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  • Welcome to TPK! This is your first of 2 free articles. For unlimited access to tutorials and articles, join TPK Premium for less than the cost of a latte.

    A Perfectly Random Show and Tell Calligraphy Art Collection

    April 6, 2021

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Roundup

    Many TPK creations get sent off to new homes. Those that don’t, however, stay here with me. I can’t bring myself to get rid of my work because I love looking through it (or using it) later! Earlier today, I stumbled across these ten pieces that I thought you would appreciate seeing, too. Hopefully these…

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    Calligraphy Shoe

    Most of the things that I post here on the TPK blog and on Instagram are destined for a new home. Mail art, birthday cards, and the like all get sent to friends and family! But, there are other projects I make that don’t have an immediate purpose. Those projects get filed away, waiting until a need arises for them. Maybe that need will never develop, but at least in the meantime, the projects can serve as inspirational eye candy in today’s post! Here are ten fun pieces that I found when sifting through my old projects this morning (and guidance on how to make them, if you’re so inclined):

    1. Fork Illustration

    Fork Illustration
    This illustration was created using a Nikko G nib (in a straight pen) and sumi ink.

    This drawing was created for the Artistic Printable Meal Planner printable. I used a crosshatching technique to make the fork illustration, and the lettering is “Roman” from the Premium Hand Lettering Worksheet Set.

    2. “Giveaway” Calligraphy

    Giveaway Flourish
    You can watch a video of me making this calligraphy piece here.

    Whenever I conduct a giveaway, I like to make pretty calligraphy for social media. This “Giveaway” calligraphy features white ink and Finetec metallic watercolors on black cardstock. The giveaway might be over, but the flourishes live on!

    3. “Meet Me in Miami” Flourishes

    Miami Calligraphy
    You can watch a timelapse video of me making this here.

    Pre-pandemic, I was under the impression that I’d be teaching calligraphy workshops in Miami in April of 2020. This was a little piece of calligraphy that I created to publicize the workshops. I wrote with gold watercolor on black cardstock … a glitzy combination that, to me, is representative of Miami.

    4. Beachy MIAMI Calligraphy

    Beachy Miami Calligraphy
    The timelapse video for this piece is a bit low-quality, unfortunately. But, if you’re curious, you can watch it on Instagram.

    This was another fun piece that I created to publicize the TPK Miami workshops. I’m holding on to this one because I have a feeling that it will come in handy for a Miami dweller (or someone who just loves that city) someday! I used watercolor calligraphy to make it, which is fitting given the beach/water theme.

    5. Athletic Shoe Flourishes

    Calligraphy Shoe
    There’s a timelapse video of me making this one, too! See it here.

    This shoe was created for my first (and, come to think of it, last) sponsored post on Instagram back in 2017. For whatever reason, Famous Footwear thought I would be a good advertising partner. I have no idea if this flourished shoe ended up making them any sales, but it was fun to create! The supplies were simple: sumi ink, a Brause EF66 oblique pen + nib, and 32# laserjet paper.

    6. Lace Bird

    Lace Bird
    This artwork was created with sumi ink and a Nikko G nib (in a straight pen).

    This little guy has been around for a long time … I probably drew him in 2015? I love combining simple illustrations with and lace, so that’s what I did here. To learn how to draw lace, you can check out this tutorial.

    7. “Haste Makes Waste” Lettering

    Haste Makes Waste
    I used water soluble colored pencils and sumi ink (this was in my pre-Ziller days) to make this piece.

    I created this ombré lettering in 2015 for the Three Fresh Lettering Styles to Try tutorial. The other two pieces in that tutorial made their way out of the house, but I’ve kept this one around. It just seems like one of those things that I’ll either use as a collage piece or in a snail mail bundle eventually!

    8. Flourished Dragon

    Flourished Dragon
    I used sumi ink, a Brause EF66 oblique pen + nib, and 32# laserjet paper to make this dragon. You can find instructions over how to flourish your own dragon in the Fairytale Drills packet.

    This fierce beast can be found in the Not Your Average Calligraphy Drills: Fairytale Edition packet, which is what I created it for. It’s always fun to come across this piece because it’s so playful and detailed … plus I love fairytale creatures. I’m sure I’ll end up sending him to a friend here in a couple of years, but for now, I’m not quite ready to let him go!

    9. “Remember Why You Started” Calligraphy + Watercolor

    Remember Why You Started
    When I combine watercolors and calligraphy, I always write my calligraphy first in waterproof ink. Then, I watercolor over the calligraphy.

    Lots of people try to create pointed pen calligraphy on watercolor with limited success. For that reason, I wrote the How to Combine Calligraphy and Watercolors tutorial. This is the piece I made for that tutorial, and I’ve kept it since. Like the dragon, I’m just not ready to part with it yet, though I’m sure I eventually will!

    10. Woodland Wreath Place Card

    Nataly Place Card
    For instructions over how to make a wreath like the one shown on this place card, see the Woodland Watercolor Wreath Tutorials: Part III article.

    This place card is one of my favorite creations ever. It makes me feel calm to look at all those floral shapes and muted tones. I’ve kept this because I like it … and also because I’ve never had a need for it. I don’t know a “Nataly”!


    If you enjoyed today’s post, I suspect you’ll also like A Decluttering the Drawer Show and Tell and 10 Items That I Successfully Sold on Etsy: A Throwback Post. I love reading articles like these because they give me new project ideas. Hopefully, they do the same for you! Thanks so much for looking through these pieces with me, and we’ll reconvene this weekend with a fun tutorial. Maybe something that has watercolor? I’m feeling inspired after looking at that place card (project #10)!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

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Sketchbooking

About the author

Hi, I’m Lindsey Bugbee, the illustrator, calligrapher, and author behind The Postman’s Knock (TPK). Since 2012, the TPK Blog has been a vibrant creative space filled with tutorials and lessons on modern calligraphy, hand lettering, and illustration. After publishing The Calligraphy Book, I wanted to elevate the quality of content even further—so I launched TPK Premium. You can join here to receive access to some of the internet’s best creative inspiration and project tutorials.

