Calligraphy Tutorials: Learn by Writing

Write here, write now.

Below you’ll find a list of calligraphy tutorials for beginners for you to be introduced to my teaching style, attention to detail and in-depth approach while writing. Welcome to my immersive hands-on experience to learn by doing!

CALLIGRAPHY TUTORIALS

Table of Contents

1. Tutorial: Intro to Copperplate Calligraphy for beginners

2. Tutorial: Copperplate Frequently Asked Questions | Inks

3. Tutorial: Common Mistakes Writing Copperplate | Angle of the Writing

4. Tutorial: Writing Copperplate Calligraphy | Quote by John Kabat

5. Tutorial: Copperplate Calligraphy Variations | Ligatures

7.  Tutorial: Intro to Neuland Calligraphy For Beginners

8.  Tutorial: How to make a calligraphy pen out of bamboo

9.  Tutorial: Introduction to Pentel Touch Sign Brush Pen

10.  Tutorial: Writing a quote with a Pentel Touch Sign Brush

11.  Tutorial: Introduction to Pentel Aquash Water Brush Pen

12. Tutorial: Introduction to Italic Calligraphy For Beginners

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Tutorial: Intro to Copperplate Calligraphy For Beginners

This video covers a comprehensive introduction to Copperplate calligraphy. I demonstrate the essential tools, including an oblique pen holder with a Leonardt Principal Extra Fine nib for right-handers, and walnut ink made from crystals mixed with water.

This tutorial explains the five defined areas/units in Copperplate calligraphy, including x-height, short ascenders, long ascenders/cap height, short descenders and long descenders, with emphasis on maintaining a 55-degree slant.

This demo provides detailed guidance on proper pen holding techniques, paper positioning at 45 degrees, and the importance of maintaining parallel alignment with the slant lines. For beginners, I recommend using Nikko G or Zebra G nibs as they are less flexible and easier to control. You can learn more about calligraphy materials on my supplies section.

Tutorial Highlights

• Introduction to tools and materials
  
• Understanding Copperplate guidelines and structure
  
• Proper tool handling and positioning
  
• Paper positioning and writing angle (slant)
  
• Basic strokes and pressure techniques
  

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2. Tutorial: Copperplate Frequently Asked Questions | Inks

In this Copperplate calligraphy tutorial, I am answering questions many of my students have previously enquired about such as “What type of ink do you use?”. Here are a summary of the inks and paints I touch upon.

• Walnut ink
• Talens liquid watercolours
• Sumi ink
• Finetec/Coliro
• Winsor & Newton ink
• Dr Martins beedproof white

Head to the inks & paints section to more personal recommendations. The tutorial below is part of my Level 1 course called Intro to Copperplate Calligraphy which you can enrol for here.

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3. Tutorial: Common Mistakes Writing Copperplate | Angle of the Writing

I have been writing Copperplate calligraphy since 2011. I have been teaching it since 2014. After more than a decade reviewing student’s work, I have identified some common mistakes, including:

• Finger movements only, when instead other movements may be required
• Holding your breath instead of synchronising it with your up and downstrokes
• Lack of consistency by the amount of pressure performed on the downstrokes
• Short and quick exit strokes instead of holding the pen long enough until it takes off fluidly
• Incorrect pen positioning
• A different angle of the writing than the contemporary standard of 55 degrees

The tutorial below is focused on the last point, and gives you in-depth detail about many aspects of the slant/slope or angle of the writing. Happy lettering!

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4. Tutorial: Writing Copperplate Calligraphy | Quote by John Kabat

In this video, I write one longer quote using Copperplate calligraphy in real time, so you can appreciate the real speed of my writing and the thought process I use behind it. This tutorial is part of my Level 2 course called Pump Up Your Copperplate.

Quote by John Kabat

“You cannot imitate someone else's journey and still be true to yourself”.

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5. Tutorial: Copperplate Calligraphy Variations | Ligatures

In this short video I’m explaining the meaning of a calligraphic ligature and I’m showing several examples where applying a ligature may create an interesting effect or it may be too forced. The words I'm demonstrating are: attention, the, contact, hint, vintage and roller.

This tutorial is part of my Level 3 course called Copperplate Variations.

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6. Tutorial: Sharing my Design Process | Calligraphic Editorial

My creative practice is set by the principles of never stop learning, sharing knowledge and create emotion through my work.

