What Tools do I need for pointed pen Calligraphy?
If you’re interested in calligraphy, one of the first questions you’ll be asking yourself is ‘What materials do I need?’
We are spoilt for choice in terms of the tools and materials available to us. There is something for everyone out there and whatever style of calligraphy and lettering you might be interested in, you will be spoilt for choice.
This variety can be a bit confusing too. Often people end up buying the wrong tools and struggle to get the results they were hoping for; or buy materials they don’t actually need and stretch their budget too far.
So let’s have a look at some practical solutions, specifically for pointed pen calligraphy.
(If you are looking for brush pen calligraphy advice stay tuned – our next blog will be for you).
You may think you need a lot of tools but calligraphy is a surprisingly affordable hobby. In general, I always advise to start simple and build up your calligraphy ‘arsenal’ as you go.
Let’s start with the basics – you will need a pointed nib, a nib holder, ink and paper, and we’ll look into each in more detail.
You will need some other basic supplies such as ruler, pencil and eraser but I’ll assume that you have these already.
Pointed nib
For beginners a hard nib is ideal as it is easier to control. Two brands are most popular for calligraphy newbies and both have a very similar feel, these are Nikko G and Zebra G.
Simply choose whichever is easier or cheaper to find locally. Here in the UK where I work, Zebra G is easier to find and is the nib I use for my calligraphy workshops.
These nibs are sturdy and hardwearing and can produce beautiful lines. This makes them perfect for beginners and more experienced calligraphers alike. Clean them well after each use and they will serve you well for a long time.
Pen holder
There are two types of pen holders - straight and oblique. The oblique holder has a metal flange that adjusts the angle of the nib. This makes writing slanted letters much more comfortable and is helpful for traditional styles of calligraphy, such as Copperplate, where maintaining the consistency of the slant is essential.
For modern calligraphy the slant (the angle of the text) often varies and an oblique holder is not always needed. It really is a matter of personal choice and what feels most comfortable.
I recommend trying writing with both types of pen holders to establish what feels most natural to you for the style of writing you enjoy.
Your best option - you can buy a dual pen holder, that can be used as both straight and oblique holder. This is what I use in my beginner calligraphy workshops as it gives my students a chance to try both options and see what makes sense for them.
To use the holder as straight you will simply have to remove the metal flange; you can always re-insert it again if you change your mind later.
I would advise against buying an expensive holder at the beginning. Find out what works best for you and then splash out later if you really want to.
Sumi ink and walnut ink are a great choice for calligraphy beginners.
Calligraphy ink
Even if you’re only mildly interested in calligraphy, the variety of beautiful inks might be enough to turn you into a calligraphy fanatic!
Buying a new pot of ink still makes me feel like a kid in a candy store - there are too many delicious options to choose from!
But, once again I would advise you to keep things simple at the beginning. Some of the fancy inks can be trickier to handle and can be relatively expensive.
So build your confidence first with something simple and easy to write with. You can always add fancier options as your confidence grows.
There are two inks I recommend for beginners – sumi or walnut ink.
Sumi Ink
Sumi is intensely black in colour, and my personal favourite is a brand called Moon Palace. Its consistency is probably the best I’ve ever tried, it dries to a lovely black with a subtle sparkle. The bottle it comes in is really practical too – it is designed to pour out easily into smaller jar.
Walnut ink
Walnut ink on the other hand has a soft warm brown colour. It can come as crystals which you have to dilute with water or you can buy it ready mixed. I recommend Tom Nortons Walnut ink for its lovely consistency, colour and ease of use. This is the ink I first started my calligraphy practice and I enjoy using it still.
A word of warning – avoid using fountain pen inks for pointed pen calligraphy. They are thinner than calligraphy inks and maintaining a steady ink flow can be a challenge with them!
Paper
The best way to decide what paper is best is depending on what you are using it for.
Calligraphy paper for everyday practice
You’ll need something good quality but inexpensive as you’ll go through a fair few pages. You can opt for pads with smooth paper, such as Rhodia or Clairefontaine Triomphe Pad.
Marker pads are a great option too - their paper is designed to hold the ink well and is thin enough to use with a guide sheet underneath. Canson 70gsm marker pad is one I use a lot. At 70 gsm the paper is slightly see through so I can easily see the markings on my lined sheet underneath. This saves me from having to rule up the pages every time.
If you prefer to print out your guide sheets or use traceable worksheets from Etsy then you’ll need good quality laser paper. HP Premium32 is a perfect choice but feel free to experiment with other brands too. Basically you need smooth bleed-proof paper, 90-120 gsm2 in weight. (Avoid ink jet paper as its coating will make the ink bleed.)
Calligraphy paper for creative projects
This article is about beginner calligraphy materials but I strongly believe that creative projects are the best way to advance your learning. So don’t wait to “learn calligraphy” before you start applying your new skills on greeting cards, home art and more.
Your specific project will dictate what paper you use but you probably need something thicker and more luxurious than the paper you use every day.
Watercolour paper answers the brief perfectly and is a great choice for calligraphy. You can choose between hot pressed watercolour paper, which is smoother (and so easier to write on); or cold pressed which has slightly more texture to it.
Mixed media paper is also great for calligraphy projects, it has slight texture and nice chunky weight. Fabriano is wonderful to write on and you can order it in different sizes to suit your project.
Of course you don’t have to just stick to white – coloured paper can transform your calligraphy projects.
I love Rousy’s Heavy Weight Black pad for example - it is wonderful to write on, thick and smooth.
For more colour options Colorplan by GFSmith have a range of colours, weights and sizes, all perfect for calligraphy.
Where to order calligraphy supplies
Most of the nibs, pen holders, inks and papers are available to order online from scribblers.co.uk, cultpens.com or Amazon.
You can also try your stores like Hobbycraft, The Range or, if you are lucky to have one near you – an independent art store.
Here is my recommended shopping list of the absolute essentials for calligraphy beginners
Your calligraphy essentials.
Beginner Pointed Pen Calligraphy
SHOPPING LIST
Hard nib - Nikko G or Zebra G
Dual pen holder
Moon palace sumi ink - or - Tom Nortons Walnut ink
HP Premium32 Laser paper - or - Rhodia Pad (lined or dotted).
