Calligraphy Tutorial: Basic Brush Pen Strokes

Learn the basic strokes of brush pen calligraphy with Ana Hernandez

The brush pen, with its ability to create organic calligraphies, has become one of the most used tools by some of the most remarkable artists in calligraphy. Although mastering a brush pen requires time, there is no doubt that it is one of the most amenable techniques for those who are just beginning to create letters.

In the following video tutorial, graphic designer and specialist in calligraphy and lettering Ana Hernández (@ana_hera) shares a few basic brush pen strokes to get you started in the art of calligraphy. Discover more below:

The basic rule of brush pens

The first thing to know when starting to learn this technique is that:

- If we draw a stroke from bottom to top, without any pressure, we'll create a fine line.
- If we draw one from top to bottom, exerting pressure, we will get a thick line.

Learning to use these two basic strokes (up and then down) will allow you to create all the basic shapes of brush pen calligraphy.

Start practicing your lines

Let's get to work! To start practicing with your brush pen, try making thin and thick lines, not necessarily connected to each other, using ascending and descending strokes.

Once you are familiar with both types of stroke, you can start connecting them, always holding the brush pen at a 45 degree angle to your page. The more you let your hand go, the more fluid your shapes will be.

Try joining your strokes to build more complex shapes

Combining thick and thin strokes, try building simple letters (Ls, Ns or Es, for example), curved shapes, and whatever else you want to play with. Practice makes perfect: you just have to refine these basic techniques, working on your technique until you get used to the brush and learn to move your hand with greater ease. Then, you'll be able to build more elaborate shapes.

Did you like this tutorial? If you want to learn more from Ana Hernández about getting started in brush pen calligraphy, don't miss her course: Principles of Brush Pen Calligraphy.

You may also like:

- Italic Script with a Brush Pen, a course by Bego Viñuela Galarraga
- Introduction to Script Lettering, a course by Ximena Jiménez
- Introduction to Italic Calligraphy, a course by Belén La Rivera