Nibs

The Lowdown on Calligraphy Nibs

October 31, 2018 by Lindsey Bugbee 154 Comments
Calligraphy· Nibs

When I first decided to learn calligraphy a few years ago, I remember feeling overwhelmed by the variety of calligraphy nibs available. I wondered about the differences between them and if those differences matter (they do)! I also had trouble telling nibs apart. In this article, I’d like to revisit my confusion as a calligraphy beginner and lay out everything that I would have liked to know at that time. Hopefully, this information will help you as you move forward in your own calligraphy endeavors!
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Calligraphy Nib Spotlight: The Brause Steno (“Blue Pumpkin”)

October 17, 2018 by Lindsey Bugbee 28 Comments
Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Nibs· Video

I first heard about the Brause Steno nib in Molly Suber Thorpe’s Modern Calligraphy book. I immediately wanted to try it based on its nickname alone: “The Blue Pumpkin”. You know us Americans … “pumpkin” anything, and we’re so there (especially around this time of year; but I digress). In today’s post, I’d like to discuss my experience using the Brause Steno with you, and hopefully help you to decide whether this is a nib that you’d like to add to your collection or not.
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How to Use a Dip Pen to Create Modern Calligraphy

August 28, 2018 by Lindsey Bugbee 103 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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A Guide to Pointed Pen Calligraphy Nibs

December 22, 2017 by Lindsey Bugbee 200 Comments
Beginner’s Calligraphy· Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Nibs· Video

When you first decide to learn calligraphy, you’ll find that the internet is rife with assumptions about what you already know. Many articles assume that you know about calligraphy nibs when, in fact, many people don’t realize that there’s a difference between any two given nibs. In this blog post, we’ll examine a few pointed pen calligraphy nibs, including where to get them and what to use them for.
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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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How to Know When a Calligraphy Nib is Done

August 1, 2017 by Lindsey Bugbee 32 Comments
Beginner’s Calligraphy· Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Nibs

When you place an order for a calligraphy nib, it’s natural to wonder: “How long is this nib going to last?” While the question isn’t complicated, the answer is! In today’s post, we’ll talk about four signs that it’s time for a nib replacement. If any of the four signs below apply to your calligraphy nib, move on to a new one!
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