Introduction:
Calligraphy could also be
a visible art related to writing. It's the design and execution of lettering
with a broad-tipped instrument, brush, or other writing instrument.
Modern calligraphy ranges
from functional inscriptions and designs to fine-art pieces where the letters
may or won't be readable. Classical calligraphy differs from typography and
non-classical hand-lettering, though a calligrapher may practice both.
Calligraphy continues to
flourish within the kinds of wedding invitations and event invitations, font
design and typography, original hand-lettered logo design, religious art,
announcements, graphic design and commissioned calligraphic art, cut stone
inscriptions, and memorial documents.
Benefits
of calligraphy:
New skill
Calligraphy would be an
excellent addition to any designer’s skill set. Postcards, posters, invitation
cards, website banners, prints for t-shirts and lots of other design products
would look more authentic and interesting in calligraphy and lettering.
Quick
progress
Your very first letter
might be clunky, but I am sure that by the end of the first line it will get
better. And I assure you that by the top of the primary or second sheet of
paper, the development are going to be noticeable!
Attention
to surroundings
You will become observant.
You will find inspiration for new work everywhere, from building faces on the street
to old books on the shelf.
Unique corporate identity
More and more companies
are using calligraphy and lettering in their trademark style. It lends
uniqueness and instills trust in the customer.
Manual dexterity
The skill has an influence
on one’s thinking, memory, imagination, powers of observation, coordination and
agility.
Inexpensive
Most of the tools are
often found at a reasonable price. And craft paper can be done with the help of
coffee, paint, etc.
Achieving
good results:
Here are some tips based on my experience:
Learn
every day. Attend master classes and courses, study online, and
participate in competitions.
Practice,
practice, practice. If you train every day, you won’t have to wait long for
progress. Focus on sharpening your skill, don’t be afraid to experiment, and
devote time to writing regularly.
Practice
by copying. Choose projects you like and copy them to understand how
the composition and contrast work.
Warm
up. Start with some warm up exercises before getting down to
work. Clench and release your fingers, rub and move your hands in circles to
warm them up. While writing, do eye exercises from time to time.
Collect different styles of handwritings:
You can find these in
postcards and old letters. Analyze them. These will help you to come up with new and interesting
combinations of typefaces.
Take care of your tools. Wash and wipe dry your tools after each exercise. When I was a beginner, I rusted and damaged several nibs irrevocably because of untimely cleaning.
Don’t worry about other people’s opinion. Don’t give up, even if your progress is not as fast as you would like. Good results will come.
Mind your sitting posture. This rule is the key to beautiful handwriting. If you follow it, you will be able to work at the table for a long time without discomfort or hand pain.
Collect references. A box of ideas is very helpful. When I’m not feeling inspired and need a creative punch, I close my eyes and take out two magazine cuttings; I’ll analyze them and try to combine their styles and play
Photograph building faces. The diverse ornaments you’ll find will give you plenty of ideas for exquisite and vintage logos. My version of a logo from an architectural carving found on pinterest.
Meet new people and share your experience. Together, you can create new projects and get valuable feedback. Showing your work to others will enable you to find and correct mistakes more quickly. Collaborate with photographers and other creative people.
Follow trends. Analyze what is in fashion now and what will be in fashion for the next couple of years. Constantly move forward.
Basic
details about tools used in calligraphy:
Paper
In the beginning, ordinary
notebooks, copy books, office paper and even old wallpaper are going to be
enough for practice.
Try to get paper with a
smooth surface and a higher density than office paper; otherwise, the ink will
not flow and the nib will not catch the paper. Rhobia and fabriano paper are
quite good, but try different variants to seek out the simplest one for you.
Printed
handwriting worksheets and alphabets
This is mandatory: it is
impossible to write letters at a proper height or write a line of text without
positioning and marking the sheet of paper.
The most feasible solution
would be to place a printed handwriting worksheet under the sheet of paper
you’re writing on.
The worksheet will show
through the paper, guiding you on the height and incline of elements. A ruler
and pencil may additionally help, but lining would take time.
Pen
holders
Pen holders can be
straight and oblique. A straight pen holder is sweet for square-cut pens and
for writing different typefaces (for example, rustic capitals, square capitals,
uncials and artificial uncials, texture quadrate, italics, etc.).
Nibs
Nibs are square cut or
pointed. As suggested earlier, you’d better learn typefaces with a square-cut
nib. These nibs are quite rough, which makes the work easier and which can
train you for a pointed nib.
Pilot
parallel pen
These are wonderful pens
with a square-cut nib! They are very firm and comfortable to use. Though they
work with the original cartridges (which are quite expensive), the empty ones
can be refilled with a syringe.
Other
tools used in calligraphy:
Pencils
Many books recommend starting calligraphy by writing with two pencils (firmly
bound together), training yourself to create letters this manner. In any case,
a pencil will be useful for sketches and draft text writing, which you can use
as a basis for writing in ink.
A pair of compasses
For lining round objects in composition.
Writing desk
A wooden sketch board can be adjusted at different angles against the table,
and the sheet of paper would then be fixed on the surface.
A rubber and a kneaded rubber
I mostly use a kneaded rubber,
because it doesn’t leave waste after cleaning.
Rulers
They are needed to mark up the sheet of paper and to set the height of letters.
You could use a printed handwriting worksheet and put it under the sheet of
paper instead.
Conclusion:
Nowadays calligraphy is in
fashion, which only makes me happier. In comparison to digital text, handwriting
may be a distinct kind, and its uniqueness is being valued more and more
highly.
The art of lovely
handwriting shouldn’t be forgotten, and that I thank everybody who supports and
promotes it today.
Written by - Adarsh Rai
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