For this article, I decided to whip up some new printable calligraphy drills! These drills are suitable for every skill level and have a mix of everything. You’ll start with simple stroke practice in the first couple of exercises, move on to loops, then work on your flourishing! The free two page worksheet is great for anyone who wants to work on their dip pen skills or simply warm up before working on a project.
TPK’s Newest Printable Calligraphy Drills
I decided to call this new worksheet 8 Cool Calligraphy Drills. It’s two pages long and features eight fun little exercises that progress from basic to more complex. Be sure to print it out on 32# laserjet paper (I use HP Premium brand) for the best writing experience!
These new drills are free, and you can find them by clicking the button below:
Why Do Calligraphy Drills?
Calligraphy drills are great for a few reasons. As I mentioned, they benefit you no matter where you’re at in your calligraphy journey! I love to use drills to get comfortable with new nib and ink combinations. It’s easy to become acclimated to an unfamiliar supply if you’re using it to write with a repetitive, calming movement.
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.
Keeping Calligraphy Drills Fun
Improving your calligraphy skills (and learning new techniques) can be challenging, which is why it’s important to make your practice fun. That’s why I like to get creative with my calligraphy drills! I especially love the last four drills in today’s worksheet, which will require some patience and coordination. I encourage you to find ways to use these drills in the real world! The Evergreen Drill, for example, looks great written on holiday gift tags.
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!
BROWSE CALLIGRAPHY DRILL PACKETS
Other Calligraphy Freebies
I keep a running list of calligraphy-related free printables on the TPK website, which you can find by clicking here. I just added the 8 Cool Calligraphy Drills printable to that list, which should make it easy for people to discover it in the future! For now, I hope that you enjoy this new freebie and the ample other free resources that the TPK website has to offer.
Thanks so much for reading today’s short post, and I encourage you to fill out this new calligraphy drills worksheet when you have the chance! I gave it a little test run yesterday as I listened to my latest audio book obsession (American Dirt — highly recommend), 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 never fails to make me feel centered. I hope this new drills sheet helps you to relax a little bit, too!
Warmly,
