All About Calligraphy
Calligraphy is an old, visual art that stems from writing words. Ever seen some beautiful, cursive text on a page and wondered “How does that person write so well?!”
This calligraphy tutorial is all about calligraphy: from its history to its modern day uses and everything in between. I know that if you’re just starting off as a calligrapher, you probably have lots of questions. So grab your fountain pen and write them down in your best handwriting, because this calligraphy tutorial will answer them all!
History of Calligraphy
Before the development of typewriters, everything had to be written by hand. Huge, mammoth books like the Bible and all Latin texts were hand-written and passed down through the ages this way.
In Roman times, writers began to develop stunning letters to make important books and monuments more visually appealing. The Romans first used a metal stylus to carve letters into wax tables, before progressing to pen and ink on bark. If you’re one of the many history buffs out there, you can still hunt down some original, ancient text.
There are different traditions in calligraphy all over the world, with each country taking its own stance:
- Western calligraphy takes on the Latin script, an alphabet that was born way back in 600 BC. Writers were hired specifically to copy sacred texts in artistic lettering. (Unfortunately, electronic copiers weren’t around back then to do the work for them!). During the medieval times, Western calligraphic script took on its own unique feature. The first letter of every chapter in a book had to be emboldened in some way. There were strict rules, shapes and rhythms to follow.
- The oldest Chinese text was found on animal bones and tortoise shells, written with a brush. Some of this text dates back to 200 BC and amazingly, has survived to this day. Chinese characters were created through the skills of the writer, as well as the type of brush and water density of the ink.
- Indian calligraphy began on stone around 265 BC. One tradition dates back to over 2000 years and involves writing on smoke-treated palm leaves. Indian languages made their way onto paper in the 13th century, but many people favoured the palm leaf tradition and continued to write in this way.
Benefits of Calligraphy Today
Are you sitting there wondering how this ancient art is relevant today? Wonder no more! Here are the benefits of calligraphy and why you should still use it in the modern age.
- It is a good way to slow down and block out the noise of life. A little like yoga and meditation, it is just you, the pen and the paper. It’s somewhat of a unique hobby in a world that is overrun by computer screens.
- It’s a good brain-trainer. It’s good to learn a new skill at any age, as it improves neuroplasticity of the brain. This is the process that happens when you memorise something new.
- It’s a cheap hobby. Unlike many activities, calligraphy won’t break the bank. All you need is a good quality pen and good quality paper. Buy text books or use online guides to teach yourself, and away you go.
- Become more artistic. Calligraphy teaches you to slow down and really focus on every stroke and dash. You’ll start to enjoy the flow of the pen and be able to create masterpieces to impress yourself and everyone you know.
- Preserve traditions and go back to your roots. Just because you can log on to the internet, and find everything within seconds, doesn’t mean you have to! Many traditions sadly fade with time, but calligraphy is one that is still often honoured. You can bring culture back into your life with some ancient letter writing.
- It has some health benefits. Calligraphy offers benefits for your mental and physical health. It’s said to alleviate stress and lower blood pressure, as well as improve memory functions.
Calligraphy for Beginners
Calligraphy is an art that involves skill and practice. It helps if you’ve got that natural artistic flair, but if not, find a calligraphy tutorial and create your own flair!
Ready to begin your calligraphy career? Wise move! I’m going to tell you all about calligraphy and how you can get started as a complete beginner.
You will need:
- A nib and nib holder
- Black ink
- A straight pen
- Tracing paper
- Grid paper
- Paper (thick and thin varieties)
- A cup with water (to clean your nib)
Begin by attaching the nib to the nib holder and dipping it into black ink. You may feel like you’ve stepped straight out of an 1800’s movie, but it’s an important step of the process! Dip it just above the hole in the centre of the nib, otherwise you risk having too much ink on there.
The best way to learn is by doing. Use your tracing paper and complete a calligraphy worksheet. The Amy Style calligraphy worksheet is the most recommended for beginners, and some sellers provide video tutorials to help you along the way.
What is the best pen to learn to write with?
Like me, you may be used to the standard ball-point pen. It’s simple, it’s familiar and it’s not threatening, right?! When starting calligraphy, we have to cast our sights wider and get our hands around a new pen. You can usually hold an ink pen just like a regular pen – the more you practise, the more confident you’ll become.
It’s up to you to decide if you prefer a traditional dip pen or a cartridge-filled pen. A dip pen is more messy (are you ready for black, inky skin?!) but it offers a greater choice of inks and nibs. A cartridge pen is cleaner and more convenient, but it will limit you in your artistic choices.
As a beginner, a fountain pen could be the best pen to learn to write with. It offers a similar visual effect to calligraphy ink pens because of its italic nib. Start off here if you’re not yet ready to take the leap to nib and ink.
Otherwise, a great nib for beginners is the Nikko Comic Pen Nib. It is capable of producing crisp, smooth and thin lines and its firmness makes it easy to manage.
Making Money with Calligraphy
Write the literature for weddings, menus and almost anything else
Being able to do calligraphy – or knowing a calligrapher – can save you thousands! Offer your skills to friends that are getting married because you can guarantee they’ll need lots of things written. Menus, place names, invitations, programme designs and anything else. They’re all vital parts of a wedding and most new couples want stylish, artistic lettering.
Offer your services to businesses
With new businesses popping up all of the time, they’re all looking for something unique that can make them stand out. Many business owners are turning to calligraphers to create their sign or logo. This gives their business an individual stamp and trademark. A well-designed logo can give a business the starting point to success!
Turn your calligraphy into pieces of art
People always want art to decorate their homes, and calligraphy is a unique and traditional art form. Why not start a calligraphy business for art pieces? Create visually stunning pieces with your letters, and sell it to buyers that want to plaster their homes in poems, quotes or family memories.
Create an online marketplace
Whether you’re using your calligraphy skills for art, letters or menus, there are so many places online for you to market your goods. Online marketplaces like Etsy let you display your work and watch buyers come to you. You can create individual pieces for each person and build yourself a portfolio of satisfied customers.
As you become an expert calligrapher, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to grow and grow. There’s always more to learn! You’ll want to extend your ink collection and teach yourself as many styles as you can.
Let me warn you – the supplies and any training can become expensive! But balance the cost with the array of benefits and the chance to make extra income from calligraphy, and it becomes a hobby that’s worth learning. Hold onto your culture with that nib and ink!
