JULIA BAUSENHARDT

What You Can Learn In This Guide Essential Calligraphy Tools

I wrote this free guide so you can focus on the basic techniques The most basic tools you will need for starting out and can al-
and information connected with calligraphy practice. Maybe ways revert back to.
you’re just starting out with calligraphy or you have been practi-
cing for a while - I know how overwhelming all the tips can be,
especially if you search around the internet. I’ve thought about
what I consider essential for calligraphic practice and what I’ve
learned from questions from my audience.
You can apply this knowledge to modern calligraphy as well as
1. A pointed nib like the Nikko G or the Zebra G: you
practically can’t break these guys, they are sturdy and
robust and perfect for beginners. I love to use to these nibs &
any other calligraphic style, most of the practice tips can even use them regularly for some styles.
be helpful to other creative pursuits such as drawing, lettering
or illustration.

While the first few tips I share are about some basic tools you’ll
2. A simple wooden holder. Seriously, you don’t need a
fancy holder in the beginning. If you’re into very slanted
writing, get a cheap plastic oblique holder, this can make wri-
need, I want to stress that calligraphy isn’t about tools only. ting those styles easier. (read how to use oblique holders here)
Sure, you need some of the right tools to practice in a satisfying
manner, but you don’t have focus on having the perfect equip-
ment. You can go a long way with a minimum set of just the
right tools. I’ll talk you through about what you absolutely need
3. Smooth paper: It’s so much easier and more frustrati-
on-free to write on the right paper. Make sure it’s smooth
and doesn’t bleed when you write on it with a pointed nib. Lay-
to keep frustration to a minimum. In the second and third part out paper will do a nice job. (read more about paper here)
of this guide, I want to highlight more of the habits you should
build around your practice, and those are things you should try
to incorporate. It’s really helpful to approach calligraphy with a
basic amount of clarity and focus, and you’ll see better results
4. Standard black ink like India or Sumi ink. You don’t need
more. Find ink that writes well on your paper and doesn’t
clog or run too much. I advise to use black because you can
in your writing if you really dedicate to your practice. I also want see it best on your paper. India Ink is usually an inexpensive yet
to give you some inspiration about the kind of mindset that’ll great-looking solution if you’re starting out.
be helpful to your approach.

I truly hope the essential techniques and tools collected in this

guide will help you getting better at calligraphy, making you
practice more and with more calm and ease, and that you will
continue to get many joyful moments with this wonderful art of
beautiful writing.
5. A tidy, organized workspace. I’m serious about this. You’ll
need space to move your arm around when practicing.
Get organized, declutter you workspace, assign fixed spots for
your materials. If you don’t have a dedicated workspace, make
sure you have a box where you keep all your supplies. You can
also draw a little sketch to remind yourself where to put what

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when you take you stuff out of the box. Make room
around yourself so you don’t knock things like water
jars or ink bottles over when you practice letterforms or
flourishes.
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Practice Techniques to Perfect Your
Calligraphy Skills
These techniques will help you to get better at calligraphy in no
time, even if they don‘t seem so „fun“ at first.
1. Learn the Basics first. While it may be very inviting to start
with complex, beautiful layouts or complicated designs
that look gorgeous when executed by the pros, you will really
benefit from practicing step after step. First master the pen,
then learn the letterforms, then form words and sentences,
and when you’ve done all that you can start applying what you
learned to your own designs. (Get help with learning the basics
here) Improvisation is totally great once you’ve mastered the
rules. That said,…
2. Practice often, preferably daily. The more you practice
regularly, the sooner that muscle memory will build and
you will grow more and more accustomed to the letterforms. I
notice the importance of this step every time I learn a new style.
Also try to keep in mind that practicing deliberately will save
you a lot of time, because you’ll address your weak spots speci-
fically. (read more on deliberate practice here)
3. Do the drills. Do those warm up drills that look like mind-
less scribbling, you’ll save yourself some time in achie-
ving good letterforms. The drills support your muscle memory,
and they’ll help to make your hands more relaxed, which re-
sults in a more loose and confident writing style. You will notice
that if you regularly do your drills, you’ll learn those calligraphic
styles quicker and with more ease.
4. Be consistent, but take breaks. It’s better to practice 30
minutes a day, or every two days, than two hours once
a week. If you practice for too long in a single sitting you will
begin to notice cramps in your hand, back pain, and your con-
centration will dwindle. It’s better to take your practice lessons
in small steps each day, this will also help with muscle memory,
which needs consistency.
5. Embrace slow writing. While it can be great writing at a
fast speed and just let everything flow (I know it can be
very liberating), you should take your time for learning new let-
terforms. Write them as slow as you need to truly get to know
the shapes and strokes that form them. When you have studied
a letter thoroughly, you will automatically write it with more
ease and at a faster speed.
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Find the Right Mindset for Successful
Practice
I find that the more relaxed I am, the more progress I make. I‘d
like to share how a compassionate, curious mindset can help
you with your approach at learning new things.
1.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t turn this creative
endeavor that should be pleasant and an opportunity
to learn into something that has to be perfect and absolutely
free of flaws. I’ll tell you what: Especially in the beginning, you
will make flaws. I made flaws in the beginning. Lots of them.
This is normal, it’s part of the process, and the beautiful thing
about flaws is that you can learn from them every single time.
You can’t learn anything from instant perfection except fear of
failure. Calligraphy should be fun, it should be relaxing and
calming. Nothing in life needs to be a contest with this mindset.
Try to embrace this, if possible, and don’t pressure yourself.
2. Be open to experimenting - find out what works for
you. If a certain material or technique I recommend isn’t
working for you, don’t let this stop you. Don’t limit yourself
by trying to stick to all the rules like they’re commandments.
They’re not (well, apart from the one that says „practice a lot“ -
that one is mandatory…) I know I always talk about rules, and
how you should commit to them, but if something is absolutely
not working for you, try something different and find out what
works best for you. And then do that. We all have different
preferences, and while I can tell you how I like to do calligraphy
and what works best for me, your preferred methods can be a
little bit different. And that’s awesome.
3. Try new things once in a while: To keep your practice
fresh and interesting, try out new things. That can be
learning a new style, or trying out white ink on colored paper,
or metallic ink, or writing with watercolor, or just a different
surface other than paper. There are so many fun possibilities
with calligraphy! Explore Watercolor Calligraphy, Gold Ink or
Writing White on Black Paper.
5. Lastly: Share your results - it’s so much more fun with an
online community of like-minded people who love.
I have found social networks are a great place for learning and
sharing and getting inspiration from your peers, particularly In-
stagram is blooming with calligraphy these days. Join the fun!
I‘m @juliabausenhardt on Instagram.
You can also get in touch with me directly and share what you

