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Here’s
how to get started: Step 1: Get a
copy of my book, Calligraphy For
Dummies. It's available at amazon.com. Here
is a handy link for the book and many of the materials
you’ll need - SUPPLIES You may prefer
to get the Kindle version of my book. The Kindle version
will work fine, because you will not need the practice
pages that are in my book. All the practice sheets you
will need can be downloaded as PDF files below. There
are also three videos to help you get started. The PDF files
have all the practice exercises from my book, plus
several additional pages. (I’ll make sure you get all
the “extras.”) Simply download and print them. Step 2: Please
read Chapter 1, pages 8 - 14. This is an introduction
which answers many questions and addresses some very
common concerns that people have at the beginning. It is your
decision how many of the different kinds of pens you
want to learn how to use. The basic requirement is just
one pen - a calligraphy fountain pen (Manuscript brand
is my recommendation) and a bottle of Pelikan 4001 black
ink. If you want to learn all the techniques and
calligraphic styles shown in my book, you will also need
a dip pen and a copperplate oblique pen. If you are
left-handed, please read page 19. The general
information about pens is on pages 18 - 23. Please read
those pages also. The pens for my course are all
available at SUPPLIES You should have
some kind of tilted board (18 X 24 Masonite or even
corrugated board will work just fine) like the one
illustrated on page 22. If you happen to have a drawing
table that tilts, that's even better. Step 3: Please
skip to Chapter 4 and read about the 6 Italic alphabet
letter "families." Using a pencil
or Flair type pen for lesson 1, please do the trace and
copy exercises on the practice sheets. Take your time;
go slowly. Practice making smooth fluid strokes as you
form the letters. Avoid rushing. If you get tired, take
a break. Relax and enjoy the exercises. You can also use
wide-ruled notebook paper as well. Remember, it's best
to use a soft lead pencil or a Flair pen to do these
exercises. Please resist the temptation to use
calligraphy markers. My objective in
the first lesson is to start you off with learning the
shapes of the letters. Please concentrate on the correct
shapes and proportions of the Italic letters. Granted,
at this point, what you're doing is not going to look a
whole lot like calligraphy! (It might be a good idea not
to show off your work at this point!) However, you're
building a strong foundation at this point. In the next
lesson, you'll learn about using the calligraphy pen,
and the letters you practiced will be almost “magically”
transformed into something you'll be proud to show off
to your friends. When you feel
that you know the shapes of these letters pretty well,
you may send me a copy of the alphabet that you have
done from memory for my personal critique. I'll look it
over and send it right back to you with my in-depth
notations. My charge for the critique is $40. I wish you great
success. Sincerely, Jim Bennett |