Stamp in My Passport: calligraphy

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

One of my goals a few weeks ago was to find a calligraphy class or tutorial to put my new pens and ink to good use. And I couldn't be more thrilled with Molly Jacques' class on Skillshare. Her video tutorials walk you step-by-step through understanding the different nibs and supplies, to making your first strokes and ultimately to creating your own alphabet style.

While I am still in the process of tracing over guides and practicing consistency in shape and space, it's been so much fun the past few weeks. I've yet to submit any of my work yet to be critiqued by peers or Molly, so I thought I would share a little bit of it with you first. Perhaps you'll be a less judging audience?

I can't wait to keep moving forward past learning someone else's writing style and creating my own. Who knows, maybe I'll be addressing friends' invitations before too long?

The next step really is to learn how to keep ink from getting all over my fingers.

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

I've always been told that I have neat handwriting. And that I hold my pens and pencils strange, but I blame my teachers for never correcting me. For Christmas, I recieved a basic tool kit to teach myself calligraphy. I've always wanted to have a hobby/creative talent, and thought, what better time to start?

So now I am in search of tutorials and youtube videos to teach myself.

The front-runner (and most expensive at $95) is the 30 day online course supervised by Melissa Esplin of I Still Love Calligraphy. With 8 lessons and printable guides for practice, you will learn Copperplate Calligraphy and pointed pen techniques. While in the course, you can upload your work and get feedback from Melissa each week. On top of teaching the traditional techniques, she also talks about how to put your own spin on it.

Here are other sites and tutorials that I have found.

1. The Flourish Forum's Contemporary Pointed Pen Calligraphy tutorial

2. Digital download beginner tutorial (including terminology, how to dip a pen, etc.)

3. Modern Calligraphy by graphic designer Molly Suber Thorpe (blog: Plurabelle)

And now for a little inspiration.