Many beginning calligraphy books will
give you detailed instructions on the tools you "must"
have before beginning calligraphy. These tools, such as a ruler,
a calligraphy pen with three or four different nibs, black india
ink, powdered colored ink, heavy paper, etc., are certainly important
if you want to pursue the interesting aspects of calligraphy.
However, if you are a true beginner
to calligraphy, just beginning to learn the strokes, not even sure
if this is really something you're interested in pursuing, how much
sense does it make to invest in expensive pens, inks, and paper?
None at all. This article Be aware that these
tools won't allow you to create elegant invitations and placecards.
For that, you do need the right tools. But for practicing your strokes,
these work just as well.
First, you need paper. Ideally, it
should be lined. You can create lined paper on your computer in
either Publisher or Excel. Just make sure that all the lines are
even. Don't use ruled notebook filler; it's too thin.
Paper with calligraphy lines-two dark
lines to mark the bottom and top of each line, and a fainter one
to mark the middle-is always useful. But it isn't necessary. You
can always use a ruler and a pencil and pencil in the middle line
yourself. Remember, we want the cheapest, most basic equipment possible.
Next, let's look at pens. Calligraphy
pens can be expensive. Calligraphy ink can be even more expensive.
But all you really need for practicing the basic strokes of calligraphy
is a chisel-tipped pen or marker. That's it. You need to be able
to draw a thick or thin line with the same pen. But you don't need
an expensive calligraphy pen to do that.
Chisel-tipped pens or markers come
in all different colors, so if you want, you can buy a four-pack
and play around with different colors. But even that isn't necessary.
A plain black works just fine. Almost all major brands offer chisel-tipped
pens for under $5. (Many sell them for under $3.)
You also need a book that can show
you the basic strokes of calligraphy. However, at this point, the
basic strokes are all you need. Don't spend extra money on a book
that will show you twenty different alphabets if you can find one
that will teach you just the strokes.
Finally, unless you can print calligraphy
paper from your computer, you need a ruler for marking that elusive
middle line. You can pick up a good wooden ruler for under a dollar
in most office supply stores, superstores, or school supply stores.
Getting started in calligraphy need
not cost an arm and a leg. As you advance, you will, no doubt, want
to invest in pens and inks and papers. For now, however, those things
simply aren't necessary. Especially if you have children who think
they want to learn calligraphy, buy the cheap practice tools first.
If your child wants to learn calligraphy badly enough to practice
page after page of a single stroke for weeks on end, then you should
probably go ahead and invest in the more expensive tools. But use
the cheap ones to see if he or she will stick with it.
At heart, calligraphy is nothing more
than a collection of particular strokes. In order to get good at
calligraphy, you must write page after page of a single stroke,
then page after page of another, and so on. It is a tedious and
time consuming process, and most people give up after a few dozen
practice pages. Be smart. Start cheap. If you hang in there, you
can buy the fancy equipment. I purchase mine at Dick
Blick Art Supply Store.- Keesa Renee DuPre
