A Guide to Calligraphy at Any Age

Have you ever considered calligraphy or wanted to learn this ancient art like funny meat sayings? If so, here is a great guide to help you get started learning calligraphy at any age and level. Learn how to use a calligrapher’s ink, what type of writing tools you will need, as well as how to hold and place the pen. You can also learn about different styles of handwriting.

Calligraphy isn’t just an art form anymore; it is the oldest known writing system in existence that has been used by humans since the third millennium BC! It is still used today in its original form by some cultures such as Hebrew, Arabic, and Chinese languages.

1. Preparing your workspace

Calligraphy requires a comfortable working space. If you don’t have a table, it is still possible to practice calligraphy sitting down in a chair or on the floor. The ink should be kept in an airtight container to keep it from drying out. Another important thing to remember is to keep everything you need available and within arm’s reach from your work space. This includes writing utensils, paper, and any other tools that will be needed for writing calligraphy letters.

2. Supplies needed for Calligraphy

The tools and supplies used in calligraphy can vary greatly depending on the style and method of writing. A beginner will only need a few basic supplies to get started:

Penholder – this is the most important tool; without it, you cannot practice calligraphy.  Calligraphers use dip pens that are made up of a nib attached to a handle. However, if you have trouble using dip pens, there are other types of pen holders that you can use. You can also learn how to make your own calligraphy pen out of common household items such as popsicle sticks or dowels and inexpensive materials like paintbrushes and glue.

3. Mixing Inks

There are many different types of calligraphy inks that you can choose from. Educators generally use water based ink and calligraphers use a combination of ink and water for their dipping technique, also known as “watercolor” calligraphy. There are many different methods of mixing inks for each type. 

4. Paper

The type of paper you use for calligraphy depends on the ink that you are using. Most calligraphy inks are water-based, which means that the paper should be made for watercolor paintings. If you wish to use a non-water based ink, you need to verify that the ballpoint pen or marker is acid free and won’t cause any damage to the paper. Good quality paper will last longer than cheap cardstock and is less prone to buckling, curling, or cracking when using water-based inks. 

5. Writing surface

You can choose any solid and dry surface where you can comfortably practice calligraphy. If you have no other choice, you can use a small chalkboard or a piece of parchment paper. You can also create your own paper by combining regular copy paper with parchment paper and watercolor paint. You will need to lightly dampen the copy and parchment papers first.

6. Backing Paper

For making master copies of your work, you’ll need to use a paperback book or newsprint for calligraphy practice. If you are practicing white-on-black calligraphy, the backing should be made from the same watercolor paper that is used for writing letters.

7. Noses

A calligrapher uses a number of different tools called “noses”. These noses are consist of different metal tools such as:

Brush, sticks, and quills. These are all typically used for blending, building up letterforms, cleaning the ruler lines on the page and sewing lines together.

There is no need to buy these as they can be improvised with simple things like wood sticks, pens or pencils.

8. Ruler/Tally Marker

A ruler or tally marker is another important tool that you must always have with you while practicing calligraphy. The rule should be made with a piece of flat metal that can easily bend. It should be the same length and width of your paper. You can also cut different sizes out of a thin piece of cardboard. The rule is used for aligning the pen in such a way that it doesn’t disrupt the flow of the letterform, it keeps your letters unbroken and ensures you have straight lines.

9. Tape

Painting tape helps in masking off certain areas so that you don’t get paint on your other supplies and hands when painting.

10. Hammer and Nail

This is used for scraping excess paint off the back of your paper to reveal your letterforms. While the paper may dry, you can use a heat gun to gently warm the surface so that you can scrape the dried paint off.

11. Paper Towel

Used for wiping off your pen nibs after each ink stroke so that you don’t contaminate the ink in your dip pen. The paper towel should be folded into fourths and can be reused until it becomes too soaked or starts leaving lint on your writing tools and supplies.

Summary:

In a previous article, I outlined some of the reasons why I think calligraphy is a good hobby for Aikidoka and other martial artists. In this article, I have provided you with a short guide on how to get started learning calligraphy no matter what age you are or skill level. You can easily improvise or make your own calligraphy pen out of things you already have at home and cheap supplies. You never know when practicing calligraphy will come in handy.