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 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 are different in that you can push and pull when you write.

You will need to keep the entire width of the calligraphy nib in contact with the paper as you write, this is what causes the difference in the thickness of the lines. You may need to adjust your grip slightly to compensate for this. You shouldn't need to apply much pressure to the pen when you write. If your thick line looks ragged, the chances are that you lifted one corner of the pen nib.

There are some great animations showing how to use the calligraphy pen at myscribeweb.com. Or, for more demonstrations on using the calligraphy pen watch a selection of calligraphy videos.

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, and why, 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.

Different alphabets and styles of writing require the pen nib to be held at different angles relative to the writing line. 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 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'.

About Ink >>

Useful Links:

Calligraphy Pens from Amazon.co.uk

Calligraphy Pens from Amazon.com

Dick Blick Art Materials

Using the calligraphy pen