Tips on Starting Calligraphy

What made you get into Calligraphy?

My liking in this style of art started way back 2015. My cousin invited me to a Calligraphy Class which was held on the 23rd of May. Fun fact, I actually expected it to be a Chinese Calligraphy Class, but turned out to be something else. My disappointment didn't last long because the moment I had the "holder" in my hand, I was sure that it'll be fun. My emotions swung from anxious to excitement as the class went on.

From that day on, Calligraphy has been an important part of my life. Another fun fact, the picture you see in the upper right was my first ever Calligraphy piece.

TRY. Do not be afraid to try new things. Calligraphy can be learned. With the advancement in our society such as social media (FB groups), tutorial videos (youtube), and online workshops, it can be learned easily.

PRACTICE. After watching tutorials, practice. Whether you start with a pointed pen or a brush pen, practice makes progress. It shouldn't be "perfect" because you should aim for progress and not perfection. Practicing five minutes every day will surely make a big difference.

Here's a link of my fave free drills from The Postman Knock.

FIND INSPIRATION. As most artists do, look for samples of works (posts) that catch your attention. At first, try to learn their techniques, or sometimes you can also copy their works for practice purposes. In the end, you'll find your own "art identity". It is when someone looks at your work, they'll know it is you who made it.

- Here is my Pinterest Boards where I browse samples.

- I also follow @abbeysy (Journaling), @thefozzybook (Spencerian), and Inkscribbler (Modern Calligraphy).

DON'T COMPARE YOUR PROGRESS. Do not compare your apple to a person who has a tree of apples. Remember that no matter how far people have reached, they also started to where you are now. Remember that your art represents you and how you express yourself. With all the artists out there, only uniqueness stands out. So pat yourself at the back for doing a great job! Remember that you are amazing and what you're doing is enough.

Last but not the least, ENJOY! It doesn't matter what it looks like as long as you're enjoying. You're doing this to have fun, not to stress yourself out.

Stay creative!

(c) Editor: Paul Gonzales