Tools
Choosing the Right Calligraphy Pen
A breakdown of pen categories — dip nibs, fountain pens, brush pens — and how nib width, flexibility, and ink flow affect the character of letterforms.
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Calligraphy & Lettering
Pens, Strokes & Lettering Styles
A reference guide covering calligraphy tools, historical scripts, and contemporary hand lettering practices — with a focus on resources available across Canada.
Articles
Guides & Overviews
Each article covers a specific area of calligraphy practice — from tool selection to historical letterform analysis.
Letterform
Mastering Gothic & Italic Lettering Styles
An examination of Blackletter Gothic and Italic scripts — their historical origins, stroke construction, and differences in pen angle and rhythm.
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Technique
Brush Lettering for Handwritten Notes
How brush pens and pointed brushes produce thick-and-thin contrast through pressure variation, and how to apply this to everyday handwritten correspondence.
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Reference
Core Topics
Foundational concepts that appear across all calligraphy disciplines.
Nib Anatomy
The tines, slit, vent hole, and shoulder of a nib each affect ink flow and line variation. Flexible nibs produce more dramatic thick-thin contrast than rigid ones.
Pen Angle
Consistent pen angle relative to the writing line is the single most important factor in producing even letterforms across Gothic, Italic, and Uncial hands.
Stroke Order
Traditional letterform instruction specifies exact stroke sequences. Following stroke order helps maintain consistent proportions and reduces ink pooling at joins.
Paper & Ink Pairing
Smooth, coated papers reduce feathering but can repel some dip inks. Hot-press watercolour paper and HP laser paper are widely available in Canada and work with most calligraphy inks.
Script History
Western calligraphy descends from Roman inscriptional capitals through Carolingian minuscule. Understanding the historical chain helps practitioners read period manuscripts and trace letterform evolution.
Canadian Suppliers
John Neal Bookseller ships to Canada, and retailers such as Curry's Art Store (Ontario) and Opus Art Supplies (BC & Alberta) carry calligraphy inks, nibs, and paper locally.