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How to do calligraphy alphabet letters

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The history of calligraphy dates back to the Stone Age. Around 2,500BC the first real writing known as cuneiform, was invented in Mesopotamia. Using a wedge shaped tool, marks were etched into clay making the marks, which represented the sounds of the words. In 1,500BC the Chinese developed a script consisting of more than 1,500 characters representing an idea rather than a sound or letter. In 1,000BC the Phoenicians created an alphabet of 22 letters. In about 500BC the Greeks adapted this calligraphy alphabet also adding a,e,i,o. During the 1st Century AD the Ancient Romans adapted the Greek alphabet to produce their own 23 capital letters. This was the beginning of the calligraphy alphabet as we know it today. Between the 1st and 10th century AD the J, U and W were added making the 26 letter alphabet.


How to do calligraphy alphabet letters

1. Chose an alphabet style you want to learn from the book Calligraphy Alphabets for Beginners.

2. Mark lines and circles on the practice pad with the smaller end of the calligraphy pen. Move the angle at which you hold the pen to the paper to note the various appearances of thicks and thins.

3. Write the first letter of the alphabet style you chose. Watch for the arrow markings which describe the order of each pen stroke, and the direction you move the pen.

4. Notice if the thick and thin places on your letter are like those of the model. Adjust your pen if necessary and then make the letter again. Keep adjusting the pen until your letter looks right.

5. Practice a whole row of each letter. Complete for the upper- and lower-case letters.

Roman Rustic Capitals

Uncial


Copperplate

How to do calligraphy alphabet letters

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how to do calligraphy

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Calligraphy  is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering (Mediavilla 1996: 17). A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is “the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner” (Mediavilla 1996: 18). The story of writing is one of aesthetic evolution framed within the technical skills, transmission speed(s) and material limitations of a person, time and place (Diringer 1968: 441). A style of writing is described as a script, hand or alphabet (Fraser and Kwiatkowski 2006; Johnston 1909: Plate 6).
Modern calligraphy ranges from functional hand-lettered inscriptions and designs to fine-art pieces where the abstract expression of the handwritten mark may or may not compromise the legibility of the letters (Mediavilla 1996). Classical calligraphy differs from typography and non-classical hand-lettering, though a calligrapher may create all of these; characters are historically disciplined yet fluid and spontaneous, at the moment of writing (Pott 2006 and 2005; Zapf 2007 and 2006).
Calligraphy continues to flourish in the forms of wedding and event invitations, font design/typography, original hand-lettered logo design, religious art, announcements/graphic design/commissioned calligraphic art, cut stone inscriptions and memorial documents. It is also used for props and moving images for film and television, testimonials, birth and death certificates, maps, and other works involving writing (see for example Letter Arts Review; Propfe 2005; Geddes and Dion 2004). Some of the finest works of modern calligraphy are charters and letters patent issued by monarchs and officers of state in various countries.
Calligraphy, literally translated, means “beautiful writing.” Heralded as an art form above and beyond a means of communication, calligraphy is a wonderful way to express yourself.
  1. Choose professional calligraphy pens and ink. The best choice for beginners is a chisel-point pen with a width of approximately one and a half millimeters.
  2. Take the time to relax and meditate. Calligraphy is an age-old art form that draws on a steady hand and inner peace.
  3. Begin by finding a copy of the uncial alphabet. This is one of the more common calligraphic alphabets, and was utilized by the early Christians.
  4. Trace the letters of the uncial alphabet slowly and carefully several times to get a good feel for the curves of the letters and the pen strokes.
  5. Focus on keeping your letters straight and uniformly sized. You can move on to the fancy maneuvers later.
  6. Research local beginning calligraphy classes at a junior college or art institute. Nothing can replace the helpful guidance of a trained calligraphy professional.
To use Calligraphy Pens:
  • Understand that good calligraphy writing is based on patterns of ovals and lines. All letters are written with the calligraphy pens using a series of ovals and lines.
  • Write the lower case letters by starting at the top of the letter. Make sure all of your down strokes in each letter are parallel. There should be even spacing and even white space between each letter. All capital letters should be the same height. Many calligraphers used lined paper to practice or they place lined paper under the paper they are writing on to use as a guide when sliding the pens over the surface of the paper.
  • Make sure that all of your lower case letters are of the same height. Make sure they connect and look right together. Do not switch letter types or nibs in the center of a word.
  • Change the nib of the pen for different looks. Your calligraphy set should have a chart stating which marks and techniques can be created using each individual nib.
  • Practice using the different nibs. A good calligrapher will practice a lot in order to perfect the writing style. Calligraphy takes a lot of time, patience and practice.
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