CALLIGRAPHY
In this unit you will learn about the ancient art of Calligraphy, the visual art of writing. There are antique and modern forms of calligraphy as it tends to come back in style every so often. Lately, calligraphy has become hugely popular because of its use in journaling. It has become a DIY favorite. But Calligraphy has a long and rich history, spanning generations and cultures. Though the examples here many be traditional American/European, please feel free to adapt them to Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi...anything you'd like! (But do come talk to me about it because some of the rules, like what angle to hold your pen, might be different!)
Tools of the Trade:
There are a number of different tools that can be used in calligraphy; brush-tip marker pens, fountain pens, ink and dip pens, watercolor and paintbrushes or ink and brushes can be used. Then there are different inks to consider...It's definitely a hobby with a lot of fun accessories. I suggest trying a few until you find what works best for you. There are a few rules to follow, but then it comes down to practice, practice practice!
Examples of traditional calligraphy:
Here are some modern calligraphy examples:
Cultural Examples:
Hindi:
Japanese:
Arabic:
Before we get started, there are some rules:
-
Hold your pen diagonally at a 30 to 60 degree angle, with the nib turned at a 45 degree angle. A calligraphy pen isn't used quite the same way as a regular pen. ... (The flat part should move across the page at a 45 degree angle).
*If using a brush pen, you still need to hold it at a similar angle to let the brush tip create thicker marks when you need it to.
More Rules:
2. Don't twist the nib as you write! Keep
your angles steady.
3. Don't Lead the nib backwards or
sideways across the paper. ...
4. Apply light pressure. ...
5. Keep your lines parallel.
Let's Practice!
So the first thing you need to do is decide what kind of calligraphy you want to do. Traditional? Modern? Second, you need to decide what medium you want to use. I think the style of calligraphy you choose will lead to what medium might be best, but we can discuss this if you aren't sure.
Regardless of what you choose, all practice starts the same...with REPETITION. A LOT OF REPETITION. Practice every letter of the alphabet at least three times in both lower case and capitals. Follow the directions for what strokes to use, and in what order to do them, to create the letters. If you choose an online source for a font, make sure it includes these directions!
What you will need:
To start:
- A Calligraphy Booklet (ask me),
or a font from an online source.
- Calligraphy paper (It's transparent
and can be used with line guides.
- A calligraphy pen, marker, brush with
paint, or a dip pen with ink.
Practice pages should look like this:
Next begin linking letters to form words. Again, repeat words to practice.
Let's start stringing those letters together into words. Random words are fine, it doesn't really matter as long as you practice them repeatedly. You are learning how to connect letters while developing your muscle memory! Here are some great examples:
