Using The Calligraphy Pen

how to hold and use your pen

Hold your Calligraphy pen much like you would hold an ordinary pen (left). There is no right or wrong way other than holding the pen so that it points away from you. As long as you are comfortable. If you are left-handed, you might have to turn the paper to get the right angle.

The angle of the pen nib to the writing line differs according to which alphabet you are writing. This angle is reflected in the thick and thin strokes of the letters.

Try to maintain this angle as you write to give your letters uniformity. There will be some, minor, natural variation as you write but this will add a liveliness to the work as a whole.

I find that if I twist the pen slightly in my grip this is enough for the letters to look flatter or more slender.

The steel dip nib is designed to be pulled or moved sideways. If you push the nib upwards you will find it digs into the fibres of the paper and the ink will bleed and spread.

Calligraphy cartridge pens and automatic pens are different in that you can push and pull when you write.

Rather than rotating your wrist as you write, try pulling and pushing the pen from the elbow. There will be some wrist movement but you will get used to what you are doing as you practise. Excessive movements of your wrist as you write changes the angle of the nib in relation to the writing line and the uniformity of your letters will be affected.

The exercises in the Practise pages will help you with this new way of writing. You will also learn how to form the shapes you need to 'write' the letters.

I prefer to think of Calligraphy as a form of drawing. You are drawing shapes rather than writing as such. Calligraphy is an art form and it is the expression of the artist in you that makes the 'picture'.