Join us for the all-new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, happening now! →

Learn More
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • YouTube
    • Premium Membership
    • Beginner Calligraphy Course
    • Intermediate Calligraphy Course
    • Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Beginner Watercolor Course
    • The Calligraphy Book
  • Blog
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
    • Video Courses
    • Brush Pen Calligraphy
    • Handwriting
    • Hand-Lettering
    • Mail Printables
    • Printable Artwork
    • Procreate Worksheets
      • Cleaning Cloths
      • Erasers
      • Glass Jars
      • Inks
      • Kits
      • Mechanical Pencils
      • Nibs
      • Oblique Pens
      • Paper
      • Protectants
      • Rubber Stamps
      • Rulers
      • Straight Pens
      • Washi Tape
      • Watercolors
      • Wax Seals
  • Help
  • Cart
Log in

Your cart is currently empty!

The Postman's Knock written in calligraphy
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • My Account
    • Account Details
    • Addresses
    • Payment Methods
    • Order Receipts
    • Subscriptions
    • Printables + Worksheets
    • Video Courses
  • Help
Log in
The Postman’s Knock
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Help
  • Premium Membership
  • The Calligraphy Book
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • 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.

    Free Printable Calligraphy Drills: “Cool Calligraphy Drills” Worksheet

    April 20, 2023

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Beginner’s Calligraphy, Calligraphy, Calligraphy Drills, Free Printables, Intermediate Calligraphy, Printable Goodies

    Calligraphy drills are a must for all skill levels! If you’re a beginner, they can help you practice common strokes and gain a mastery of the dip pen. Intermediate calligraphers will benefit from writing drills that commonly occur in flourishing, which helps with making effortless-looking embellishments. And advanced calligraphers can — and often do –…

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail

    FREE & Fresh Printable Calligraphy Drills

    Ready to add to your calligraphy drills worksheet collection? TPK’s 8 Cool Calligraphy Drills worksheet features a set of fresh, printable calligraphy drills that are perfect for anyone looking to get better with a dip pen. These drills are suitable for all skill levels and include a range of exercises to help you master pointed pen calligraphy. The best part? This two-page worksheet is completely free and can be used to warm up before a project or as a regular practice tool.

    In the video above, I’m writing the “minimum” drill from 8 Cool Calligraphy Drills. I used a Brause EF66 nib in an oblique pen with sumi ink, but you should feel free to write with any nib/pen/ink combination that’s best for you.

    TPK’s Newest Printable Free Calligraphy Drills

    If you’re looking for a fun way to improve your calligraphy skills, don’t miss out on 8 Cool Calligraphy Drills. This two-page worksheet features eight unique exercises that will challenge you to perfect your basic strokes and take on more complex techniques. Don’t forget to print it out on 32# laserjet paper (HP Premium is my preferred pick) for the best possible writing experience.

    These new drills are free, and you can find them by clicking the button below:

    DOWNLOAD “8 COOL CALLIGRAPHY DRILLS”

    Why Do Calligraphy Drills?

    Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced calligrapher, there’s no denying the benefits of calligraphy drills. For starters, drills offer a direct path to improving your skills and confidence. Personally, I love using drills to familiarize myself with new nib and ink combinations. By practicing with a repetitive, calming movement, I find it easier to adapt to an unfamiliar supply.

    Printable Calligraphy Drills

    Over the years, I’ve also learned to do drills before I jump into a dip pen session. Don’t try to make a calligraphy project without warming up first! Otherwise, you’ll likely experience shaky strokes or jerky writing motions. Taking a couple of minutes to write a few drills before you create “real life” calligraphy can make a world of difference. Take it from someone who has tackled many a project without warming up first … with not so great results.

    LEARN ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF DOING DRILLS

    Keeping Calligraphy Drills Fun

    Calligraphy practice doesn’t have to be tedious. You just have to get creative with it! That’s why I love coming up with new and interesting calligraphy drills to work on. The last four drills in today’s worksheet are a perfect example of this. They’re challenging, but also a lot of fun to work through. And once you’ve mastered them, there are plenty of ways to use them in your own projects. The Evergreen Drill, for instance, makes a beautiful addition to any holiday-themed design.

    6 Simple Ways to Make a Calligraphy Christmas Tree
    We’re several months away from the holiday season, but you really can’t go wrong pre-making a few gift tags or cards using the Evergreen Drill concept.

