Calligraphy For Beginners
Today I like to share my Calligraphy For Beginners resources. Last time I posted about calligraphy was when I first started writing, you can find the post here: Calligraphy Learning Resources. Ever since my calligraphy has quite improved and I have found many different sources to help me along with my calligraphy.
I love to share all those new sources with you today. Calligraphy is not an expensive hobby, and it can be an income source if done right!
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Let’s get started…
Calligraphy For Beginners
Material:
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When starting out it’s important to get the right materials. A good nib, ink, and paper are crucial. They will make your calligraphy sessions fun and easy. As you gain your skills in calligraphy, you can try to mix it up and branch out, but when starting out you really need the right tools. |
Nib: The Zebra Comic G Nib, is similar but more flexible than the Nikko G nib. Chrome plated, smooth, long lasting. You probably only need one or two to start out.
Pen-holder: If you are right-handed, you should get an oblique holder. If you are left-handed, you should get a straight holder. I love the Tachikawa holder T-56.
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Ink: The Deleter Manga Ink 6, is my favorite ink so far. I purchased this ink at a local store, and was blown away how beautiful it flows, dries and writes. I also like the Higgins Eternal, which I used before I got the Deleter ink.
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Paper: Rhodia paper. Any pad of Rhodia paper will do, you can pick the size. They come in blank, lined, grid, or dot-grid. Maruman Mnemosyne Imagination Notebooks are also very similar to Rhodia paper. I am currently using both, love the Mnemosyne Imagination Notebook for quotes.
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Online Suppliers
Finding calligraphy materials locally can be a hit or miss, so you’ll have to do your own scouting wherever you live. Here are some great online suppliers of calligraphy materials:
JetPens http://www.jetpens.com/
Dick Blick http://www.dickblick.com
John Neal Bookseller http://www.johnnealbooks.com
Paper & Ink Arts http://www.paperinkarts.com
Calligraphy Starter Kits
Calligraphy kits can be found all over the Internet, some professional calligraphers sell custom calligraphy starter kits. These kits come with everything you need to get started, and they usually contain the calligrapher’s alphabet for you to practice. The only drawback is that all the cute packaging usually makes it more expensive. Here are some of the starter kits:
Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls (click here)
Printable Wisdom (click here)
Antiquaria (click here)
Laura Hooper Calligraphy (click here)
Linea Carta (click here)
Everly Calligraphy (click here)
Design Roots (click here)
Online Classes & Tutorials
Antiquaria (tutorials)
I Still Love Calligraphy/Melissa Esplin (classes)
Skillshare (classes)
The Postman’s Knock (video & worksheets)
Books
There are, obviously, many more books out there, but these are my three favorites. I own the first two and really like them.
Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe
Calligraphy Workshops
Many professional calligraphers teach workshops around the country. I have yet to attend one of these workshops, so if you happen to have the time and space to do so, I will try not to be jealous. Here is a list of my favorite calligraphers whose workshops I would love to attend, in no particular order:
Angelique Ink, California & Sydney (click here)
Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls, San Francisco & worldwide (click here)
Kathy Milici, Newton, NJ & nationwide (click here)
Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Washington D.C, LA, Chicago & Toronto (click here)
Paperfinger, Brooklyn & Portland (click here)
Molly Jacques, Detroit & nationwide (click here)
Antiquaria, Austin (click here)
Meant To Be Calligraphy, Washington D.C. (click here)
Blue Eye Brown Eye, Dallas & nationwide (click here)
Linea Carta, Los Altos, CA (click here)
Design House of Moira, San Diego & Scottsdale, AZ (click here)
K.A.Kalligraphy, Newport Beach (click here)
Free Printables
Calligraphy Guide Sheet Template by SideProjectMag (click here)
“I can’t feel my face” quote by Angelique Ink (click here)
Kaitlin Style Calligraphy Worksheets (click here)
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Wow, that was quite a bit of information. I hope you’ll be able to find your preferred calligraphy classes and material. And remember the key to improving your calligraphy is simply just to practice. I practice almost every day, for up to 30 minutes. There is no replacement for practice. Even just a few minutes a day and you’ll be amazed how quickly your penmanship can improve!
Next week, I am planning to teach you how to transfer your calligraphy onto any surface using Photoshop (example: my featured watercolor calligraphy image above).
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Great list of resources! I just did a workshop in Calligraphy and have fallen in love with how much focus and concentration it takes, I feel very zen afterwords haha. I’m pinning this since it has just about everything one could need when learning calligraphy, Thanks!!
Thank yo so much for pinning my list of resources. I love calligraphy, would love to go to a workshop myself!