Modern Calligraphy Techniques with a Flexible Nib Pen
A course by KOUSDesign and Calligraphy Studio
A course by KOUS, Design and Calligraphy Studio
Learn how to use a flexible nib pen with ink and watercolors to create contrasts between traditional and modern styles
To break the rules of calligraphy and make your own, you have to be well versed in the basic concepts. With a solid grasp of those, you can experiment in creating contrasts between traditional and contemporary styles, just like Aspacia and Rodolfo Kusulas, the sibling duo behind Design Kous studio, where they share their love of letters.
In this course, learn the basics of modern calligraphy and how to explore your style using different techniques. Discover how to use the flexible nib pen with ink and watercolor, as well as how to ensure that every stroke conveys your conceptual vision. Find out how to apply your compositions to functional products and fill them with style and personality.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 30 downloads
What is modern calligraphy
4 minutes, 46 seconds
The flexible nib
17 minutes, 14 seconds
Materials
6 minutes, 22 seconds
Preparation and heating strokes
12 minutes, 39 seconds
Alphabet: lowercase
16 minutes, 37 seconds
Alphabet: Uppercase 1
15 minutes, 21 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start by getting to know siblings Aspacia and Rodolfo Kusulas as they tell you about their studio, their experience, and the influences that have had the greatest impact on both their careers. They also briefly outline what the course entails.
Discover what modern calligraphy is, how it came about, and what its historical references are. Take a closer look at the flexible nib pen and check out its different features before seeing how to prepare it for writing by positioning it correctly in the penholder. Then, familiarize yourself with the other materials and do some warm-up exercises.
Your teachers show you how to develop uppercase and lowercase alphabets from scratch, how to connect the letters to form words, and finally how to do diacritics and numbers. They also explain how to create variations by adding flourishes and playing around with the rules and parameters.
Get to work on the composition of an envelope, keeping the postal requirements in mind, and explore different techniques for drawing the guidelines. Keep the experimentation flowing by adding different details and using the flexible nib pen to combine watercolor and gouache.
Aspacia and Rodolfo give you some helpful advice for avoiding and correcting any mistakes, as well as some ideas to take your envelope design to the next level. To finish up, they tell you how to prepare your creations for delivery to the client and share some final tips to showcase your projects in your portfolio or via social media.
What is this course's project?
Design an envelope with modern calligraphy and decorative elements, such as gestural strokes and botanical sketches, using ink and watercolor.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Designers, anyone passionate about letters, calligraphy enthusiasts—regardless of your experience level—and anyone interested in writing as a technique for commercial or personal purposes.
Requirements and materials
You don't need any previous knowledge, as you start the creative process from scratch and work through it step-by-step.
In terms of materials, you need a flexible nib pen, a penholder, semitransparent cotton paper, high-quality envelopes, paint, and brushes.
Reviews
- 4 months ago
This is a really great course. Although there are only english subtitles, I can highly recommend it. I have learned a lot. Thank you, KOUS!
- 7 months ago
I’ve been searching for a more structured approach to this lesson, and after exploring various resources, I found this content to be exactly what I was looking for.
- 1 year ago
compré este curso ya hace muchos años y hasta ahora lo veo, realmente y es espectacular, pues antes solo lo había ojeado y saltado muchas enseñanzas, pero ahora mis ojos ven, me había perdido de mucho enseñan de una forma super clara y paciente, gracias
- 1 year ago
Muy buen curso, me ha gustado mucho!
- 2 years ago
me encanta esta tecnica ! interesante curso!
Through their studio they aim to transport the world and the tradition of writing to the present day by creating products with modern yet timeless aesthetics and graphics.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
The past and the present
- What is modern calligraphy
- The flexible nib
- Materials
- Preparation and heating strokes
- U3
Solid foundation
- Alphabet: lowercase
- Alphabet: Uppercase 1
- Alphabet: Uppercase 2
- Diacritical marks and numbers
- Flourishes
- Variations: new rules
- U4
It is not spam
- Envelopes and postal service
- Space and composition
- Marks with watercolor and botanical sketch
- Set up
- U5
Additional tips
- How to avoid and correct mistakes
- Considerations with a client
- FP
Final project
- Modern Calligraphy Techniques with a Flexible Nib Pen
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn modern calligraphy techniques using a flexible nib, ink, and watercolor; how to compose decorative envelopes; basic and advanced strokes; flourishes; and how to adapt historical styles to contemporary projects.
This intermediate-level course is perfect for those with basic calligraphy knowledge who want to deepen their skills with flexible nib techniques and envelope decoration.
You’ll need a flexible nib, a pen holder, ink, watercolor, cotton or watercolor paper, brushes, quality envelopes, gum arabic, and basic calligraphy tools.
Modern calligraphy offers more freedom and personalization in strokes, while Copperplate follows stricter rules of proportion and form. The course covers both so you can compare and find your style.
Yes, the course teaches techniques for decorating envelopes by combining calligraphy, flourishes, watercolor, and botanical elements to create personalized, professional pieces.
You’ll do calligraphy warm-up exercises, basic strokes, ovals, spirals, and practice lowercase and uppercase letters, focusing on muscle memory and consistency.
Modern calligraphy encourages focus, mindfulness, and creativity, and can be applied in stationery design, branding, and artistic projects, adding both professional value and personal well-being.