Calligraphy for Beginners: Basic Supplies and Needs

This is an updated blog from my post on WordPress: Basic Calligraphy for Beginners

If you want to learn modern calligraphy, but have no idea how to get started, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ll guide you through all the necessary steps to learn calligraphy: choosing basic supplies, the perfect places to hoard your tools, and the best practicing routine.

Since lettering and calligraphy have made such a gigantic rebound so far, it’s not difficult to see a huge amount of resources online. Be that as it may, I’m here to share a little bit of what I’ve learned in the past few months practicing this craft. And today, I'll be guiding you on the different types of media used in calligraphy.

Here are the basic supplies you might want to try:

Pointed Pen Nib– A pen nib is the metal tip of the pen that holds your ink. As a beginner, it’s good idea to look for a large, stiff pen nib, which makes it easier to control while practicing this delicate art.
I found out that the Tachikawa and the Nikko G nibs were great for beginners.

Pen Holders– Of course, you’ll need something to hold the pen nib, and that is where the pen holders come into place. You may have a few options:
a. You can choose a straight holder or an oblique holder
b. You can choose a plastic or wooden holder

Markers– Choose a marker that can write thick lines and thin lines. Lil’ hands markers and Crayola super tips are great for beginners.

Ballpoint Pens– Ballpoint pens are usable for faux calligraphy (fake calligraphy). I highly recommend to practice first on ballpoint pens before using different kinds of pens.

Paint Brush. After studying different kinds of pens, you may now proceed to a real paint brush! This material is a bit complicated and hard to use but you’ll just need some hand controls and lot of practice to master this one. You may have a few options:

a. Round brush- You may use the Berkeley 000 brush for great letters!

b. Flat brush. This type of brush is applicable for Gothic and old English fonts.

Pencils– This is one of my favorite. It can also be used for faux calligraphy and it can make super thin lines! Any kind and brands of pencils will do.

Water brush– Unlike paint brushes, water brush’s tips are more firm and flexible. Sakura Koi, Zig Aquarelle and Faber Castell are the brands offering this product.

Brush Pen– This is my favorite! Brush pens are very easy to use. It allows you to create stunning letters and flourishes because the tips are flexible and soft. You may try Platinum brush pens, Tombow dual pens and Marvy Uchida among many others.

Parallel Pen– Parallel pens have parallel tips that will alow you to create old english fonts, gothic and italic fonts. You may try the Pilot parallel pen and other cheap broad markers.

Paints– This will serve as your ink to your paint brush and water brushes. You may use:

a. Watercolor in tubes- Just dilute your watercolor in small amount of water.

b. Watercolor in cakes- You’ll just dip your brush in water and gently wipe it on your cakes.
You may also use watercolors to create stunning backgrounds such as florals, landscapes and even galaxies!

Inks– Of course, without inks you won’t be able to use your pen nibs and brushes. I highly recommend Sumi Ink and an Indian Ink for black and Dr. Martin ph for the variation of colors.

Papers– Without papers, you won’t be able to make stunning calligraphy works! Use a 250 gsm paper for pointed pen and parallel pens and use either a vellum board or watercolor paper for both watercolor calligraphy and pointed nibs. And you may use an ordinary bond paper for ballpoint pens and pencils.

~That's it for today, I hope you've learn something about the basics of calligraphy and if you want to learn more about this stuff, stay tune always! Thank you!