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To help you learn and practice the basic foundational strokes

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy and Design. Visit www. lilacscriptcalligraphy.com
 Thank you for downloading this worksheet!
This 18-page worksheet features the basic and foundational strokes for lowercase
copperplate calligraphy. As a bonus, we also added a free 5mm and 6mm guide sheet and
blank practice pages, as well as a QUICK DRILL on the last page. This was made to be
printed on A4 size copy paper in 100% scale size (actual).

For more download and recommended materials, please visit our website
www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com

How to use these worksheets::

1.
Settle yourself on a proper desk in a well-lit space and a comfortable chair. Allowing
yourself to have a good sitting posture will enable you to practice longer.
2.
Ready your materials for lettering: calligraphy pen, a cleaned nib (Leonardt G or Nikko G
for beginners), calligraphy ink (Moon Palace Sumi ink or Gouache ink), glass bottle with
water, paper towel for wiping, and this printed worksheet.
3.
Each page offers a basic instruction for each stroke. Make sure to be familiar with your
guidelines and the name of each line to understand the instructions better.
2nd Ascender Line
1st Ascender Line
e
Lin

Head Line
nt

X-Height
Sla

Base Line
e
gre

1st Descender Line

de
55

2nd Descender Line

5.
Start with the tracing section for each stroke. Remember to do it mindfully, focusing on
your pressure. Eventually move on to the free space on each page where you will start
making the strokes on your own. Learning calligraphy is about patience and building muscle
memory, so don't rush. Enjoy the process.
6.
Use the 5mm and 6mm guide sheets under your favourite pad for practice. You can also
print the blank practice sheets on a good quality copy paper and write on them directly.
Practice putting the strokes together to form letters! Identify the stroke you are having
difficulty on and practice that stroke again.

7.
Use the QUICK DRILL page for those days when you only have a few minutes to spare for
practice. This way your practice is more intentional, improving your basic strokes. You can
also use this work sheet as a daily warm-up before doing calligraphy pieces.
8.
Save your worksheets to keep track of your progress. Practicing the basic strokes
consistently will improve your letter and word formation! Practice is key!

9.
Share your worksheet progress by tagging us on Instagram @lilac.script. We can't wait to
see your work! Remember, practice makes progress.

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy and Design. Visit www. lilacscriptcalligraphy.com
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

ENTRY / EXIT STROKE

Start at the base line of the x-height with very light hand curving upward towards the slant line and ending at the head line

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

UNDERTURN

Start with a square top and with full pressure, press downward. Around ¾ down, with a light hand start curving upwards

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

OVERTURN

With a light hand, draw an upstroke from the base line curving upward. At the top, slowly add pressure until the baseline and make a squared
bottom

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

COMPOUND CURVE

This stroke is a combination of 2 other strokes: Overturn and Underturn. Begin with a light hand, draw an upstroke from the base line curving
upward. At the top, slowly add pressure and around ¾ down, with a light hand slowly curve upwards towards the head line

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

OVAL

Begin at the headline going downwards drawing an oval shape. Around ¾ downand with a light hand, slowly curve upwards closing off the oval.
The oval should be right on the 55° slant

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

ASCENDER LOOP

Begin at the headline going upwards drawing a curve. As you reach the second ascender line, with gradual pressure, slowly go down towards the
base line – from thin to thick - ending with a squared bottom

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

DESCENDER LOOP

Starting with a squared top and with heavy pressure, begin at the headline going downwards, gradually releasing pressure as you make your way
towards the second descender line – going from thick to thin. As you reach the second descender line, with a light hand, slowly go upwards and
close the stroke just below the base line

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

FULL-PRESSURE DOWNSTROKE

Starting with a squared top, with full pressure, begin midway below the first ascender line going downwards, maintaining pressure as you make
your way towards the waistline of the first descender line, ending the stroke with a squared bottom

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

REVERSE COMPOUND CURVE

This is a foundational stroke and helps in letter connection. It is a combination of the Underturn and Overturn strokes. Start with a square top
and with full pressure, press downward. Around ¾ down, with a light hand start curving upwards. You can choose to pause once you reach the
headline. Then slowly add pressure until the baseline and make a squared bottom

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

THIN-TO-THICK DOWNSTROKE

This is a foundational stroke and helps in forming letters with ascenders. With gradual pressure, slowly go down towards the base line – from
thin to thick - ending with a squared bottom

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Lowercase Basic Strokes - Practice Drills
date: time: nib: ink:

THICK-TO-THIN DOWNSTROKE

This is a foundational stroke and helps in forming letters with descenders. Starting with a squared top and with heavy pressure, begin at the
headline going downwards, gradually releasing pressure as you make your way towards the second descender line

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Copperplate Calligraphy - 6mm Guide Sheet

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Copperplate Calligraphy - 6mm Blank Worksheet

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Copperplate Calligraphy - 5mm Guide Sheet

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 5mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Copperplate Calligraphy - 5mm Blank Worksheet

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 5mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2
Copperplate Calligraphy - 6mm Quick Drills

QUICK DRILLS

Thin Upstroke – Thin Downstroke Full-Pressure Downstroke

X X

Entry / Exit Stroke

X

Underturn
X

Overturn
X

Oval
X

Compound Curve
X

Reverse Compound Curve

X

Thin-to-Thick & Thick-to-thin Downstrokes

Ascender Loop

Descender Loop

For personal use only. Property of Lilac Script Calligraphy. Visit www.lilacscriptcalligraphy.com 6mm x-height | 55° | 2:1:2