I have to admit that I struggled over what to call this calligraphy tutorial. “White calligraphy with a hint of color and a shadow on a watercolor background” just didn’t have a nice ring to it. So: “Phantom Blush” it is! This calligraphy technique is a favorite of mine because it’s casual, artistic, and quick. You can find instructions over how to make it below, including a ~6 minute tutorial video that will help those of us who love video demos!
1. Paint a Watercolor Background
Choose a hardy piece of paper, and use a large-ish brush and a dark watercolor tone to make several quick horizontal strokes. Layer the strokes until you have created a dark background like the one pictured below.
Try to make quick brush strokes! The speed will result in “devil may care” spatters and loops on the sides. This adds to the casual appeal of the piece!
If you’re using this tutorial to make mail art, you probably are wondering whether the envelope will “bubble up” because of moisture. The answer is yes — but I think that the change in texture adds to the artistic nature of the piece! My only word of caution would be to use a high-quality envelope that is 80 lb or higher.
2. Write Calligraphy
Wait for the watercolor ink to dry, then use opaque white ink — I like Bleed Proof White — to write calligraphy on it. You’ll notice that writing on the watercolor background is a little bit different than writing on naked paper. Namely, upstrokes will probably be thicker than what you’re used to. Don’t worry about it! For this calligraphy tutorial, you actually want upstrokes that are nice and thick.
It’s best to use a whimsical calligraphy style that doesn’t involve pencil guidelines. You’ll run into trouble trying to erase pencil guidelines on a watercolor background! I used Kaitlin Style calligraphy to write this address.
If you’re not a fan of the dip pen, you can always use a white gel pen (I like Gelly Roll) and faux calligraphy for this step.
3. Add Color
Next, get out your colored pencils. Choose a fairly light tone, and use it to gently fill in the bottom half of all your letters/characters.
Make sure you use a light color! Dark tones may blend in too much with the watercolor background.
Continue until all of your letters have a blush of color on them!
I prefer to use Prismacolor colored pencils for this tutorial. They have a nice, soft core that applies easily to the dried white ink!
4. Draw in Shadows
Find a fine-tipped black gel pen, and use it to draw a parallel line along the right side of each stroke in your calligraphy. (If this concept is confusing, check out the tutorial video, which I posted just under this step.)
Pilot G2 pens with a 0.5 mm tip are great for adding letter shadows! (Note, however, that any black gel pen you have on hand should also work beautifully.)
Continue to draw in shadows until all of the letters in the piece “pop”!
Adding shadows helps the calligraphy to stand out.
If you used this calligraphy technique for mail art, try adding a stamp collage for an extra creative touch!
Vintage postage stamps add to the unique feel of this mail art. You can find more information about where to find stamps like these in this blog post.
Phantom Blush Calligraphy Tutorial Video
If you’re a bit fuzzy on the details of this calligraphy tutorial and/or you have about six minutes to spare, you can watch the video below. It explains the process behind the Phantom Blush calligraphy technique and should clear up unanswered questions!
As you probably gathered from the video, you can use this calligraphy technique for anything. Mail art, gift tags, bullet journals, sketchbooks … try it on whatever paper good you create next!
Punch a hole, thread some twine through, and you’ve got an instant artistic gift tag!
I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial, and that you find the time to give it a try! It’s nice and short, the perfect way to incorporate art and calligraphy into a hectic holiday schedule. If any part of this tutorial is confusing or you have observations you’d like to share, please feel free to contribute to the comments below! If not, have a great weekend, and thanks so much for reading TPK!
Warmly,
(PS – I so enjoy seeing tutorial results on Instagram! If you make something you’re proud of, tag @thepostmansknock or hashtag #thepostmansknock. I guarantee you that I’ll be proud of what you made, too.)
I wanted to ask you Lindsey, Would the post office have any issues with the art on the envelopes we mail. I did do some for Christmas and birthdays this year and it seemed fine but mine was either on the back of the envelope or to the left side, nothing where the actual address goes as with this blog here or say the one with the Christmas tree on front and center.
I would use it on mail art
I would like to use this on a birthday card! This is such a cool technique; thanks for sharing! 🙂
This would add some nice dimension on Christmas cards!
I love the idea with the shading combined with colouring the letters! My little sister loves it when colors gradually fade into each other and since she’s turning 18 soon, that would be a nice idea for her birthday card! Also for some christmas letters… Let’s see! 🙂 Thanks for the idea!
I would like to use the “Phantom Blush Calligraphy Tutorial” for gift tags with a very dark prussian blue and gold writing.
I was expecting using masking liquid to keep letters white, it might be later better for coloring. Not all white inks are friendly to get colored with color pencils, at least mine is too smooth and shiny.
But I’m not sure if masking liquid is useable for calligraphy writing, I haven’t tried it yet.
Whenever I do white lettering over watercolour, the colour seems to bleed through the white ink. It still looks ok, but wondering if you have encountered the same problem? The blush of colour with the pencil probably helps a bit I’m thinking, so I’m keen to give it a go 🙂
Thanks Lindsey, another awesome tutorial.
I would use this on christmas cards and in my bullet Journal!
Would try this style on Bookmarks. Sooo goood! 🙂
This is interesting. So basically white ink or ink colour on a twilight background tone. I should give this a try. BTW, love the font
I love this post! I’d want to use this font and idea on gift tags & cards. When Christmas comes as an artist I always feel pressure to do something spectacular but alas usually they’re utilitarian which it disappointing!
This is perfect for bullet journals and cards!!! Thank you for this wonderful tutorial
Would love to use this for Xmas mails! Or on mother’s day, ooh.
Bullet journals would be a great place to use this!!
I would use this technique to make mail art!
This looks amazing! I’d love to be able to make my envelopes look that good!
I’d like to try this with in blues/purples to make the background look like space!
Mail gift! Snail mail
I started using similar skill – watercolour background to the birthday cards I made for my relatives & friends. Just using Tombow Dual Brush Pens!
I would like to use this lettering style on my scrapbooking Christmas cards!
Beautiful! I could use it for short appreciation notes & message for friends 😀
I want to do this on Christmas Cards, or with almost everything. This is pretty awesome
This was wonderful! Love how the brushstrokes accent the lettering – especially with the shadowing. Makes the letters really stand out.
What a neat idea! Whenever do you sleep?!
Super cool!
By the way, I love your tutorials! I have to practice this in my bullet journal.
This is lovely! I want to write an inspirational quote, frame it, and hang it above my desk.
I love this style of calligraphy so much!! I would totally love to use it on letters. one dream of mine and hope in starting my art account on instagram was to hopefully in the future create wedding invitations professionally, possibly in collage or at the tail end of high school. I’m completely self taught and am slowly building a hopefully one day big art empire!
I want to try this on nametags amd gift tags!!
Oooh I would love to use this in my bullet/art journal planner book thing that keeps me sane 😂