4. Make your calligraphic practice your own „You Time“. If

possible, find a time of the day where you are undistur-
bed by others or the internet or the telephone, a time where
found out, what you love or what you’d like to know. Also, if
you’ve found this guide helpful, don’t hesitate and send my
an email (mail@juliabausenhardt.com). I really appreciate your
you have a quiet spot in the house for yourself and your cal- feedback!
ligraphy tools. I know a lot of people today (including me)
have difficulties with letting their many responsibilities rest for
a while to do something for themselves, but try to find a short
time in your day where you can relax and reenergize by doing
something for yourself - like practicing calligraphy. While obli-
gations are important, don’t let the idea of a quiet spot in your
day be run over by other people’s agendas. Instead make that
idea a reality. Take the time to look after yourself and build your
calligraphy time actively into your day. That can mean telling
your spouse or your kids that you need a certain amount of
time and a place where you are undisturbed. Create this place
and schedule those times.
It might be surprising to read but calligraphy can have a cal-
ming, energizing effect similar to a hot bath or meditation, it
can be a very effective measure to wind down after a long day.
If you like, light a candle, make yourself a cup of tea, and get
your nibs and inks out. Not only your skills - but your mood,
emotional health and spirit will benefit so much from schedu-
ling regular „You Time“.

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3 Tips to make your calligraphy better
I actually want to share some quick tips to make your calligra-
phy better immediately.
Want to learn more?
If you‘ve enjoyed this free guide, also check out the premium work-
book for learning a single calligraphy style. The 20-page workbook
goes more into depth on learning one particular style. It contains an
introduction to the tools and techniques needed for modern calligra-
phy, detailed practice worksheets featuring warm up strokes, the com-

1. Keep your letters consistent - Keeping the slant and con-

sistent thicks and thins are really two key principles to har-
monious looking calligraphy. I realize this might be a challenge
plete lower and upper case alphabet for this style, letter connection
practice, guidesheets, a resources guide and tips on how to practice.

in the beginning when you try to mimic the strokes. But just
be mindful of the right angle even if you don’t achieve it every
time. Study the masters - their work is built on these principles.
Practice the basics over and over to get there too.

2. Use warm-up drills to get in the groove - You might ex-

perience shaky hands or wobbly lines, especially visible
on the thin upstrokes. In that case, it’s helpful to do additional
warm-up drills. Just take a pencil, and practice oval movements GET THE WORKBOOK HERE:
with your hand and arm. Those don’t have to look particularly http://juliabausenhardt.com/learn/
beautiful, it’s just to get the movement anchored in your hand.
I’d suggest spending the first 5-10 minutes with these mo- I also offer a comprehensive online
vements and see if your lines look less wobbly and shaky after- course with video lessons for lear-
wards. ning modern calligraphy! So if you
want more guidance on your journey

3. Embrace your creativity - Actually, I believe everyone is and would like to receive feedback
on the way, check out my online
creative. Young children draw for fun - without precon-
course CALLIGRAPHY ESSENTIALS.
ceptions or the belief they need to be good, or for that matter It‘s perfect for any beginner who
perfect. Yet we see this in almost every grown-up. What has wants to learn writing in beautiful
changed? You were told otherwise at some point. The thing is, modern script. The course comes
you don’t have to have a special talent, or be wonderfully good with over 2 hours of detailed video
at art to learn calligraphy. If you take it step by step, and allow lessons, a 45-page workbook, as-
signments and feedback by me. I‘ll
yourself to be less perfectionistic, you can discover your own show you all essential techniques,
inherent creativity and maybe rediscover those natural, intuitive tips & tricks, and you‘ll have the pos-
art-making skills you once had. A bit of time and the willingness sibility to send in homework for the
to take up a relaxing new pastime is all you need. duration of six weeks.
SIGN UP HERE:
http://juliabausenhardt.com/calligraphy-essentials-course/
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For more information, inspiration and motivation visit:
www.juliabausenhardt.com

I write a blog on calligraphy, lettering & creativity in which I

share:
• Tools & techniques I find to be essential and helpful
• Step-by-step tutorials for calligraphic projects
• Practice & motivation tips
• Increasing your creative output with the right mindset

Some of my Blog Posts Topics include:

• Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit
• Which inks can you use for Calligraphy?
• 6 Reasons to Learn Calligraphy
• Calligraphy - Flourishing Techniques
• The Best Pointed Nibs for Modern Calligraphy

Learn calligraphy with my worksheets and courses:

http://juliabausenhardt.com/learn/

Let’s stay connected:

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© 2016 Julia Bausenhardt. All Rights Reserved.

The content of this eBook is copyright property of Julia Bausenhardt.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form without
the written permission from the author.

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