    If you enjoy today’s drills, TPK has several themed drills packets for your practicing pleasure. My personal favorite is the Fairytale Drills worksheet, but the Under the Sea worksheet is the best seller. No matter which theme you spring for, it’s fun to work through all the drills, carefully completing each one until you get to the projects portion and find yourself flourishing magnificent fish, dragons, or birds!

    Premium Calligraphy Drills

    BROWSE PREMIUM CALLIGRAPHY DRILLS

    A BOGO Weekend Treat

    If you enjoy today’s free drills, I suspect that you’ll love TPK’s themed premium calligraphy drills. Give two of them a try this weekend with a BOGO (Buy One, Get One) deal! Add any two of these calligraphy drills worksheets to your cart, then input the code 2DRILLSBOGO in the “Apply Gift Card” field at checkout. Voilà! You’ll get double the practice for the price of one worksheet. The code expires this Sunday, April 23rd, at midnight MDT.

    Not Your Average Calligraphy Drills: Under the Sea Edition | The Postman's Knock
    This “Stinging Jellyfish” drill is from TPK’s Under the Sea Calligraphy Drills.

    Thanks so much for reading today’s short article, and I encourage you to fill out the 8 Cool Calligraphy Drills worksheet when you have the chance! I gave it a test run yesterday as I listened to an audiobook, and I was immediately transported to a tranquil calligraphy paradise. The practice session underlined the reason I love creating calligraphy: it’s a slow and deliberate activity, and it never fails to make me feel centered. I hope this new drills sheet helps you to relax a little bit, too!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

    This article was first posted in November of 2020. It has been updated to include new photos, a video, and clearer information.

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail
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.

Join TPK’s free mailing list

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail
Previous post: Quick Butterfly-Themed Calligraphy Mother’s Day Card Tutorial
Next post: Must Watch: 8 Pointed Pen Calligraphy Beginner Mistakes

All-time favorite posts

  • The Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    1.5m views
  • 8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet) | The Postman's Knock

    8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet)

    841.7k views
  • Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    807.8k views
  • Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    481.9k views
  • How to Write Faux Calligraphy (Video Tutorial + Free Worksheet)

    362.6k views
  • 11 Calming Calligraphy Drills Printable | The Postman's Knock

    Celebrating Six Years of the “11 Calming Calligraphy Drills” Worksheet (Free Download)

    290.5k views
  • Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    204k views
  • The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    185.7k views

Latest posts

  • Ombré wax crayon calligraphy
    How to Make Ombré Wax Crayon CalligraphySeptember 11, 2025
  • Floral calligraphy by Phyllis Macaluso
    8 Pieces That Helped Me Fall in Love With CalligraphySeptember 5, 2025
  • Athletic shoe created in flourishing
    Introducing the Flourished Athletic Shoe WorksheetAugust 27, 2025
  • Illustrated recipe for chocolate lava cake
    How to Make a Keepsake Illustrated RecipeAugust 20, 2025

Browse by category

Browse by date

60 responses

  1. Rebecca Badendick Avatar
    Rebecca Badendick
    May 5, 2023

    Thank you for offering so many worksheets and practice drills for a low cost or free for us.

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      May 5, 2023

      It is my pleasure! I am so glad that you are enjoying and I hope learning a lot!

      Log in to Reply
  2. Angela Avatar
    Angela
    May 2, 2023

    Thanks again for more super helpful (and not completely boring) drills!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      May 5, 2023

      Ha! Thank you for enjoying! I hope that it is helpful in your practice!

      Log in to Reply
  3. bookboxer Avatar
    bookboxer
    May 1, 2023

    Thank you SO much for your continuing generosity. I read your email newsletters every time they’re sent and enjoy your enthusiasm, support, and professionalism … I imagine you’re a TERRIFIC teacher in person, and I look forward to someday attending one of your workshops.

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      May 1, 2023

      I sure hope that you do! In person is such a fun calligraphy experience! Thank you for enjoying and supporting!

      Log in to Reply
  4. linda duntsch Avatar
    linda duntsch
    May 1, 2023

    so love all TPK calligraphy drills! so helpful!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      May 1, 2023

      I am so glad that you are enjoying! Thank you!

      Log in to Reply
  5. Kay Avatar
    Kay
    February 8, 2021

    I’m so thankful for this access to free calligraphy practice! I am brand new to calligraphy and have loved reading and learning more about it here on TPK.

