Our Lady of Lourdes College Foundation
Vinzons Avenue, Daet, Camarines Norte
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
GE ELEC 1 – READING VISUAL ARTS
Prepared by: Cristine Mae A. Garcia, LPT.
MODULE 6: CALLIGRAPHY
Module Overview
This module explores calligraphy not just as a refined writing skill, but as a
dynamic and expressive visual art form. From its historical roots across
various cultures to its contemporary applications, students will discover the
artistic principles that elevate written communication into a compelling
visual experience. The module will cover the fundamental aspects of
calligraphy, including its definition, diverse types, essential materials, and
core techniques, providing a comprehensive understanding of this elegant
art. Through theoretical knowledge and practical insights, learners will
appreciate calligraphy's unique blend of discipline, creativity, and aesthetic
appeal.
Objectives
Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:
Define calligraphy as a visual art and articulate its distinct
characteristics.
Identify and differentiate between various types of calligraphy
based on their historical origins, cultural contexts, and stylistic
features.
Recognize and describe the essential materials and tools used in
calligraphic practice, understanding their impact on the final artwork.
Explain and demonstrate fundamental calligraphic techniques,
including pen holding, stroke formation, and spacing.
Appreciate the artistic principles (e.g., balance, rhythm, harmony)
inherent in well-executed calligraphic works.
Understand the potential of calligraphy as a medium for artistic
expression and communication.
Definition of Calligraphy
Calligraphy, derived from the Greek words "kallos" (beauty) and
"graphein" (to write), literally means "beautiful writing." However, in
the context of visual arts, it transcends mere legibility to become an art form
where the act of writing is elevated to an aesthetic pursuit. It involves the
skillful arrangement and execution of letters, words, and phrases to create a
harmonious and expressive composition. Unlike standard handwriting,
calligraphy emphasizes precision, grace, and creativity in form, often
incorporating elements of design, rhythm, and visual balance. It is an art
where the artist's hand, tools, and materials interact to transform textual
content into a visually compelling artwork.
Types of Calligraphy
Calligraphy boasts a rich and diverse history, leading to numerous distinct
styles across cultures and time periods. Here are some of the prominent
types:
1. Western Calligraphy ✍️
Rooted in the Latin alphabet, Western calligraphy has evolved through
various historical periods, each with its own characteristic scripts.
Uncial – a majuscule (uppercase) script with rounded letters, popular
from the 4th to 8th centuries, used for religious texts.
Carolingian Minuscule - developed during the reign of Charlemagne
(9th century), known for its clear, legible, and standardized lowercase
letters, forming the basis for many modern typefaces.
Gothic (Blackletter) - prevalent in medieval Europe (12th-16th
centuries), characterized by its compressed, angular, and often ornate
letters, giving a "spiky" appearance. Examples include Textura,
Fraktur, and Rotunda.
Italic (Chancery Hand) - originating in 15th-century Italy, a more
flowing and elegant script, often sloped to the right, becoming popular
for its speed and beauty.
Copperplate (Engravers Script) - flourished in the 17th and 18th
centuries, characterized by its delicate thick and thin strokes, often
with elaborate flourishes, achieved with a pointed flexible nib.
Spencerian - an American script developed in the mid-19th century,
known for its graceful, flowing lines and practical speed, widely used in
business correspondence.
2. Eastern Calligraphy
Primarily encompasses East Asian calligraphy traditions, deeply intertwined
with brush painting and philosophical principles.
Chinese Calligraphy - considered one of the highest art forms in
China, it uses a brush and ink to create characters with profound
aesthetic and philosophical meaning. Styles include:
o Seal Script (Zhuan Shu) - ancient, formal, and highly stylized,
often used for seals.
o Clerical Script (Li Shu) - more legible than seal script,
developed for administrative purposes, with distinctive horizontal
strokes and flared ends.
o Standard Script (Kai Shu) - the most common and enduring
style, known for its clear, regular, and balanced strokes, serving
as a model for printed typefaces.
o Semi-Cursive Script (Xing Shu) - more fluid and spontaneous
style, bridging the gap between standard and cursive scripts.
o Cursive Script (Cao Shu) - highly abstract and expressive,
often difficult to read for the uninitiated, prioritizing aesthetic
flow and emotion over legibility.
