important things to note in this step:
You've got your basics, you know how to form letters, and you're practicing hard.
Can you now create beautiful calligraphy pieces or crafts worthy of being gifts?
Possible, but probably not yet.
You need to get to the last step - which is learning to detect and correct the errors in your calligraphy.
This is the part where you learn to become an independent calligraphy who is perfectly capable of coaching himself. You know exactly what a beautiful calligraphy piece is like and how to create it yourself.
In the course of learning calligraphy, you will make mistakes. How fast you are going to learn calligraphy will depend on how fast you can detect these mistakes. Many beginners waste lots of time and effort practicing without knowing that they are doing it wrongly.
So if you want to save time and spare yourself all that unnecessary frustration, it is very important that you are able (or have someone help you) to identify your mistakes early so that these mistakes do not turn into habits in the future.
Avoiding an error is so much easier than unlearning it once it has become a habit, so make sure that you detect and correct those errors early.
There are many types of errors that you can make in calligraphy and there are always the common few that beginners make. One example would be the arches of "m" or "n" being too rounded.
Summary
To recap, here are the 5 steps:
Step #1: Gather your supplies
Step #2: Learn how to hold your pen
Step #3: Learn how to form letters
Step #4: Keep on practicing!
Step #5: Correcting your errors and perfecting your craft
Now that you know the 5 proven steps to take and how to learn calligraphy in the comfort of your own home... All that's left to do is to practice, practice and practice!
Before you know it, you will be able to write beautiful calligraphy.
Knowing how to learn calligraphy is not all that difficult at all!
Calligraphy is a wonderful outlet for artistic expression and also a deeply satisfying personal skill.
But...
One common remark is "That calligraphy piece is so beautiful, but I'll never be able to learn it."
That can't be further from the truth.
Calligraphy is simple, fun and easy to learn if you know the exact steps to take.
This article will teach you how to learn calligraphy by just following this simple, proven 5-step method.
But First, Which Calligraphy Hand Should You Learn?
Before we start, you have to first decide the calligraphy hand that you want to learn.
There are many calligraphy hands: Spencerian, Copperplate, Italic, Gothic etc. and each has it distinctive style and characteristics.
However, it is strongly recommended that you start out with the Italic Hand, because:
- It is very versatile - it can be adapted for a more contemporary modern look, or written in a more classic style.
- It has dynamic, rhythmic strokes
- Can be used for almost any occasion - addressing envelopes, wedding invitations, cards to friends, creating art pieces, etc.
- It is easy to learn, unlike other styles such as Copperplate or Spencerian.
- It is highly engaging and learning Italic calligraphy brings medititative pleasure
However, that being said, you should choose a hand (style) which you like or wish to learn.
If you decide to learn Italic Calligraphy, the following 5 simple and proven steps will be particularly useful in showing you how to learn calligraphy.
Here are are 5 proven and effective steps that you can take to learn calligraphy quickly and easily.
Step #1: Gather Your Supplies
Before you start with anything, the first thing you've gotta do is to gather your supplies.
The supplies needed to write or learn calligraphy are simple and inexpensive. This is a list of recommended supplies:
1. Calligraphy pen (broad-edge nib)
2. Paper
3. Pencil
4. Ruler
5. Eraser
Step #2: How To Hold Your Pen
With your supplies in hand, it's time to move on to step #2.
Once you have the right tools, you can start practicing how to hold your calligraphy pen correctly. You should ensure that it is always held with the nibs point away from your body, upwards and slightly left. Keep it at a 45-degree angle constantly.
Once in awhile, you may realise that you have the pen slightly a little to stay comfortable, and the angle is no longer at 45 degrees.
That should be fine, as long as it does not go past the 35-degree mark. However, the optimal angle is still 45 degrees.
If you want to create a thick line, you will need to use the wider part of the pen, do the opposite to create a thinner line. You should be able to do this by holding your pen firmly in a 45-degree angle:
You must remember this point because if you do not get this right you will NEVER be able to write beautiful calligraphy (no I'm not exaggerating).
Step #3: Letter Formation
After learning how to hold your pen and understand how to wield it, you are ready to move on to forming the calligraphy alphabet!
Also, always pay attention to your pen angle - always keep it at 35-45 degrees to get the most desirable effect.
Also, it would help to have model examples (exemplars) of how letters should be formed.
Find an exemplar, then copy and trace the letters shown in that exemplar for practice. You will see yourself improving fast.
It is also recommended that you create your own calligraphy rules when learning how to form the letters.
They keep your letter size consistent and even - bid goodbye to uneven, chaotic calligraphy!
Practice rules generally consist of 4 lines - the ascender line, waist line (or x line), base line (or writing line) and the descender line.
These lines are typically separated by a distance equivalent to 5 widths of the pen nib that you are using.
When you learn calligraphy and practice your letters, calligraphy guidelines ensure that your letters are of a consistent size. You will find that they are a great deal of help in your practice.
Step #4: Keep On Practicing!
If you want to learn calligraphy, you've got to practice.
There is no way round that; there is no shortcut that takes practice out of the equation. However, if you follow these 5 steps and practice accordingly, you'll be able to create your very own calligraphy masterpieces in no time at all.
There are 3 important things to note in this step:
- Always pay attention to the way you are holding the pen. This way, you'll always get the thicks and the thins of each letter right. Make sure that you are holding it firmly with the nib to a 45-degree angle and let the pen do its magic.
- Don't stop in-between strokes. When you make a stroke, finish it all at one go. For example, don't make a long "l" by joining a few shorter strokes.
- Take it slow. Thinking of "writing" calligraphy as "drawing" instead will help you a lot in your learning calligraphy. 'Draw' each stroke and focus on drawing a perfect stroke. You will be amazed at how this small paradigm shift makes a huge difference in your calligraphy.
You've got your basics, you know how to form letters, and you're practicing hard.
Can you now create beautiful calligraphy pieces or crafts worthy of being gifts?
Possible, but probably not yet.
You need to get to the last step - which is learning to detect and correct the errors in your calligraphy.
This is the part where you learn to become an independent calligraphy who is perfectly capable of coaching himself. You know exactly what a beautiful calligraphy piece is like and how to create it yourself.
In the course of learning calligraphy, you will make mistakes. How fast you are going to learn calligraphy will depend on how fast you can detect these mistakes. Many beginners waste lots of time and effort practicing without knowing that they are doing it wrongly.
So if you want to save time and spare yourself all that unnecessary frustration, it is very important that you are able (or have someone help you) to identify your mistakes early so that these mistakes do not turn into habits in the future.
Avoiding an error is so much easier than unlearning it once it has become a habit, so make sure that you detect and correct those errors early.
There are many types of errors that you can make in calligraphy and there are always the common few that beginners make. One example would be the arches of "m" or "n" being too rounded.
Summary
To recap, here are the 5 steps:
Step #1: Gather your supplies
Step #2: Learn how to hold your pen
Step #3: Learn how to form letters
Step #4: Keep on practicing!
Step #5: Correcting your errors and perfecting your craft
Now that you know the 5 proven steps to take and how to learn calligraphy in the comfort of your own home... All that's left to do is to practice, practice and practice!
Before you know it, you will be able to write beautiful calligraphy.
Knowing how to learn calligraphy is not all that difficult at all!