    Log in to Reply
    1. Kay Avatar
      Kay
      February 8, 2021

      I enjoy the back and forth drills where I can practice my levels of pressure. I tried using regular printer paper and experienced a lot of bleed through, so I am planning to purchase some of the recommended paper and see if things go better.

      Log in to Reply
    2. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      February 15, 2021

      That makes me so happy to hear! I’m so glad you’re enjoying. 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  6. Kaitlin Avatar
    Kaitlin
    February 1, 2021

    These worksheets are great, and so wonderful you offer them for free! I downloaded most of them – more fun than regular drills!!

    Log in to Reply
  7. Janna Avatar
    Janna
    January 2, 2021

    Hi can someone help me how can I download the worksheet?

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      January 3, 2021

      Hi Janna! There are several hyperlinks in this post that you can click on in order to download the free drills. Please let me know if that helps!

      Log in to Reply
  8. Beth Cape Avatar
    Beth Cape
    December 28, 2020

    While in Israel, I had the pleasure of introducing calligraphy to a 12 year old American girl who lives in Israel now. We had a great time learning the basics of calligraphy. I showed her your website, some of your free worksheets, and the plethora of goodies available on your blog. I love your generosity to offer so many free instructions and materials! Happy New Year to you!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      January 4, 2021

      That is so awesome, thank you for sharing! Happy new year! 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  9. Cheyenne Avatar
    Cheyenne
    December 25, 2020

    thank you for this! i can’t wait to try these!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      December 26, 2020

      Absolutely! I’m excited for you to try them!

      Log in to Reply
  10. BatS Avatar
    BatS
    December 17, 2020

    Thanks! They’re awesome, great excersice.

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      December 23, 2020

      I’m so happy to hear that!

      Log in to Reply
Older Comments
1 2 3

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sorry! Only TPK Premium members can comment on articles and tutorials. You can become a member here. Already a member? Sign in.

🖍️ We have a million crayons laying around be 🖍️ We have a million crayons laying around because my kids love to color (right now, their pages of choice are K-Pop Demon Hunter-themed). While I’m always down for some adult coloring, I also love to letter with crayons! In the latest TPK tutorial — link in bio — you’ll learn how to make this cozy ombré wax crayon calligraphy. 🍁 Switch up the color scheme if you’re not a pumpkin spice person! This technique looks great with light blue, dark blue, and dark purple; or light green, dark green, and dark blue. #crayoncalligraphy #crayolacrayons #waxcrayons #adultcoloring #autumnart #cozylettering #handlettering #lettering
A couple of days ago, I posted a clip from Lesson A couple of days ago, I posted a clip from Lesson 1 of the new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course (seriously, join us — enrollment is a *steal* at $5/month, and you get complimentary tutorials [that happen to complement the course] — link in bio)! People seemed to like the story in that clip, so here’s another fun story from the same lesson. Sorry, I can’t confirm who the client was! That was a project with an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement). 🤐 Still: a very fun, very cool experience ... I’m grateful that calligraphy has given me cool adventures and connected me to such an amazing community. ✍️

#calligraphystory #moderncalligraphy #learncalligraphy #beginnercalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphy
Lesson 1 of TPK’s Beginner’s Modern Calligraph Lesson 1 of TPK’s Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course doesn’t actually start with the pointed pen! ✍️ Instead, we ease into it with faux calligraphy and then pencil calligraphy. Here’s a little preview of what the pencil calligraphy lesson looks like. ✏️

If you’ve been wanting to learn calligraphy, join us in this course. It is an absolute *steal* because it’s included with your TPK Premium membership ($5/month - cancel anytime). Once the course concludes in January, you can choose to purchase lifetime access to the videos; or just continue on with us to the next course. For more information, visit the link in my bio!

#learncalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #pencilcalligraphy #blackwingpencil #pencilart #letteringart #handlettering #modernlettering #artisticletters #artisticlettering
I’m editing videos for the new Beginner’s Mode I’m editing videos for the new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course (🎉 JOIN US! link in profile for enrollment info!!) — and wanted to share this story from Lesson 1. In that lesson, we’ll chat about how to develop your motivation (this story is part of me sharing mine); and we’ll ease into our pointed pen experience with faux calligraphy and pencil calligraphy. Step by step, you’ll develop skills that will serve you for a lifetime ... and surprise and delight those around you, just like my “rent check envelopes” did! ✉️

#mailart #moderncalligraphy #learncalligraphy #storytime #calligraphy #snailmail #snailmailrevolution
Some recipes aren’t just instructions — they’re memories on a page. 💛 I spent some time illustrating one of my favorites, and it turned into the sweetest (literally) keepsake. Calligraphy, watercolor, and a little patience bring the story of a dish to life.

