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Do you often get attracted towards all those stylishly written words on a wedding card? Calligraphy is generally known as the art of writing and it can allow you to write beautifully on paper, no matter how good or bad your handwriting is. Learning calligraphy is a great thing because you can over a period of time not just improve your handwriting, but also learn the art of writing. Most people who want to learn calligraphy do find the websites where they get information about calligraphy, but they are not sure how to get started and how they can learn modern calligraphy step-by-step to ensure that they are on the right track on how to choose the right nibs and paper quality, how to set up workspace and best practices of calligraphy.

How to Buy Essential Supplies?
Calligraphy like any other art requires patience and practice, but it also requires certain essential supplies and quality tools that can help you to achieve your goals. The supplies and tools are not very expensive so you can always find good quality supplies at affordable rates.
Nibs
Nibs play an important role in modern calligraphy and therefore you need to purchase flexible and pointed nibs that can make your writing seem beautiful. While there are many different types of nibs available in the market, as a beginner you must choose Nikko G, a reliable and sturdy nib which is an excellent choice for beginners.

Nib Holder
Nibs will require nib holder that can hold the nib straight while you are writing. Look out for the nib holder that has a general holder, so that you can wedge the nib between the metal rings and make sure its holds tight.

Ink
Using the right ink can enhance or ruin your calligraphy experience so make sure you choose wisely. Some inks need to be mixed with water while some come pre-mixed and you can use it right from the bottle. Dark India Ink and Sumi Ink are highly recommended for beginners.
Paper
The quality of paper you use is equally important. Normal printer paper might bleed when you start writing and therefore is not the right choice for calligraphy training. Layout paper like Hahnemuhle Layout Pad that does not bleed and is not too textured.

Getting Started

When you have all the essential supplies you can get started with setting up the workspace. To start with, you must clean the nib as all nibs have a chemical coating applied to them during the manufacturing process to prevent from rusting. This chemical layer can cause writing problems and make your nib act weird. Before you begin writing you may dip the nib in alcohol and use soap to remove the chemical residue.

While setting up the workspace, make sure there is ample space available as you will move your elbow while writing it. Place the ink bottle on the right hand side if you’re right-handed and on the left side if you’re left-handed to avoid ink drip on the paper. You may use guide sheet paper under the layout paper before you begin.

To start, you must dip the nib in the ink about halfway up the nib. Write slowly and be patient. Hold your pen at approximately 45 degree angle from the paper. Apply pressure on downstrokes and avoid applying pressure on the upstrokes.

Practice basic letter shapes to begin with and see how they connect together. You’ll also learn that few letters group into similar looking shapes.

If you’re bored of just writing letters you may want to write your name. However, it is recommended that you only start writing whole sentences when you’re comfortable writing letters and until it seeps into your muscle memory.

To conclude, calligraphy like any other art takes time to learn and therefore you must be patient and willing to learn. You must practice it regularly to ensure you learn quickly and the movement of your pen seeps into your muscle memory allowing you to know how the letters form and how they take shape even when you’re not consciously writing it.



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    Hey there! I'm Jane. You must be interested in learning how to spruce up your home and make family life more efficient. Look no further than the Yet Another Mommy Blog. Read on, fellow mom!

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