Calligraphy for beginners: 6 Easy tips to start with

Are you looking for a new skill? Or want to try your hand at calligraphy? Well, I wouldn’t blame you as calligraphy has grown in popularity over the past few years, so to give you an excellent start here we would like to share some of our tips.

Truth be told, Calligraphy is not as easy as some handwritten words. It takes the right approach towards the right script and a lot of practice. Generally, beginners give up this skill due to unproductive results at first. Their high expectation turns into frustration and disappointment but the truth is this skill wants you to have patience and consistency with it.

You don’t have to put your morale down if you know nothing about calligraphy. With these tips, you will take a lot of knowledge and you will develop the right approach to calligraphy.

1.  Research your tool and start with basic script

The first thing to know is that calligraphy has different types of script ranging from traditional to modern styles, it is not easy to grasp the techniques of the advanced script as a beginner so I would suggest you pick a basic script to understand the concepts first and to stay motivated.

Once you shortlist the script you want to learn then research the right tool for it. If you are an absolute beginner then start with professional calligraphy papers and a fountain pen because you can practice your technique without needing to dip back into the inkwell. 

However, there are a few different tools you can use like brushes, nibs, feather quills, and different types of calligraphy pens.

2.  Practice only one script as a beginner to understand the calligraphy principles.

I know that feeling to get carried away in the excitement of learning the different types of calligraphy script but believe me, as a beginner you have to stick with only one script and understand the basics first. It is also important to understand your supplies and develop the skill to use them effectively.

Once you understand the principles after dedicatedly investing your 8-10 months on a single script then you will have the confidence to learn other scripts from scratch.

3.  Pick the nib that suits the style.

Calligraphy pens aren’t designed to use as regular pens and calligraphy nibs come in a different range of widths. It can be round or flat so you have to choose it according to your script style, for instance, round tips are the best option for copperplate script (cursive style script) and chisel tips work great to create thick downward and thin upward strokes. 

4.  Practice regularly even if you are not satisfied with the results.

I know how disappointing it feels like when you put dedication and hard work into the hours but did not get the desired result. It happens! And that’s okay! I recommend you not to put so much pressure on yourself and don’t compare your work with anyone. Instead of this, believe in yourself and trust your work that it’ll get better with practice.

You can take some time out every day and practice on the best calligraphy papers to enhance your skills or you can use some practice sheets too.

5.  Consider practicing basic stokes first rather than letters

Basics are the essential facts we need to understand first to excel in any skill. They are the building blocks so in calligraphy it’s even more important to practice your basic strokes first rather than jumping on letterforms.

Once you get the quality calligraphy pens you get good with strokes too then your letters will automatically slide into place. This is one of the best calligraphy tips for beginners.

6.  Review your work from time to time.

In Calligraphy- Nobody gets perfect in their first go, initially, you may not like your work but by reviewing and comparing the record of your practice sheets you will be able to see how far you have come and then you will recognize the core value of your every stroke or each letter.

Conclusion

It’s time for the last stroke of this article. I am sure these tips will help you to give a great start and uplift the motivation to keep doing calligraphy. Remember! The starting could be challenging but if you keep practicing and devote your efforts and energy to calligraphy then the end will be far more exquisite.