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  • Introducing the Perched Parrot Calligraphy Drill Worksheet

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    , , ,

    One of the coolest things you can make with a pointed pen isn’t a letter or a word — it’s a piece of artwork. With TPK’s newest worksheet, you’ll learn how to build a stunning flourished parrot, one step at a time.

    Perched parrot calligraphy artwork
    A design like this one might seem complicated, but creating it becomes manageable when you break it down into simple steps.

    There’s something about a flourished motif that naturally draws people in. When you display calligraphy artwork—whether it’s on your fridge, a bulletin board, or framed on a wall—it invites curiosity and closer looks. Beyond being beautiful to admire, though, calligraphy artwork is incredibly satisfying to create. Today, I’m excited to introduce the Perched Parrot Dual Calligraphy Artwork + Drill Worksheet, a resource designed to help you build your skills while creating something beautiful.

    Perched parrot calligraphy worksheet
    The 6-page printable Perched Parrot worksheet was designed to teach you how to make this motif. TPK Premium members can download it for free by clicking here.
    download the Perched Parrot Worksheet

    Why a Parrot?

    A parrot felt like the perfect subject for this month’s Premium worksheet — playful, intricate, and tropical. When I was brainstorming motifs for the worksheet, The White Lotus was just wrapping up, and vivid, beachy scenes were still fresh in my mind. Between that and a general longing for a bit of color and warmth, a flourished parrot felt like the right choice. After a few pencil drafts and some experimenting with layouts, the final design came together.

    Flourished calligraphy parrot
    In addition to working on loops and swirls, you’ll practice some light crosshatching to add texture and depth to the parrot.

    A Creative Challenge

    If you’re looking for a challenge, this parrot worksheet is a great one to try. It’s probably the most advanced drill currently available on TPK, but I promise that it’s very doable if you take it step by step! Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you’re working through it:

    • Use a new or fairly new nib for sharp, clean strokes. (When I made my first draft, I used a dull Brause EF66 nib, and the contrast between thick and thin strokes wasn’t as crisp as I wanted. After switching to a fresh nib for the second version, the difference was huge! The flourishes looked much more polished.)
    • Sumi ink is perfect for bold, black flourishes. (This is the ink that I used because it scans well.)
    • Iron gall ink is great for delicate, super-fine upstrokes.
    • Watercolor calligraphy works beautifully if you want a colorful parrot!
    Step by step instructions for making an artistic perched parrot drill
    The worksheet includes clear, color-coded instructions to guide you through the perched parrot creation process.

    How to Use the Worksheet

    You can choose to print the entire worksheet or just reference the first four pages (the instructions) on your computer or tablet. Printing the last two pages is essential, though! Page 5 gives you targeted exercises to practice key strokes from the parrot design, while page 6 lets you practice flourishing the entire parrot from start to finish.

    Page 5 of the Perched Parrot calligraphy drill
    Practicing individual flourishing strokes helps build control and confidence before tackling the full design.
    Adding flourishes to a parrot-themed calligraphy drill
    Be sure to fill out the exercises on page 6 before you try flourishing the piece separately.

    Once you feel confident with your practice, the goal is to flourish the parrot independently on a separate sheet of paper. 80# drawing paper (affiliate link) works great, or for an extra challenge, you can try handmade cotton or watercolor paper.

    Flourished perched parrot
    I created my flourished parrot on 80# drawing paper.

    Enjoy!

    I hope you enjoy working through this worksheet as much as I enjoyed putting it together. It’s this month’s freebie for TPK Premium members — designed to give you a creative challenge, a chance to slow down, and something beautiful to show for your efforts. If you have any questions as you work through it, feel free to send me an email or save your questions for one of May’s Zoom coffee dates — I’m always delighted to help.

    Warmly,