Japanese Calligraphy (Shodo) - heavily influenced by Chinese
calligraphy, it also uses a brush and ink. It incorporates a unique
aesthetic sensibility and often emphasizes the spiritual aspect of the
art. Styles largely mirror those of Chinese calligraphy.
Korean Calligraphy (Seoye) - shares a common lineage with
Chinese and Japanese calligraphy, using similar tools and principles,
with a focus on the beauty of the Hangul script and traditional Chinese
characters.
3. Islamic Calligraphy: 🕌
Rooted in the Arabic alphabet, Islamic calligraphy is a highly revered art form
due to the prohibition of figural representation in religious contexts. It is
characterized by its intricate geometric patterns, flowing lines, and
decorative flourishes.
Kufic - one of the earliest Arabic scripts, characterized by its angular,
blocky forms, often used for early Qur'an manuscripts.
Naskh - a rounded, legible script that became widely used for
transcribing the Qur'an and other texts, forming the basis for modern
Arabic printing.
Thuluth a large, elegant, and often ornate script with a strong presence,
frequently used for monumental inscriptions and headings.
Diwani - highly decorative and compact script developed in the
Ottoman Empire, often with letters interconnected and superimposed.
Ruq'ah simpler and more legible script, commonly used for everyday
writing and headlines.
Materials Being Used
The right tools are crucial for effective calligraphic practice. While specific
tools may vary slightly between calligraphic traditions, here are the core
materials:
1. Writing Instruments
o Pens/Nibs
Broad-edged Nibs (Western Calligraphy) flat-edged
metal nibs (e.g., Mitchell, Brause, Speedball) that produce
thick and thin strokes depending on the direction of
movement. Available in various widths.
Pointed Flexible Nibs (Western Calligraphy) fine-
tipped metal nibs (e.g., Gillott, Nikko G) that flex to create
varying line widths based on pressure, essential for scripts
like Copperplate and Spencerian.
Dip Pens holders into which individual nibs are inserted.
Fountain Pens ome calligraphers use fountain pens with
calligraphy nibs for convenience, though they may offer
less flexibility than dip pens.
o Brushes (Eastern Calligraphy)
Chinese/Japanese Calligraphy Brushes made from
various animal hairs (e.g., wolf, goat, weasel) with different
degrees of stiffness and tip shapes. Essential for creating
the expressive and varied strokes of Eastern scripts.
o Reed Pens/Bamboo Pens (Islamic & some Western)
traditionally cut from reeds or bamboo, these pens create
unique, rustic textures and varying line widths.
o Quills (Historical Western) feathers (e.g., goose, turkey) cut
to a specific shape, traditionally used before metal nibs became
widespread.
2. Inks
o Calligraphy Ink (Western) specially formulated inks that are
often thicker and more opaque than regular writing inks,
designed to flow well from nibs without bleeding. Pigmented inks
offer better lightfastness.
o Sumi Ink (Eastern) traditional Asian ink sticks made from soot
and animal glue, ground with water on an ink stone to produce a
rich, deep black ink. Liquid sumi ink is also available.
o Walnut Ink natural, brown ink with beautiful shading
properties.
o Gouache/Watercolor can be mixed to a suitable consistency
for calligraphy, offering a wide range of colors.
o Gold/Metallic Inks used for decorative purposes and
illumination.
3. Surfaces
o Paper
Smooth, Non-bleeding Paper essential for crisp lines
and preventing ink feathering. Examples include HP
Premium Choice Laserjet paper, Bristol board, tracing
paper, or specialized calligraphy papers.
Hot Press Watercolor Paper smooth surface, good for
pointed pen work.
Rice Paper/Xuan Paper (Eastern Calligraphy) highly
absorbent papers that react uniquely with brush and ink,
contributing to the expressive quality of the strokes.
o Parchment/Vellum (Historical Western) animal skin
prepared for writing, offering a durable and luxurious surface.
o Other Surfaces wood, stone, fabric, and digital tablets can also
be used for calligraphic expression.
