How To Choose The Correct Calligraphy Pen and Ink For Beginners

If you are interested in getting started in learning calligraphy, you are likely to have a lot of questions. Which calligraphy pen and ink set do I need? What templates can I use? How often do I need to practice? I travel a lot—what is the best edc ink pen?

We’re going to dive into the key questions about getting started with calligraphy to help you choose the right pen and help you on your way to perfecting this skill.

What is calligraphy?

Calligraphy is much more than just writing pretty letters. “Calligraphy is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument.”

It continues to be popular today in wedding and other special event invitations, font and logo design, and memorial documents. Enthusiasts spend hours and hours perfecting their calligraphy skills and there’s a growing community of people trying their hand at this popular skill.

What are the benefits of practicing calligraphy?

Calligraphy requires a huge amount of focus, practice and patience. It is a mindful practice as the focus required also asks you to slow down and concentrate specifically on the movement of your hand and the marks on the paper. The practice of calligraphy builds patience because it is not always easy to master, and needs to practiced regularly to achieve good results. It can also boost confidence because once the skill has been mastered, the results are visible, so you can see instantly what you have to feel proud about.

What calligraphy pen should you choose?

There are lots of specialist calligraphy pens out there to choose from, in different styles and from different brands. But, before you splash out on a specialist calligraphy pen, you can practice the techniques with a luxury fountain pen, or even a ballpoint pen to begin with. Then, if you find you really enjoy practicing some of the techniques, you can move on to a specialist calligraphy pen and ink.

Why is the calligraphy pen nib important?

There are various nibs you can choose from. The most common are broad-edged calligraphy pens, pointed nib calligraphy pens or brush pens. The broad-edged calligraphy pen is perhaps the most popular as the nibs come in a variety of widths and can create some particularly dramatic symbols and letters. They are great for practicing with, to find a style of calligraphy you particularly enjoy and are drawn to.

What calligraphy ink should you use?

The ink you use for calligraphy is just as important as the pen. Good quality ink is always best as it is less likely to bleed through the paper to the other side, or feather. In calligraphy, the sharpness of the letters and symbols drawn is crucial, and feathering can ruin the overall effect. Always choose a good quality ink and a good quality paper, to reduce the risk of compromising the end result. You can often find calligraphy pen and ink sets which can be economical.

Practicing tips

While it isn’t always recommended by the experts, you can purchase stencils that can help guide your pen strokes. Most experts agree that to train yourself more effectively, you should start simply with a good pen, ink and paper, and no props.

First, it’s important to get to know how the nib works. Experiment with applying varying levels of pressure to the nib to achieve different effects. More pressure will result in a thicker, darker line, while light pressure will result in a thinner ‘hairline’. A good guide is to apply more pressure on the downward strokes and less on the upward strokes to achieve a calligraphy style of lettering.

Then, it’s a case of practice, practice, practice. The more you work on your craft, the better you will get