Inks

A Guide to Calligraphy Inks

September 10, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 224 Comments
Beginner’s Calligraphy· Calligraphy· Inks

In 2014, I wrote the original version of this post. In it, I made recommendations about which calligraphy inks to use and why! Fast forward five years, and I’ve had several chances to discover new inks. In this updated blog post, I’d like to discuss a few inks with you and why I think they’re so great! Keep in mind: there are so many inks out there, and I’ve only tried a smattering of them. If something isn’t on this list, it probably just means I’ve never used it. I highly recommend trying out any ink you come across and keeping your own list of favorites!
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How to Use a Dip Pen to Create Modern Calligraphy

August 28, 2018 by Lindsey Bugbee 96 Comments
Beginner’s Calligraphy· Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Inks· Nibs· Straight Pen Holders· Tutorials· Video

I first picked up a dip pen in 2005. At that time, it seemed to be best suited to making squiggles because it was tough to write letters with! Fast forward a few years, though, and I saw other people using these mysterious instruments to create modern calligraphy. Flowy alphabets with a beautiful contrast abounded, and I wanted to know how to do that myself!
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Why, When, and How to Dilute Ink

July 24, 2018 by Lindsey Bugbee 70 Comments
Beginner’s Calligraphy· Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Inks

If you’re new to calligraphy, it’s easy to feel terrified at the prospect of modifying your supplies. Ideally, they should arrive ready to use — no need to change anything! In practice, that sometimes isn’t the case. In today’s blog post, you’ll learn why, when, and how to dilute ink to make it more user-friendly!
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Announcing the Last TPK Calligraphy Workshops of 2017 – Tampa, FL

October 6, 2017 by Lindsey Bugbee 9 Comments
Beginner’s Calligraphy· Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Faux Calligraphy· Inks· Nibs· Oblique Pen Holders· Straight Pen Holders· Worksheets

If you’ve been reading TPK for at least the past few months, then you know that I occasionally teach calligraphy workshops. The workshops are, without question, the highlights of my year! The feeling of helping learners to “click” with key calligraphy concepts and build a strong foundation is incredibly rewarding.
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My Five Favorite Calligraphy Inks

July 25, 2017 by Lindsey Bugbee 18 Comments
Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Inks

Before I start this post, a disclaimer: there are so many calligraphy inks available, and I’ve used a tiny percentage of them! Still, I encourage you to try the calligraphy inks on this list, plus any other inks that appeal to you. The only way you can find favorites is through experimentation in growing your collection — and you can never have too much ink!
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Creating Gold Calligraphy: How to Use the Finetec Palette

July 18, 2017 by Lindsey Bugbee 154 Comments
Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Inks· Tutorials· Video· Watercolor· Watercolor Tutorials

When I first became interested in lettering, I noticed beautiful pieces of gold calligraphy on Pinterest. And, while I loved the effect, I simply couldn’t figure out how to achieve that myself! Then, one fateful day, I ordered a Finetec Golds palette. Creating calligraphy with it has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s worth riding out any frustration to figure it out! In today’s blog post, I’m going to teach you how to use the Finetec palette to create stunning gold calligraphy and lettering.
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