Modern Calligraphy: Creating Expressive Letterforms
A course by Mathilda LundinCalligraphy Artist
A course by Mathilda Lundin, Calligraphy Artist
Celebrate the art of calligraphy, using a traditional nib pen and ink with modern techniques to discover your own creative style
Modern calligraphy gives you the opportunity to find your own artistic style and express it through each individual letterform. Calligraphy artist Mathilda Lundin considers it a meditative art. For her, calligraphy requires a great deal of care and love, and she delights in seeing how her work connects with both brands and individuals alike. She hosts calligraphy workshops and has collaborated with companies including Paperchase and Cartier.
In this course, Mathilda teaches you the basics of calligraphy as well as how to use traditional tools for a modern approach. Discover how to draw beautiful letters on paper and give them a contemporary twist using Mathilda’s techniques. Are you ready to lose yourself in the fine art of modern calligraphy?
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 11 downloads
What Is Modern Calligraphy?
4 minutes, 29 seconds
Materials and Tools
9 minutes, 11 seconds
Warming up Your Hand with Basic Strokes
20 minutes, 54 seconds
Lowercase Letterforms
8 minutes, 45 seconds
Uppercase Letterforms
10 minutes, 18 seconds
Numbers and Symbols
3 minutes, 44 seconds
What's included in this course?
Get to know calligraphy artist and your teacher for this course, Mathilda Lundin. She talks through the journey that led to her creative career, along with the fellow artists that inspire the work she creates. Discover what you can expect from the course.
Explore what modern calligraphy is, and the tools needed to create it, from nibs and pen holders to guide sheets. Mathilda guides you through a series of warm-up exercises and basic strokes, before moving on to creating lowercase letterforms. Learn how to create uppercase letters, along with numbers and symbols. Then see how to combine everything you’ve learned so far to create words with proportions and harmony in mind.
Time to create your design! Start by finding a quote to inspire your artwork. Then experiment with different inks, nibs, and paper to help you decide on the color and texture you want to achieve. Sketch the composition for your final artwork and bring it to life with a nib and ink of your choice before adding ink splashes to personalize it using a toothbrush.
Explore your own personal style of calligraphy using Mathilda’s exercises as a guide. Then discover modern flourishing techniques you can use to enhance your calligraphy. To finish the course, hear Mathilda’s advice on caring for your tools and improving your calligraphy skills.
What is this course's project?
Create an artistic lettering design based on a quote of your choice using modern calligraphy techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who is curious about modern calligraphy and learning to create beautiful artwork by hand.
Requirements and materials
No previous knowledge of calligraphy is required, as Mathilda will take you through all the basics.
In terms of tools, you will need a nib, pen holder, ink, paper, a jar for water, and other materials specified by the teacher in the course.
Reviews
- 4 days ago
Really enjoying this course. Good for beginners of modern calligraphy with helpful resources.
- 3 months ago
Um excelente curso para quem, como eu, está buscando, conhecer as técnicas da caligrafia moderna trazendo criatividade para seus trabalhos de caligrafia. Ela tem uma ótima didática e conhecimento e passa muitos detalhes. Estou gostando do curso.
- kingkevmanPLUS5 months ago
Very good, interesting exercises and exiting projects! I highly recommend this course.
- 10 months ago
Excelente curso, super recomendado, una manera muy detallada de explicar todo.
- 11 months ago
This teacher is so calm and clear. So inspiring and easy to follow. Thank you!
A few years later, Mathilda set up her own calligraphy studio in London, where she works on commissions for luxury brands and individuals around the world. She also personalizes gifts and teaches workshops on the art form. Mathilda has worked on projects for events like The Queen’s Polo for Cartier, and created personalized items and packaging for brands like L.K Bennet, Paperchase, and Goop.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Introduction to Modern Calligraphy and the Pointed Nib
- What Is Modern Calligraphy?
- Materials and Tools
- Warming up Your Hand with Basic Strokes
- Lowercase Letterforms
- Uppercase Letterforms
- Numbers and Symbols
- Joining It up to Create Beautiful Words
- U3
Making Your Artwork
- Choosing a Quote to Inspire Your Design
- Exploring Inks and Beautiful Papers 1
- Exploring Inks and Beautiful Papers 2
- Sketching Your Composition
- Creating and Refining Your Artwork with Ink
- U4
Exploring Modern Styles and Flourishes
- Exploring Your Style
- Introduction to Modern Flourishing Techniques
- Caring For Your Tools and Your Practice
- FP
Final project
- Modern Calligraphy for beginners
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
Yes, this modern calligraphy course is designed for beginners with no prior experience. You'll start with the basics and gradually build your skills in a supportive, step-by-step format.
You'll need a pointed nib, pen holder (straight or oblique), ink, and suitable paper. The course also covers using gouache, specialty inks, and different surfaces for calligraphy projects.
You’ll learn foundational strokes, uppercase and lowercase letterforms, flourishing techniques, layout planning, tool care, and how to create personalized calligraphy projects for events, gifts, and more.
No, you don’t need any prior artistic background or drawing skills. The course teaches all skills from scratch and provides plenty of practice exercises for beginners.
Smooth, bleed-proof paper and high-quality calligraphy ink or gouache are ideal. The course guides you in selecting and testing materials to achieve the best results for different styles and surfaces.
Yes, the course covers designing wedding invitations, personalizing gifts with calligraphy, and writing on bottles, ornaments, and various surfaces for special occasions.
Flourishing techniques involve adding decorative loops and swirls to letters. This course teaches modern flourishing methods to enhance your calligraphy’s visual interest and individuality.