Calligraphy (Greek for "beautiful writing") is the art of writing well and in a decorative way. It has been a practice that has spread across countless cultures for thousands of years. Although in the past it was used largely for religious purposes, it is now used in various fields. If you'd like to learn this beautiful art for your own pleasure, read below.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Writing in Beautiful Handwriting
Step 1. Outline or outline the general shape and layout
If you want, decide where you want to place the characters on the page. You can just leave the baseline fundamental lines or you can outline the space for each character. If you want to create something even more elaborate, you can design the entire page before starting.
Use a ruler to get the spacing right and look at examples of writing in your favorite style to copy the most important features
Step 2. Hold the writing utensil correctly
The calligraphy brush is held differently than the pens. The brush must also be held differently depending on whether it is used for Western or Eastern calligraphy. Holding the tool correctly will help you form the letters correctly.
- For oriental calligraphy, hold the brush so that it is almost straight with the first three fingers of the dominant hand. The closer you hold it to the bristles, the more defined the line will be. In this style, the elbow should be held high and the hand steady, moving the brush only with the fingers.
- For Western writing, use it almost like a regular brush. If you choose a Western calligraphy brush, rather than a pen, you will give the letters a rounder, smoother shape.
- For Western or Arabic calligraphy, hold the pen at a constant 30 ° -60 ° angle, with the nib tip pointing away from you, to the left. When the wide part of the nib is parallel to the paper, it creates a thicker line, but when it is perpendicular, it forms a thinner line instead. The technique for using the feather is very similar.
Step 3. Create the letters
Form the letters on the page. Pay attention to the handle. Use a variation in the line width to give the letters a nice shape. Keep your strokes even and proportionate.
- Make sure you don't move the writing tool too slowly. This will cause excess ink on the page, creating irregular bleed lines.
- Allow the ink to dry before touching the lines. Make sure you keep your wrist off the paper, otherwise you risk smudging the paper with ink.
Step 4. Use pressure to control line width
To achieve a harmonious handwriting, vary the width of the stroke. You can do this by controlling the angle of the drawing tool, but also by acting on the pressure. Press harder for short periods to get a thicker line, then use a very light touch to get those lines as fine as hair.
The different nibs will also help you get different line thicknesses. There are many different nibs, and some designs are better suited than others for making certain styles
Step 5. Use the correct stroke order
Each letter or symbol will consist of a few different sections. These sections are drawn in one motion, so they are called "strokes". The order in which you perform them is important, so you need to be careful.
- The order of the strokes will differ depending on the type of handwriting. The best way to get to know him is to get a specific book on the subject. A trick for Western calligraphy is essentially to use the same strokes, as if you were writing normally (vertical lines, then horizontal, for example).
- Not only does the order ensure that the sections overlap correctly and are regular, but it often also has a philosophical meaning!
Step 6. Protect the writing surface
You'll do well to make sure the paper you write on doesn't smudge. Some of these surfaces require preventive attention; write so that your hand is not in contact with the still wet ink. Also be careful to protect the paper from anything you may already have on your hands, such as grease. To protect the document, you can put an extra sheet of paper where you rest your hand.
Step 7. Add decorations
Once the ink is dry, you can add decorations and elaborations, in the form of illustrations, colors or gold embellishments. They will make the text stand out and give it more character.
Method 2 of 3: Practice Perfecting Your Skills
Step 1. Exercise freely
It is simply a matter of practicing any writing instrument available. The most important thing is that by doing so, you will get a steady hand and will be able to understand how the width of the stroke varies. By practicing freely, you will be able to gain experience quickly and easily, as you can do it anywhere, with minimal materials and little planning.
Step 2. Use the grid method
If you want to practice a little more formally, you can set up a grid to practice with. Draw a light grid, in pencil, with squares approximately 2.5 x 2.5 cm in size. Fill each line with repeated versions of each letter you want to practice, until the strokes are smooth and clean-looking.
Step 3. Follow the work of others
You can also learn to write beautifully by trying to recreate the work of others. Get handwriting pictures, taken from the Internet or from trade books, and cover the picture with tracing paper. Try to recreate the traits of the original. If you intend to use ink, be aware that it can go through the paper and stain the original document. Prepare accordingly.
