Calligraphy Set Instructions
Calligraphy is an art form that involves decorative lettering and writing techniques. Many cultures have calligraphic traditions, including Europe, China and the Middle East. As one calligrapher, Claude Mediavilla, puts it, calligraphy is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner."
Many use calligraphy for wedding, ball or party invitations. Others have special quotes or poems made into calligraphic works of art and framed.
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Things You'll Need
- Calligraphic pen
- Assorted nibs
- Calligraphic ink
- Guide sheets
- High-quality paper
Instructions
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Tips and Guidelines
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1
Select a nib, and insert the blunt end into your pen holder. Dip the pen in ink until the ink covers the small hole in the center of the nib.
Tap the nib gently on the rim of the inkwell to get rid of excess ink. Also make a few strokes on scratch paper. This will prevent blots and large drips, which will mess up your writing once you start. You want solid lines that don't bleed.
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2
Refer to calligraphy letter sheets to understand the strokes that form a single letter. Use a guide sheet to begin practicing your strokes, and place the tip of the nib at an angle to the paper. Calligraphic writing isn't like writing in cursive; it can take two to four strokes to form a single letter. It takes a long time to attain the ease and grace of expression considered important in modern calligraphy.
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3
Lift your nib from the paper after each stroke. For thick lines, press down slightly on the nib's tip, and use less pressure for finer lines. Most calligraphers find it easier to make thicker strokes while going downward on the page, and thinner strokes when going upward.
For dots (like in "i" or "j"), pause and gently press the nib into the paper. Allow the ink to pool outward in a perfect circle.
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4
Practice your letters once you've attained fluidity with the strokes. Combine strokes to create letters; each letter or number emerges from a combination of calligraphic strokes.
Once the nib starts scratching at the page and the ink dries up, re-dip your pen in the ink and keep going.
Every so often, pause and take a step back in order to check the spacing and angle of the letters.
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References
- Photo Credit calligraphy image by Diana Wolfraum from Fotolia.com
