English Calligraphy from A to Z
A course by Bego Viñuela GalarragaCalligrapher
A course by Bego Viñuela Galarraga, Calligrapher
Explore Copperplate script and revive the power of freehand lettering
Each letter is its own world and has a distinct personality. This is what Bego Viñuela, calligraphy artist and founder of Bilbao Calligraphy, discovered when she began exploring this art form. With more than a decade of experience, she is known for her expertise in English or Copperplate calligraphy and her work has led her to collaborate with brands like Vogue, Mont Blanc, and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, among others.
In this course, she teaches you how to master the art of English calligraphy from scratch. Learn how to use the tools and draw upper and lowercase letters until you complete a full Copperplate alphabet.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 7 downloads
History of English calligraphy
2 minutes, 23 seconds
Materials and tools
9 minutes, 21 seconds
Guidelines and ergonomics
6 minutes, 37 seconds
Basic lowercase traits
6 minutes, 7 seconds
Lowercase
16 minutes, 0 seconds
Union of lowercase
7 minutes, 56 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start by getting to know Bego Viñuela, who shows you some of her most distinguished work and gives you an overview of the course content. She also introduces you to the calligraphers that inspire her as well as her favorite reference manuals.
Get your feet wet with a brief history of English calligraphy and then dive into the tools and materials you need for the course, including nibs, nib holders, inks, and paper. Bego also gives you some tips on guidelines, ergonomics, and posture to ensure quality work and comfort.
Now it's time to start practicing. See how to form lowercase letters by first tracing over them. Get an eye for their basic features and how they link together, then continue practicing until you've drawn the entire lowercase alphabet. Move on to uppercase letters and examine their main features. Practice drawing them one by one and see how to connect them with lowercase letters.
Once you've got the basics, Bego teaches you how to form alternative letters, numbers, and symbols before giving you some tips on different ways to compose a text. She also shows you how to write on dark paper and integrate gouache and watercolors into your work.
To wrap up the course, choose a phrase and apply all the techniques you've learned to create a stunning piece of calligraphy art.
What is this course's project?
Choose your favorite phrase, poem, or song lyrics and write them in English calligraphy.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to get started in this art form and enjoys creating with their hands, as well as graphic designers and illustrators who use calligraphy as a primary or complementary technique in their projects.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is needed to take this course since Bego teaches you everything from scratch.
As for materials, you need a nib, a nib holder, 80 GSM paper, and ink.
Reviews
- 1 month ago
esta genial
- 2 months ago
Enjoyed this course very much - the thoroughness of teaching and comfort of the process! Thank you very much!
- 3 months ago
Excelente curso, fue justo lo que necesitaba para comenzar a escribir.
- 4 months ago
Muy buen curso, muy inspirador y bien explicado
- 4 months ago
Clear and thorough information. Low barriers to starting and enjoying calligraphy.
Since 2013 she teaches all the techniques and possibilities offered by this discipline in her study and school Calligraphy Bilbao. In addition to her work as a teacher, she works for different brands and also makes invitations for weddings and events.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
First steps
- History of English calligraphy
- Materials and tools
- Guidelines and ergonomics
- U3
Lowercase
- Basic lowercase traits
- Lowercase
- Union of lowercase
- U4
Capital letters
- Basic Features Uppercase
- Warming the hand
- Capital letters
- Capitalization
- U5
Alternative letters and composition
- Alternative letters
- Numbers and signs
- Composition
- U6
Techniques: watercolors and gouache
- Write about dark backgrounds
- Write with watercolor
- FP
Final project
- Introduction to English calligraphy or copperplate
What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
English calligraphy, also known as copperplate, is an elegant and decorative writing style perfect for invitations, cards, art projects, and custom designs.
This is an intermediate-level course; it’s recommended to have basic calligraphy knowledge or some experience with nib and ink to get the most out of it.
You’ll need a flexible nib, a pen holder (straight or oblique), paper of at least 80 gsm, ink, a ruler, pencil, and eraser. Optionally, watercolor, gouache, and practice guidelines.
You’ll learn how to form lowercase and uppercase letters, connect them smoothly, use tools and inks, create calligraphic compositions, and apply advanced techniques like flourishes and colored backgrounds.
English calligraphy features slanted strokes, thick-thin contrasts, and flourishes; italic is straighter and more uniform, with a different stroke order and less ornamentation.
Techniques for smooth connections between lowercase letters, optical spacing rules, and fixes for common letter-joining mistakes are taught.
You should clean a new nib with cotton and soapy water or alcohol before use, and regularly clean it during practice to prevent ink buildup.