Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In

  • Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    ,

    In this simple tutorial, I’ll show you how to use white ink and colored pencils to create a phrase that really pops! Black cardstock especially loves “colored pencil calligraphy”, but you could tailor this concept for any paper color.

    Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    Today’s colored pencil calligraphy tutorial is one of those projects that you should save for a day when you need some quiet and reflection. It’s something that requires a bit of time, but not intense focus — so you can let your thoughts wander as you color! To begin, you’ll need a white pencil, a black piece of cardstock, a dip pen + white ink, and colored pencils.

    1. Write Out a Phrase in Calligraphy

    You’ll begin by using your white mechanical pencil to write out a draft of any short phrase that you connect with. (For more information about making layouts like the one below, you can visit the How to Make Calligraphy Quote Art tutorial.) Feel free to create your phrase in any calligraphy style! I chose to use the Kaitlin because it has a lot of nice contours.

    Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    I cut the cardstock that I’m using here to 8″ x 10″ (203 mm x 254 mm), then I drew a 1.5″ (38 mm) border around it to keep my calligraphy contained.

    Next, trace over your calligraphy with a dip pen and white ink.

    Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    I used a Brause Rose nib and Bleedproof White ink to trace over my draft phrase.

    Try to use a flexible nib that doesn’t make hairline-thin upstrokes. Otherwise, your lettering may end up looking too delicate and it won’t stand out in the final project.

    Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    Allow your ink to dry (give it 15 minutes just to be safe), then move on to the next step!

    2. Add + Blend Colored Pencils

    You can use any color scheme you want for colored pencil calligraphy. I’d recommend choosing three colors that you feel go well together. Make sure they’re fairly light because you want them to show up against the dark cardstock!

    Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    For my colored pencil calligraphy, I choose a light green, a light purple, and a light blue. (The exact names are Apple Green, Parma Violet, and True Blue, for those who have the Prismacolor Set.)

    Now, start using the colors in a random order to fill in the space around your calligraphy. Follow these two rules:

    1. Apply pressure to your pencil in the areas that directly border letters in order to create dramatic color contrast. As you color away from the letter, let up on the pressure to make a lighter tone.
    2. Don’t fill in the counters of letters (meaning: the areas inside of loops, such as the bottom of a “y”and the inside of the “o”, both shown below). Leaving the counters blank will lend some rich visual interest to the finished piece!
    Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    Keep a pencil sharpener nearby! You need fine tips to work around the nooks and crannies of letters.

    Continue to use your colored pencils to fill in all of the space around your calligraphy. For maximum contrast, extend your colored pencil to the border that you drew in step 1. Don’t worry about where to put which color — the whole point of this tutorial is to go with your gut and let your mind wander! Any spontaneous combination will end up looking great.

    Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    You can put a piece of paper under you hand to protect the calligraphy underneath as you work your way down!

    3. Erase

    Once you’ve finished adding color to your piece, use an eraser to get rid of any visible white guidelines. Exert very gentle pressure; you don’t want to accidentally erase the colored pencil!

    Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    Black erasers generally work best to erase marks on black cardstock. If you don’t have one, no big deal! A white eraser will work, too — but it may leave a bit of residue.

    When you finish, take a step back to enjoy the artistic effect! This type of colored pencil calligraphy especially looks striking from afar.

    Simple Colored Pencil Calligraphy Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    Again, this isn’t a complicated tutorial by any means — but sometimes it’s nice to have a project that doesn’t necessarily take a lot of concentration. Put on a good podcast or playlist, keep a yummy snack or drink at hand, and let yourself relax for an hour or so as you delve in to making this project! My guess is that creating it will make you feel rejuvenated and renewed, which is exactly what it did for me. 🙂

    If you have any questions, suggestions, or observations, I always enjoy hearing from you in the comments! Otherwise, I hope that you feel inspired by this tutorial, and that you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks so much for reading!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock