7 Online Calligraphy Courses for Learning New Styles

From English to Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, digital, and beyond, learn exciting calligraphy styles with these courses

The magic of lettering and calligraphy isn't just about the written message, it lies in the way in which the formation of letters can reflect a certain feeling, mood, or emotion; it's about the power of communicating through strokes, colors, and shapes.

Are you ready to get out of your comfort zone and experiment with new lettering styles? Explore current trends, discover fresh ideas, and keep innovating your projects with these calligraphy and lettering courses, each taught by artists, illustrators, and authors with different techniques.

For more details on the courses, click on the titles highlighted in red.

English Calligraphy from A to Z, a course by Bego Viñuela Galarraga

Bego Viñuela, founder of the Bilbao Calligraphy workshop (@caligrafiabilbao), has been a calligrapher for the past ten years. She specializes in the English style—also known as Copperplate—and has collaborated with the likes of Vogue, Mont Blanc, and Guggenheim Bilbao, among others.

Perfect for beginners, in her course Bego teaches you how to craft Copperplate calligraphy without any previous knowledge. Step by step, you'll learn how to use the relevant tools and trace lowercase and uppercase letters to complete the entire Copperplate alphabet.

Italic Script with a Brush Pen, a course by Bego Viñuela Galarraga

Historically, italic calligraphy has been considered one of the most beautiful styles thanks to its elegant and decorative strokes. Its refined and graceful curves are very expressive, and the emotion conveyed by each letter is enhanced by the shape, composition, and colors chosen.

In this course, also taught by calligrapher Bego Viñuela, you'll learn how to master the paintbrush to create italic script filled with emotion and style.

Shodo: Introduction to Japanese Calligraphy, a course by RIE TAKEDA

Japanese calligraphy, known as shodō, is a fascinating discipline with a rich history. Its characters are compared to authentic paintings since a single one can represent an entire concept.

Expert Rie Takeda (@rietakeda) combines the art of calligraphy with mindfulness. In this course, she'll help you explore the essence of shodō, demonstrating how this art form can connect body, mind, spirit, and brush, and make it all flow through ink and paper.

Introduction to Arabic Calligraphy: Maghrebi Script, a course by Maaida Noor

Through the meditative art of Arabic calligraphy, you can create beautifully balanced compositions that convey hope and light. Using this method, artist and calligrapher Maaida Noor (@maaidanoor) gives life to magnificent works. She's worked for brands such as Christian Dior, Jo Malone, Estée Lauder, and Selfridges; she also received the British Muslim Award for Art and Culture Awareness in 2017.

In this course, Maaida will guide you through the process of writing Arabic characters using Maghrebi calligraphy.

Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy, a course by Thomas Lam

Discover the centuries-old practice of Chinese calligraphy and learn how to write Chinese characters using artistic brushstrokes and techniques with calligrapher Thomas Lam (@thomaslam) in this introductory course.

Calligraphy combines the literary component of text and the visual elements of art, but you don't need to master the language to get stuck in—you'll be able to enjoy the creative process of a work that favors reflection and meditation. Take the challenge!

Discover digital calligraphy

Digital calligraphy and lettering compositions have become increasingly popular in recent years, in part thanks to social media platforms like Instagram and their growing presence in the world of advertising. Find out more about digital styles with these courses.

Calligraphy and Lettering for Instagram with Procreate, a course by Nubia Navarro

Designer and lettering artist Nubia Navarro (@nubikini) dedicates a lot of time and energy to crafting lettering packed with personality. She's worked for brands such as Marriott, Adidas, Samsung, Coca-Cola, and UNICEF. In this course, she teaches you how to combine photos with letters to create compositions primed for social media.

Adobe Illustrator for Typography, Lettering and Calligraphy, by Andrés Ochoa

If you're passionate about the formation of letters, learn how to design different styles in Adobe Illustrator with designer Andrés Ochoa (@typebrain).

Find out how to use the software from scratch, focusing on the use of letters, and take your lettering artistry, typography, and calligraphy skills to the next level in only five lessons.

If you want to explore all of the possibilities of lettering, check out Domestika’s calligraphy and lettering courses.

English version by@acesarato.

You may also like:

- 5 Inspirational Books for Lettering Artists
- Get Inspired by These 7 Incredible Female Typographers
- Procreate Tutorial: How to Create Lettering Textures and Brushes
- Creative Doodling and Hand-Lettering for Beginners, course by Grace Frösén