In January 2017, I wrote another article that was also titled “How to Learn Calligraphy in Two Months”. The response was interesting: beginners were encouraged, but a small handful of seasoned calligraphers were outraged — I remember one fellow on Facebook got angry and vowed to stop following TPK. “You can’t learn calligraphy in two months, and furthermore, not just anyone can learn it!” he scoffed before his exit.
If I learned calligraphy, there’s no reason that you can’t, too. The secret isn’t talent: it’s just some time and practice!
I’ve always found that exclusive attitude perturbing. Calligraphy is a relaxing and beautiful art form that should be accessible to anyone who wants to learn it! And, you know what? I truly think that you can build a solid calligraphy foundation in two months. It just takes a bit of self-discipline and the will to stifle any negativity that you feel about your work. In short: if my Facebook guy lives in your head (“You can’t learn this!”), shut him off — because you are capable and you can learn! This blog post will give you a timeline to guide you through it.
1. Enroll in the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course
I made the TPK Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course with people like myself in mind! I am a very visual learner who likes to know all the whys and hows, which is why the course is so detailed.
Listen, the last thing I want to do is make you think that if you don’t buy the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course ($25), you won’t learn calligraphy. If you put in the time to research, you can find all sorts of tidbits of information for learning calligraphy online for free! However, the course saves you time in that it guides you through learning in a clear, organized way. It will also help you to steer clear of frustrations that calligraphy beginners generally experience!
2. Compile a Three Ring Binder for Your Practice Materials
If you decide to learn with the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, this worksheet (included with the course) is the first thing that should go in your three ring binder.
The Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course includes a worksheet, so put that in your binder first. After you finish the course, you can use the binder for additional worksheets, free calligraphy printables (like drills), and general practice. Keep the binder materials in chronological order! It’s gratifying to flip through it to see your progress.
A binder will help to keep you organized, and you can flip through it to track your progress!
3. Get the Proper Supplies
This is a pre-assembled calligraphy kit from The Paper Seahorse; it’s a real treat to receive, and is priced accordingly. Note that you can DIY your own kit for a very reasonable price!
In the case of calligraphy, success comes easier when you have the right tools. If you DIY a starter kit, your cost will be $25-35. You can also buy a gorgeous pre-assembled kit (that includes some cool extras) from The Paper Seahorse for around $75.
4. Pace Yourself to Finish the Online Course in a Month
I generally recommend giving yourself two months to complete the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, but if you plan accordingly, you can finish in a month for sure!
Dedicate at least five hours per week to filling out the course worksheet and watching the videos. I’d try to disperse the five hours over a span of 2-3 days so you can keep your practice consistent!
5. Take a Week-Long Break to Test Out (and Enjoy!) Your Skills
If you’d like, you can use the Kaitlin Style exemplar from your Online Course worksheet for reference as you write out your recipients’ addresses.
After you finish the course, take a week to test out your new skills on a real-life application: envelope calligraphy! Choose two special recipients to send mail to (you can always check out the More Love Letters letter requests), and calligraph envelopes for them! Try to create both of your envelopes within a week.
6. Learn a Specific Calligraphy Style
This is Janet Style calligraphy, an elegant, slightly embellished style.
In the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, you learn the principles of calligraphy in general. The focus isn’t really on making a particular style. That’s why, at this point, I would recommend dedicating three weeks to learning a specific calligraphy style. If you like one of the worksheet styles in the Learn Calligraphy collection, then pick that one! I have five different modern calligraphy styles available that you can learn. If you’re drawn to traditional scripts, check out Eleanor Winters’ Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy or Joe Vitolo’s free eBook Script in the Copperplate Style.
7. Continue to Use Your Skills
Use your calligraphy skills every chance you get! Every single project you take on, whether it be envelope art or calligraphy artwork for your home, will help you to improve.
The work that you put in for the last two months will all be for naught if you don’t use what you learned. So, try to make a goal to create one calligraphy-related project every week or two. It doesn’t have to be a big project, just something to keep your lettering fresh! Here are some suggestions:
- Calligraphy Ampersand Art Tutorial
- Abstract Watercolor Bubbles Creative Envelope (from the Three Creative Envelope Design Mini-Tutorials post)
- Calligraphy Quote Art
- Artistic Watercolor Birthday Card Tutorial
- Lace Envelope Art
- Watercolor Calligraphy
If you follow the steps in this article, you will be comfortable using a dip pen within two months. Remember, though, that you will never stop improving as long as you are creating projects with your dip pen! I first picked up a dip pen seven years ago, and I still find myself getting better at the art. Every single calligraphy-related project that you make is a building block, so keep creating! I know you’ll be impressed at what you can achieve with some time and patience.
Warmly,
I think this is a great post and it gives someone a path to follow if they want to learn calligraphy. I followed your curriculum pretty closely, it took me a little more than 2 months because I could not practice as much weekly. However I feel confident enough to put my calligraphy out there so your tips definitely help!
Thank you! 😀
Random question for you Lindsay. What printer do you own? I need to buy a new one and am trying to decide between inkjet and laser. I won’t be using it daily, but I want something that will print your printables and worksheets well as well as print on envelopes, etc.
By the way, congratulations on your baby Remy! You have a beautiful family. Enjoy this sweet time with your baby boy!