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4 responses

  1. bev.stanley3 Avatar
    bev.stanley3
    April 14, 2025

    Hi Lindsey, I love your work. Do you have a tutorial for the Athletic shoe? I think it’s great

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      April 24, 2025

      I don’t at the moment — but that’s actually a really great idea for an upcoming worksheet! Thanks so much for the idea. 😊👟

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  2. Debb Thorne Avatar
    Debb Thorne
    April 7, 2021

    Any chance you have a flourish chicken? A dear friend of mine, a five-year year old little boy, loves chickens and “fancy writing. “

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      April 7, 2021

      I don’t! But that would be something really cool to flourish. I’ll put that on my inspiration list … I’d also like to flourish an octopus. 🙂

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Loved chatting with @sdionbakerdesign and @greenle Loved chatting with @sdionbakerdesign and @greenleafblue last Friday! Samantha is exactly as thoughtful and creative as you’d imagine from her Draw Your… books — and this answer to Jennifer’s question says it all. ✨ Just have fun and make art!

☕ Want to watch/listen to the whole conversation? Head over to the TPK Blog to hit play on the recording! (Link in bio, then navigate to “Blog”.)

#artistchat #artist #samanthadionbaker #greenleafandblueberry #thepostmansknock #arttalk #creativity #sketchbooking #sketchbook #artadvice
My seven-year-old and I have officially entered th My seven-year-old and I have officially entered the @edward.gorey.house envelope art contest! 🎃 My design leans a bit more macabre, while my son’s is, well, gory. (Venus flytraps are apparently no joke.) Visit the TPK Blog to see my process — I love to start with a Procreate draft and take it from there. 

This is a great little contest, and, while it runs through December, it’s *especially* fun to work on this time of year. 👻 My kid and I both thoroughly enjoyed making our masterpieces! If you find yourself with some time in the next couple of months, make your own envelope ... there will be more than one winner! 🥇

#edwardgorey #envelopeart #mailart #kidsart #halloweenart #halloweenmail #envelope #snailmail #snailmailrevolution
Just added a new lesson to the Beginner’s Modern Just added a new lesson to the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course! ✍️ In Lesson 3, you’ll find over three hours of instruction to get you extremely comfortable using the straight calligraphy pen. If you want to learn pointed pen calligraphy, *join us*! TPK Premium members have the exclusive and incredible opportunity to take this detailed course for $5/month. Link in bio for details!

#calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #learncalligraphy #calligraphytips
Beautiful autumn leaves outside 🍂 inspire beaut Beautiful autumn leaves outside 🍂 inspire beautiful leaves inside ✨. You can find a tutorial over how to make this stunning bookmark in “The Calligraphy Book”. (Confession time: I don’t actually use this bookmark as a bookmark. It ended up being too pretty to be hiding inside a book! 🙈 Instead, I display it on my bulletin board.)

#bookmark #decoratedbookmark #autumnleaves #pointedpen #finetec #colirofinetec #metallicwatercolor
Which is your favorite? 👻 🍬 ✋ 🎃 Good Which is your favorite? 👻 🍬 ✋ 🎃 

Good news: whichever one you like best, you can learn how to create it in “Spellbound Strokes”, TPK’s Halloween 2025 worksheet set! The worksheet is available on the TPK site as of an hour ago. In it, you’ll learn how to create these fabulous Halloween-themed motifs ... and get plenty of calligraphy practice under your belt in the process. ✍️

For the worksheet link, see my stories today (10/9), or shoot me a DM. Happy Halloween, and enjoy!

#halloweencalligraphy #pointedpenpractice #pointedpen #dippen #halloweenart #macbeth
This is just as relaxing to watch as it is to wri This is just as relaxing to watch as it is to write. 🧘‍♀️ DM me for a link to a (free!) worksheet that teaches you how to write this loopy, modern quote. ✍️

#moderncalligraphy #learncalligraphy #calligraphy #handwritten #writingcalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphyvideo #tseliotquote
🎃 Halloween, TPK-style. ✍️ You can find ins 🎃 Halloween, TPK-style. ✍️ You can find instructions for making all of these project (and more!) on the TPK Blog and in TPK’s Halloween-themed worksheets. 🔗 Link in bio, then search for “Halloween” or just browse the Blog and Catalog!

#halloweencalligraphy #halloweenart #calligraphyprojects #halloweencraft #eleganthalloween
🤭 We’re ridiculous. Here’s the story: every 🤭 We’re ridiculous. Here’s the story: every month, @greenleafblue and I host a live creative coffee chat over Zoom for TPK Premium and G&B Patreon members — and we always include a giveaway. This time, we switched it up and picked the winner with a trivia question we made up on the fly. You can see how that went here!

✨ Watch the full chat on the TPK Blog (link in bio → “Blog”).

✨ Join us for the next coffee chat on October 17th by signing up for TPK Premium! I’m thrilled to announce that @sdionbakerdesign will be our special guest. (Her Patreon members can join, too!) And yes, there will be a giveaway. 🎁

👯‍♀️ Fun fact: Jess and I met as roommates studying art history in Paris + Florence way before The Postman’s Knock or Greenleaf & Blueberry existed. Over the years, we’ve nicknamed ourselves Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, Lucy and Ethel… you get the idea. That familiarity definitely comes through in our chats.

#artistchat #artists #artsupplies #zoomchat #creativity #thepostmansknock #greenleafandblueberry
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