A bouquet of flowers in a vase on a table with someone practicing calligraphy.
Want to save this?
Enter your email below and I’ll send it directly to your inbox!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Happy Friday! You know what that means – it’s time to learn calligraphy! Today, we’re getting back to basics. When you first learned how to write in elementary school, you used lined paper & started with basic strokes. The same applies when learning calligraphy. Today, we’re going to get used to the feeling of writing with the pen, learn how to apply the pressure that results in beautiful strokes, & practice, practice, practice!

It’s time to get out your practice grid, tracing paper, pen, ink & damp paper towel {to blot excess}.

A woman practicing the calligraphy alphabet.

1. Start with straight down strokes. This will help you get used to the feeling of it. Do a line without applying pressure, followed by a line with light pressure {don’t get too carried away}. Notice that you get different thicknesses according to how much pressure you apply.

A woman practicing the calligraphy alphabet.
A woman practicing the calligraphy alphabet.

2. Let’s practice upstrokes. Create a loop {letter “l”} without pressure going up & light pressure going down. Fill a sheet or two with these beauties!

A woman practicing the calligraphy alphabet.
A bouquet of flowers in a vase on a table with someone practicing calligraphy.

Now if you’ll recall, I’m learning with you, so don’t judge! I’m sharing one of my practice sheets so you can see the strokes. Madi was pretty impressed with my “l’s”! Okay, she was just being nice, but we all have to start somewhere! Just remember, it takes practice to perfect, don’t be scared to lift your pen, & this is just our first lesson.

A bouquet of flowers in a vase on a table with someone practicing calligraphy.

These basics may not seem like much, but they’re essential to learn before you develop a style of your own. You’ll come to appreciate how each letter is formed. The next 2 weeks are much more intense, so get ready for some fun!

A bouquet of flowers in a vase on a table with two people practicing calligraphy.
A bouquet of flowers in a vase on a table with someone practicing calligraphy.

You won’t want to miss a lesson, so subscribe here & have them sent directly to your inbox. Thanks to Emmy Ray of Handmaker of Things for the gorgeous flowers, Jenny Wheat for photographing my journey & of course, Madi Sanders for teaching me!

A woman practicing the calligraphy alphabet.

The series, in order:

How to Learn Calligraphy

Getting Started

Back to Basics

The Calligraphy Alphabet

Practice Words

Practice Makes Perfect

Calligraphy Resources & Left Handed Calligraphy

Minuscules & Numerals

LET’S CONNECT!

instagram | newsletter | facebook | pinterest 

Check Out My Other Calligraphy Posts:

You May Also Like

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

38 Comments

  1. I subscribed to your website to learn calligraphy, but I haven’t received any of the emails. I’m looking to start on uppercase and I don’t have a printable. What should I do?

    1. All of the printables are currently available within the posts. They were initially sent once a month. Look for additional free printables in upcoming newsletters! Enjoy!

    1. There are links in the email…click on “free printable upper case”. My apologies that the links weren’t differentiated with color. Don’t hesitate if you need anything else! Happy day!

  2. You two look gorgeous, as always!

    I’ve been meaning to learn forever, so I will definitely be following along. What a fun series!

    1. Hello! Do you have a certain type of paper that you recommend practicing on? Im having a hard time with the nip gliding on all the papers I am trying out. Thanks!

      Brittney