To avoid smudging the sheet underneath, always try to use cheap photocopies or prints of the work you are analyzing. This will prevent you from rendering the original unusable
Method 3 of 3: Mastering Calligraphy
Step 1. Decide on the style that's right for you
There are different types of calligraphy, which correspond to the various calligraphic traditions existing around the world. Decide which one is right for you, based on your preferences and why you want to learn calligraphy.
- Western calligraphy is the style known to most people in the English-speaking world. This style was born with the creation of the Latin alphabet. It is frequently seen in bibles and illuminated manuscripts, often accompanied by illustrations.
- Oriental calligraphy is the Japanese, Chinese, or Korean style of decorative writing. Commonly practiced and celebrated in the East, calligraphy is usually used to write poetry, enrich paintings and other works of art.
- Arabic calligraphy is a usually religious art form, common in the Islamic world. Muslims believe that creating artwork depicting reality is morally wrong, as it is an insult to God. Calligraphy has become the main art form in this culture, precisely in response to this need.
Step 2. Sketch the ideas
Before starting a new piece, try to outline your ideas. Think about what you want to write and where you want to go. Think about the space you want to fill and how you intend to fill it. Draw a few small pictures quickly, with just a regular pen or pencil on a note pad, to be ready to create the final stroke.
Step 3. Find the best card
You will need some paper to draw on. You can use plain printer paper or more specific paper for beautiful handwriting. Use whatever material you like. Paper can be purchased at office stores, fine art stores, and specialty paper stores.
- Get some smooth paper. This will prevent the writing tool from getting caught in the paper grain or being deflected by it. Avoid greasy or waxy paper, as it won't absorb the ink. Use a sheet that doesn't smear the ink and dries quickly.
- Look for acid-free paper that is suitable for archiving. In this way you will be sure that the image will not age and lose its characteristics. Also look for "treated" paper, universally known as "sized", which was produced precisely to avoid ink smudging.
Step 4. Get a suitable writing utensil
You will need some kind of utensil with which to create your handwriting. While it is technically possible to do this with any utensil, there are some writing tools that are considered better than others. Which one to use, however, depends on the type of calligraphy you use and which tool you find best suited to your needs.
- The quill is a pen that is dipped in ink. It can be made of wood, plastic or a bone handle and has a metal nib (the pointed end that touches the paper). The nib is dipped in the ink and holds it in its tiny reservoir. This type of pen is very common in Arabic and Western writing, but can also be used for Eastern writing.
- Fountain pens are similar to quills, but draw the ink from a container inside the pen. While this ink occasionally needs to be replaced or refilled, you'll avoid the boredom of constantly having to dip the pen.
- The brushes, most commonly used for Eastern writing but also for Western writing, are sold in different formats, but usually they are all roughly the same shape. They are immersed in the ink and the pressure and direction of the strokes are used to vary the stroke.
Step 5. Get the best ink for your style
There are different types of ink and your choice will partially depend on the medium you write with. There are many colors, but black is the most commonly used in all styles of calligraphy. Use whichever you prefer.
- The ink sticks, which also require an ink stone, must be ground and mixed with water to form the ink to write with. They are a great option for calligraphers, because they allow you to get many different shades from the ink itself, depending on how it is mixed. They are bought in fine art stores and some Asian stores, as well as online.
- Inkwell ink is the most commonly used for calligraphy. This ink is available pre-mixed in a jar in which you have to dip the writing utensil. India ink is the most used and is easily available in fine art shops.
- Fountain pen ink is based on dyes and is used only for fountain pens. It is important to use only specific ink for this type of pens and nothing else, otherwise you risk clogging them. It is sold in pre-loaded cartridges, to be placed in the pen, or in jars with which to manually fill the pen.
Step 6. Use rulers or other guiding tools to get a professional result
You can create guidelines to make your work easier and make sure the writing is straight. You will also need a reference to write along a curved or circular line. Rulers and other guiding tools can help you keep your handwriting looking professional and rigorous.
Step 7. Secure the paper with tape or weights to make the job less frustrating
This way, you'll avoid moving or bumping the paper as you write. You can also use paper clips or a drawing board.
