TPK’s Best Calligraphy Tutorials for All Levels

The TPK blog is a treasure trove of calligraphy tutorials. Some articles offer guidance that’s truly invaluable, pushing your practice to new heights. However, like any vast collection, finding exactly what you need can take a bit of digging! So, in today’s post, I’ve curated a list of the pointed pen calligraphy articles and tutorials I find myself directing readers to again and again. To make it easier for you, I’ve organized the tutorials by skill level to help you find the perfect match for your current needs.

1. Beginner Calligraphy Tutorials

“Where do I start?” is the question that I receive most from calligraphy beginners. I always point them to The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy. In that article, I outline everything you need to know to get started. There are several other helpful articles for the beginner, though! They are:

• Calligraphy 101: The Ultimate Guide for Calligraphy Beginners – This comprehensive guide introduces various calligraphy styles and provides resources, practice tips, and encouragement for beginners.
• The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit – This article walks you through how to compile an effective collection of pointed pen calligraphy supplies.
• About the Oblique Calligraphy Pen – In this article, you’ll learn what an oblique calligraphy pen is and how to write with it. (Oblique pens can be incredibly useful for right-handed beginners!)
• How to Hold a Calligraphy Pen – An effective grip is vital to well-written calligraphy. This blog post teaches you how to find your best pen grip.

2. Beginner+ Tutorials

A “beginner+” is someone who has started learning but doesn’t quite have the basics down yet. These are the best calligraphy tutorials for that person:

• 15 Calligraphy FAQs to Boost Your Success – This article addresses several components of calligraphy that tend to stymie those who have just started in with the pointed pen, like “Why does ink bleed?”.
• All of TPK’s Free Calligraphy Worksheets: A Master List – This is a running list of all the printable calligraphy worksheets that TPK has to offer. All of these worksheets will provide quality, stimulating practice that in truth is perfect for any skill level.
• 7 Ways to Stay Motivated When Learning Calligraphy – This article offers practical tips to keep your enthusiasm high. These include finding inspiration in different resources, taking breaks, and rewarding yourself with new supplies.

3. Pointed Pen Calligraphy Nib Information and Tutorials (Beginner+ to Intermediate)

These articles, which hone in on pointed pen nibs, will come in handy for anyone who is beginner+ to intermediate level.

• Which Calligraphy Nibs to Use and Why – It’s nice to switch up your nibs as your calligraphy abilities improve! In this article, you’ll learn about four different calligraphy nibs and what you can expect from each of those nibs.
• How to Get the Most Out of Your Pointed Pen Nibs – This article offers tips on selecting, maintaining, and cleaning your nibs to ensure they perform at their best and enhance your calligraphy experience.
• How to Know When a Calligraphy Nib is Done – For many people, it’s difficult to tell when it’s time to switch out nibs. A nib can wear out so gradually that you don’t notice when it’s not writing at peak performance! That’s why this article is an important read.

4. Ink Tutorials (Beginner+ to Intermediate)

Once you’ve mastered your first ink (likely sumi or India), you’ll probably want to try out different inks. It’s also important to know how to troubleshoot those inks. The calligraphy tutorials below focus on inks, and they’re perfect for the intermediate (or intermediate-ish) learner.

• Why, When, and How to Dilute Ink – This is a tutorial that I refer people to again and again! Whenever your ink starts to act wonky, chances are you just need to add some water.
• Common Calligraphy Ink Problems + Solutions – Unfortunately, there are some calligraphy ink problems that water can’t solve. This article discusses a myriad of issues that you can run into and how to deal with them.
• How to Create Watercolor Calligraphy – Did you know that you can use watercolors as calligraphy ink? This tutorial will teach you how!
• How to Write Gold Calligraphy With Finetec Watercolors – When I discovered the Finetec palette, nothing could save any paper surface around me from gold calligraphy! In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make sparkling letters, too.
• How to Use Bleed Proof White Calligraphy Ink – White ink is easy to use, but it can be confusing at first because it’s so gunky. This tutorial will encourage you to experiment with viscosity and get to writing.

5. Intermediate Calligraphy Tutorials

Once you’re feeling more confident with the dip pen, it’s time to start using it to make cool projects! Here are some calligraphy tutorial that will inspire you to get to writing:

• 26 “Real Life” Calligraphy Practice Projects – This is a running list that I keep of calligraphy tutorials that have practical applications. (There are a couple of tutorials here that make for fabulous gifts!)
• How to Make Calligraphy Guidelines – If you plan out your letters with effective guidelines, your calligraphy will be stunning! This calligraphy tutorial teaches you how to make the best guidelines. (Also see: 12 Free Lettering and Calligraphy Guidelines.)
• About Calligraphy Slant Lines – Slant lines will help you to create calligraphy that’s neat and consistent. They’re well worth any extra hassle, I promise.
• 7 Secrets to Staying in Love With Calligraphy – Once you’ve mastered the basics of calligraphy and can make professional-looking projects, how do you keep things fresh? This article answers that question.

6. Calligraphy Eye Candy for All Levels

If you really just want to see some pretty calligraphy to get ideas for what to make next, check out the following:

• 8 Incredibly Inspiring Calligraphy Works – This article showcases works from various artists that will make you feel motivated to try out new projects and techniques.
• 10 Stunning Mail Art Envelopes to Inspire and Delight – These envelopes will get you excited to send snail mail.
• 10 Artistic Ideas for Holiday Place Cards – Don’t let the title limit you … you can use these place cards for any occasion!
• *Must See* 2023 Graceful Envelope Contest Entries – These envelope are incredibly gorgeous and will provide you with ample inspiration!

Even if you recognized a few of these articles, my hope is that this compilation presented you with some calligraphy tutorials that help you to move forward in your practice! If you have any questions about something that’s not on this list, I’m happy to answer. Feel free to ask in the comments; I’m glad to help. 🙂

Warmly,

This article was originally published in January 2021. It has been revised to include fresh articles, tutorials, and photos.