If you’d like to try illustrating your favorite recipe, too, I shared the full process (with helpful printables) on the TPK Blog — link in bio. ✨

#illustratedrecipe #calligraphyart #watercolorillustration #creativeproject #keepsakeart #slowcreativity #handletteringlove #moderncalligraphy #calligraphyinspiration #watercolorart
As much as cooking is an art, illustrating a recip As much as cooking is an art, illustrating a recipe takes it one step further. ✨ In TPK’s latest tutorial (link in bio), I’ll show you how to create an illustrated chocolate lava cake recipe using watercolor. You’ll find helpful PDFs and step-by-step instructions so you can follow along — or use the layout to bring one of your own favorite dishes to life.

Frame it as keepsake art, or give it as a thoughtful handmade gift this holiday season. 🎁

#illustratedrecipe #watercolorart #calligraphycommunity #foodillustration #arttutorial #watercolortutorial #creativeprojects #handmadegifts #keepsakeart #thepostmansknock
✨ One of the most beloved assignments from Lesso ✨ One of the most beloved assignments from Lesson 5 of Hand Lettering 101 was this playful project: design an artistic alphabet where no two letters look the same.

The idea? JUST PLAY. 🎨 I used watercolor and a paintbrush, but many students grabbed markers, pens, or anything colorful on hand. The results were incredible — @adriennelovesletters gave it her own flair, Isabel C. made it three times, and Laura M. created a stunning version too. (You can peek at more inside the TPK Premium Discord!)

If you’re ready to try this project yourself, you’ll find the Hand Lettering 101 eCourse waiting in the TPK Catalog. Just head to the link in my bio to be taken to the TPK website. 💌

#handlettering #watercolorlettering #moderncalligraphy #letteringpractice #creativeplay #calligraphycommunity #artinspiration #calligraphyart #watercolorart #letterlove #tpkpremium #handlettering101
Had the best time writing the latest tutorial on t Had the best time writing the latest tutorial on the TPK Blog — “Drawing Lesson: Elegant Swallows” (🔗 link in bio). If you’ve never drawn birds before, swallows are an excellent place to start. Their shapes are simple once you break them down! ✍️ 

In the tutorial, you’ll find:

🪶 Step-by-step visual instructions for drawing swallows in four different movements
🪶 The “Hand-Drawn Swallows Cheat Sheet” PDF
🪶 A detailed tutorial for making the mail art shown here

On another note, I want to extend a huge THANK YOU to TPK Premium and Premium Plus members ... your support allows me to write cool detailed tutorials like this one. 🙏 You all are amazing, and I’m so proud of our community.

#mailart #snailmail #illustration #illustrationtutorial #drawingtutorial #drawinginstructions #birdart #swallowsart #calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #pointedpen
The Postman’s Knock

About

  • About Lindsey
  • Get to Know TPK
  • Behind the Scenes
  • How I Learned Calligraphy

Legalese

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refunds & Return Policy
  • GDPR Data Erasure Request

Printable Worksheets

  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Styles
  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
  • Brush Pen Calligraphy
  • Handwriting
  • Hand-Lettering

Courses

  • Beginner’s Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Intermediate Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Beginner’s Watercolors

Help

  • Contact Lindsey
  • Calligraphy FAQs
  • Calligraphy Troubleshooting

Subscribe to the Blog

Join over 125,000 creative minds who receive inspiring, value-packed emails from TPK each week. As a free subscriber, you’ll get helpful tutorials, free worksheets, and creative ideas delivered straight to your inbox—plus the occasional sneak peek or special offer.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail

© Copyright 2025 The Postman’s Knock – All rights reserved

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
All About the Brause Rose Nib

inspiration in your inbox

Let The Postman’s Knock Spark Your Creativity

TPK’s innovative newsletters are an artistic treat. Join the 125K+ subscribers who have already discovered The Postman’s Knock, and receive 10% off your first Digital Catalog order.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Writing Copperplate Calligraphy

Unlock Exclusive Perks with Premium Plus

Fuel your inspiration and creativity with TPK Premium Plus! Members enjoy three free worksheets or learning resources every month, unlimited video course access, member-exclusive tutorials, and a 10% discount on all Supplies Shop orders.

join today ($15)