Following these principles, I’m sharing with you the design process behind a Copperplate calligraphy editorial, recently awarded by TDC70 and Communication Arts Magazine. Get in touch if you have any additional questions about it!

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7. Tutorial: Intro to Neuland Calligraphy For Beginners

This tutorial is an introduction to my personal interpretation of Neuland calligraphy using a broad-edge pen, walnut ink and liquid watercolours. It is a level 1 tutorial, so you don not need any prior experience at all!

You will learn some capital letters, understand the connections between the alphabet and how to come up with creative variations such as contractions, interlocking letters and ligatures.

If you fall in love with this expressive style, you can learn more about Neuland calligraphy  here.

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8. Tutorial: How to make a calligraphy pen out of bamboo.

This is a basic introduction about how to make a calligraphic broad-edge pen out of bamboo. Many alternative tools to bamboo pens can be found on my supplies section.

Please, be aware that if you leave in Australia it can be very hard to cut bamboo on your own as it is extremely strong and very thick. Alternatives to bamboo can be sugar cane. Happy crafting!

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9. Tutorial: Introduction to Pentel Touch Sign Brush Pen

Introduction to Pentel Touch Sign Brush Pen following the structure and ratio of classical Copperplate calligraphy.

• Slant: 55 degrees
• x-height: 7mm
• Ratio: 2 | 1 | 2

What is ratio in calligraphy?

In calligraphy, the ratio refers to the proportion between the height of the x-height (the main body of lowercase letters like “a,” “e,” “o”) and the height of the ascenders (like “b,” “d,” “h”) and descenders (like “p,” “q," “y”). It can also extend to the relationship between the height of capital letters and the x-height.

1:1:1 Ratio

Equal proportions between the x-height, ascenders, and descenders.

2:1:2 Ratio

The ascenders and descenders are twice the height of the x-height. Common in formal styles like Copperplate or Engrosser’s Script. Example: If the x-height is 5mm, the ascenders and descenders are 10mm.

3:2:3 Ratio

The ascenders and descenders are 1.5 times the x-height.

Custom Ratios

Artists can adjust these ratios for stylistic or creative purposes, such as making ascenders taller for elegance or reducing them for compactness.

You can learn more about this tool and how to master Script Brush Pen calligraphy here.

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10. Tutorial: Writing a Quote with a Pentel Touch Sign Brush

In this video, I write a quote using a Pentel Touch Sign Brush Pen, so you can appreciate the real speed of my writing and the thought process I use behind it. This tutorial is part of my Level 1 Course called Intro to Script Brush Pen Calligraphy.

Quote by Theodore Roosevelt

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”.

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11. Tutorial: Introduction to Pentel Aquash Water Brush Pen

This tutorial provides an introduction to using a Pentel Aquash Brush for calligraphy, comparing it to other brush pens and tools. The Pentel Aquash Brush, with its natural hair bristles, is versatile and allows for precise, pointed strokes similar to those made with a flexible nib for Copperplate calligraphy.

Unlike other felt-tip brushes, it can be dipped into liquid watercolors, enabling seamless transitions between colours without needing to refill an ink reservoir. This brush is more challenging to control compared to beginner-friendly brushes like the Pentel Touch Sign Brush pen.

The video transitions into a tutorial on foundational pointed-pen calligraphy movements, starting with basic strokes such as thin upstrokes and thick downstrokes. I then demonstrate how to create essential shapes like ovals and straight strokes, both of which serve as the foundation for letters like “i, t, c”, and “e”. Through repeated practice of these movements, you can develop control over stroke thickness and spacing while adhering to a consistent slant.

This tutorial bridges the gap between traditional Copperplate calligraphy and script brush calligraphy, making it accessible to those who are already familiar with pointed pen techniques or looking to explore creative lettering styles. By mastering the basic strokes and understanding the brush’s unique properties, you can build confidence in crafting expressive and elegant letterforms.

Learn more about Script Brush Pen calligraphy here!

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12. Tutorial: Introduction to Italic Calligraphy For Beginners

This tutorial provides an introduction to Italic calligraphy for beginners, using control characters such as ‘i, n, o’ to describe the alphabet’s DNA.

These are the tools I used in this video. You can learn more about calligraphy materials on my supplies section.

• Brause 3mm broad nib
• Walnut ink
• Canson XL marker paper 70gsm
• Blank guideline
• Uniball Signo 0.7pt fine liner

And you can learn more about Italic calligraphy here!

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