Modern Calligraphy: Creating Expressive Letterforms

Modern Calligraphy for beginners

“Congratulations! You have now reached the end of my Domestika course. Thank you for enrolling and I hope you feel inspired to create beautiful artwork and continue your calligraphy journey. Before saying goodbye, I will briefly go through the different steps to complete your project:

• First, choose your quote and create a sketch.

Pick something that excites you. If you love to read, is there a quote from one of your favourite books that speaks to you? If you love music, are there any lyrics that you want to frame and hang on your wall? If you’re inspired by a quote you have seen in someone else’s artwork, go for it. But make sure you tap into your own creativity and produce something that is personal and unique to you. Once you have selected your quote, make a sketch. This can be loose. Alternatively, you may want to use tracing paper or a lightbox. Do whatever suits your creative process. Work out where your line breaks will be, whether you want to emphasize certain words, and where to place your letter connections or flourishes.

• Next, choose your colours and select your paper and ink.

Have a look at your sketch and quote. Is there something in the wording that inspires you to choose a certain colour? Have you thought about where you would like to display your artwork? Would a certain paper or ink look good in that space?

• Transfer your sketch to the paper.

Once you have chosen your paper, draw a light sketch to give yourself a guide for your final calligraphy. How detailed you make this sketch is again up to you and your creative process. If you want to create some baselines, do that. If you want to lightly sketch the calligraphy, do that. Just remember that you will erase these lines at the end, so make sure they are light.

• Test your materials.

Now that you have your final sketch and your ink selected, use some extra paper to test your ink before diving into the calligraphy. Check that the materials combine well together and if you need to adjust the ink's consistency. Ensure that everything works beautifully before starting your artwork. This will set you up for a great experience, where you can focus entirely on your calligraphy.

• Create your artwork and frame it.

Now it’s time for the most exciting part, the calligraphy! The materials are working beautifully and you have your sketch on your paper. Let's dive in! Remember to focus on each brushstroke and enjoy the experience. Finally, let the ink dry (preferably overnight) before lightly erasing the pencil marks from the sketch. Now share your project with us by clicking on “Create your project”. Remember to share both the final result of your artwork and the steps that have led you to it. It would be great if you showed a picture of each step and added a brief explanation about what you have done in each one. I will be there to give feedback but I encourage you to have a look and comment on each other's work as well. It can be so great to hear the words of your peers and not just me and I’m sure we can all inspire each other. I’m looking forward to seeing your project! See you in the forum.”

Partial transcription of the video

“Final Project We've reached the end of the course and I hope you have enjoyed it and that you're excited to keep practising. Thank you for letting me be part of your calligraphy journey. Remember to follow my process and only write words that mean something to you. If you like reading, is there an inspiring quote from one of your favourite books? The personal connection will make it a stronger artwork. Experiment with different inks and different papers to find a combination that suits you and your artwork. Don't feel like you have to sit and perfect each letter before you create an artwork...”

This transcript is automatically generated, so it may contain mistakes.

Course summary for: Modern Calligraphy: Creating Expressive Letterforms

• Level: Beginner
• 100% positive reviews (36)
• 1405 students
• 4 units
• 17 lessons (3h 11m)
• 3 downloads

• Category

  Calligraphy & Typography

• Areas

  Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, Lettering