Dip Pen Calligraphy

7 Ways to Use Your Calligraphy Powers for Good

December 17, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 6 Comments
Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy

Cookies for the Post Office! — You can use your calligraphy powers for good by surprising people with a lovely gift presentation! I gave this box full of cookies to my local post office last week.

As someone who teaches calligraphy, I’m constantly thinking about uses for it. I ask myself, “Why is calligraphy a practical skill, and what dip pen projects can a person incorporate into their everyday life”? While some people might enjoy monetizing their passion for the dip pen, the vast majority of writers can and should use their skills for making their own lives — and the lives of people around them — better! For today’s article, I’ve come up with seven (mostly) altruistic uses for calligraphy.
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About the Oblique Calligraphy Pen

October 24, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 170 Comments
Beginner’s Calligraphy· Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Oblique Pen Holders

When I first developed an interest in calligraphy, I perused a lot of calligraphy photos online. Those photos featured a recurring theme: a strange-looking pen with a “thing” sticking out of its side. After some intensive Googling, I found out that the “thing” is called a “flange”, and the pen is called an “oblique calligraphy pen”.
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The Osprey Scholar: A Frankenstein Dip Pen/Fountain Pen

October 15, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 12 Comments
Dip Pen Calligraphy· Merchandise· Nibs· Review

The Osprey Scholar Pen — This “Frankenstein” pen — my term, not Osprey’s — is a fountain pen outfitted with a Zebra G nib!

For years, TPK readers have written me to ask if there’s a cartridge pen that delivers the same results as the dip pen. After all, the idea of writing calligraphy without a whole set-up (art water, ink, cleaning cloth, etc.) is appealing! Plus — let’s face it — dip pens aren’t incredibly travel-friendly. It’s kind of a whole thing to take them on the road. If a cartridge (i.e. fountain) pen can deliver stroke contrast, then why not use one of those instead of a dip pen?
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How to Take Care of Your Calligraphy Pen

October 8, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 6 Comments
Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy

In a lot of ways, the average dip calligraphy pen is more robust than your run-of-the-mill ballpoint or gel pen. For starters, a calligraphy pen can last a lifetime! There’s no barrel for ink to dry up in, and you can replace dull nibs on a whim. Dip pens are generally made out of stout and simple components like wood, solid plastic, or metal! (The fewer components, the less chance that something can break). That said, there are ways that you can drastically shorten your calligraphy pen’s lifespan. In this article, we’ll talk about how to give your pen a fighting chance at serving you for as long as you need it!
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Your Calligraphy Questions and Their Answers

October 3, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 14 Comments
Beginner’s Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy

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What is “Janet Style Calligraphy”?

August 15, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 3 Comments
Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Worksheets

There are five main Learn Calligraphy worksheets available on this website. Each of the five worksheets teaches you how to make a different calligraphy style that is original to TPK! Today, I’d like to tell you about my personal favorite: the Janet. In today’s article, you’ll learn how Janet Style calligraphy came to be, why I love using it, and the letter that gives learners the most grief!
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