4. Other Essential Tools
o Ruler and Pencil for drawing guidelines, crucial for maintaining
consistency in height, slant, and spacing.
o Eraser for removing pencil guidelines after the ink has dried.
o Practice Sheets/Grids pre-printed or self-drawn grids to help
beginners practice letter forms and consistency.
o Inkwell/Dinky Dip small containers for holding ink during use.
o Water Container and Cloth/Paper Towels for cleaning nibs
and brushes.
o Blotting Paper to absorb excess ink and prevent smudges.
o Light Box (Optional) helpful for transferring guidelines or
tracing practice.
o Paperweight to keep paper flat while working.
Techniques
Mastering calligraphy involves developing precision, control, and an
understanding of foundational techniques. While specific techniques vary
between styles, here are core principles applicable to many forms:
1. Pen/Brush Holding
o Western Calligraphy (Broad-edged/Pointed Nibs) hold the
pen comfortably, allowing for free movement of the arm and
wrist. The angle of the nib to the baseline is crucial and
consistent for broad-edged scripts (e.g., 45 degrees for Italic).
For pointed pen, the pen should be held in a way that allows the
tines to spread evenly with pressure.
o Eastern Calligraphy (Brushes) hold the brush vertically or
near-vertically, with the fingers high on the handle, allowing for
maximum flexibility and control from the shoulder and arm, not
just the wrist.
2. Basic Strokes (Drills)
o Upstrokes and Downstrokes understanding how pressure and
direction affect line thickness. Broad-edged pens naturally create
thin upstrokes and thick downstrokes. Pointed pens require
varying pressure: light for upstrokes (hairlines), heavy for
downstrokes (swells).
o Ovals and Circles essential for forming rounded letters.
o Compound Curves combining different stroke types smoothly.
o Push and Pull Strokes practicing consistent pressure and
direction.
o Serif Formation for Western scripts, learning how to create the
small decorative lines at the ends of strokes.
3. Letterform Construction:
o Majuscule (Uppercase) and Minuscule (Lowercase)
practicing the specific shapes and proportions of each letter in
the chosen script.
o X-Height the height of the main body of lowercase letters
(excluding ascenders and descenders). Maintaining consistent x-
height is crucial.
o Ascenders and Descenders the parts of letters that extend
above the x-height (e.g., 'h', 'l') or below the baseline (e.g., 'g',
'p').
o Slant/Slope many scripts have a consistent angle of slant (e.g.,
Italic, Copperplate). Using guidelines to maintain this angle is
vital.
4. Spacing and Layout:
o Letter Spacing (Kerning) adjusting the space between
individual letters to create optical uniformity, ensuring that the
white space between letters appears consistent, even if the
actual distance varies.
o Word Spacing consistent spacing between words for
readability.
o Line Spacing (Leading) the vertical distance between
baselines of consecutive lines of text.
o Margins and Composition arranging text and elements on the
page to create a balanced and aesthetically pleasing layout.
Understanding principles like rule of thirds and visual hierarchy.
5. Pressure Control (Especially for Pointed Pen & Brush
o Pointed Pen light pressure on upstrokes creates fine hairlines;
increasing pressure on downstrokes spreads the nib tines to
create thick swells. Gradual and consistent pressure changes are
key.
o Brush Calligraphy the amount of pressure, angle of the brush,
and speed of movement all dramatically impact the stroke's
appearance (thickness, texture, dry brush effects).
6. Rhythm and Flow developing a natural, continuous movement from
one stroke to the next, contributing to the overall grace and fluidity of
the script. This comes with practice and understanding the inherent
rhythm of the chosen script.
7. Consistency maintaining uniform letter height, slant, spacing, stroke
weight, and overall appearance throughout a piece. This is a hallmark
of skilled calligraphy and requires diligent practice.
8. Practice and Repetition calligraphy is a highly physical art form that
requires muscle memory. Consistent and deliberate practice of drills,
individual letters, words, and phrases is the most important technique
for improvement.