Hi Mel! Sorry for the tardy response — blame Remy! 😉 I have an HP OfficeJet 4650, and I love it!
Hi Lindsey – just wanted to let you know that I purchased your new beginner’s course and have gone through all of that, then downloaded several different style worksheets, etc. and have been practicing for about an hour every day. When I get tired of one style, I go to the next and come back to the previous, etc. I am not sure this is the way to go – thinking I should get proficient at one style and move on to another? Sometimes the styles run together, so probably shouldn’t have overloaded myself, but I’ve been so anxious to try everything. I also went to the craft store and bought a few different colored inks. That’s been a lot of fun! Just a comment (feedback?) really – in the Flourish Formal Style Intensive Word Practice sheets, there is WAY too many of the solid line/tracing lines and really not enough of the “do your own” on the same page so it can help me remember what I’m doing. The solid lines, even on good paper, don’t show my ink very well and it always looks like I’m railroading so I don’t have a sense of when I need to reload. If there is any way to fix that, it would make that package perfect! Otherwise, I’m really having a good time. Not sure what I’m actually going to end up doing with the knowledge, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, so I thank you so much for ALL your hard work and effort. You have a fan for life. 🙂
That’s great feedback, especially as I work to modify and improve the worksheets this year. 🙂 Thank you! I think it’s okay to do several styles at once; just, as I say in the course, make the exemplars your friend. If you find the styles run together, try to pay more attention to the exemplar of the style you want to write as you are writing! And fantastic that you bought some colored inks to switch things up. New “toys” always encourage me to keep going. I love how much you are practicing and how motivated you are; keep up the great work, and thanks again for the feedback!
Hi there, I just downloaded the Amy lesson and video. Quick question before I start. My neighbour, who makes beautiful handmade pens, gifted me with a Tachikawa G Nib and Winsor & Newton inks, along with a beautiful straight calligraphy pen (that he made). I know that you recommend a different company for the nib and ink. Should I go ahead with what he gave me, or will it be too frustrating (in which case I will wait and order the correct nib and ink). Thanks…
Hi there! The Tachikawa G nib should be fine, though it probably won’t make thick downstrokes (so just prepare yourself for that). I would start, however, with sumi ink versus Winsor & Newton ink. Winsor and Newton makes great inks, but they are a bit watery for beginners! I’d store them until you get a month or two of practice under your belt, then try them out. 🙂
I am very excited to have found your site. I have been wanting to learn calligraphy for years. When I mentioned this to a friend who makes pens, he quickly brought me over four beautifully made handles and different nibs to try with a few different inks. I am going to read all the links above and get started as soon as I get back from vacation. Looking forward to following you on Facebook, too 🤓
Two months begins today!! Well, yesterday, actually! I printed out Amy Style and Kaitlyn style (and the Kaitlyn Style Brush Pen) Worksheet Sets and put them in a pretty notebook. I’m ready to roll.
I actually find faux calligraphy harder to do — I think i bear down too hard and wind out with the pen catching and twisting on invisible imperfections in the paper (or the writing surface under it) so it gets all bumpy. But it is helpful to learn the letters. So off I go! 😀
Thanks so much!
Almost a month down — keep going! 🙂 I find dip pen calligraphy easier to create than faux calligraphy because it goes faster and is more fluid. But: I do think that faux calligraphy is a fantastic place to start!
I love this website and have been using to learn as well as recommending it to my sister. The first holders I got were the straight, but I have to say that I LOVE the oblique. I seem to be able to see much better and control my strokes much better. I’ve gone back and forth between the two styles but always find myself going back to the oblique. Having said that, is it “Normal” to have your paper at a 45 degree slant? I’ve been wondering if I’m doing that wrong but it seems to be easier for me.
Completely normal! I often write with my paper at a 90 degree slant. 🙂 Whatever feels right to you is perfect!
Could I first use brush pen tombow fudenosuke hard tip to practice my favorite practice sheets or should I use pens that are best for beginner calligrapher like me. Please provide some suggestions. 😄☺
Hi there! If you are wanting to learn with the Fudenosuke, you can certainly do that! However, if you’re interested in learning how to use a dip pen, I would start with a straight pen and a Nikko G nib (as per this blog post). 🙂
Thank you so much 🙂
Hi Lindsey,
50+ years ago I was awarded a penmanship certificate in school (Zaner-Bloser of course) . I’m back, more determined than ever to learn calligraphy. I purchased your ‘ coffee with my cream’ work and I knew I had found a kindred spirit. So I’m diving into the inkwell of fun!
Thanks for bringing your beautiful talent to us.
If you purchased the “Coffee with My Cream” artwork, then you’ve been with me for a while — THANK YOU! 🙂 It sounds like you’re a natural, and 2017 will be your year to hone the craft!
What an amazing blog! I’m happy that I found it. I want to learn calligraphy for years but never start up. On Christmas, my daughter offered me dip pens and ink, and a few brush pens too. So I try to start but it’s difficult all alone. Making some searches on the web, I found you… and you are already in my favorites. I’m going to follow this post step by step in order to make my daughter proud of me 🙂 !
Thank you so much for this post, your whole blog and for all free printables I have already download for latter.
PS: I’m French speaker, from Belgium. Sorry for my bad English, I do my best :-).