Modern Calligraphy: Design A Flourished Script Layout in Procreate
Flourishing looks effortless when it’s done well—and painfully obvious when it’s not. When flourishes are working, they fill negative space with movement and make an entire composition feel alive. The most common mistake I see in flourished layouts is diving straight into the final lettering before the composition has been figured out. Flourishes are hard to improvise on the fly, especially across a multi-line manuscript.
I always plot out my flourishes as part of large compositions from the beginning. The best flourishes are the ones that respond directly to the negative space around them, reaching into empty areas between lines, balancing bottom-heavy letters, and creating a visual frame around the whole layout. Only when I have a polished pencil sketch do I move on to the inking—even when that’s digital ink in Procreate.
Modern Calligraphy: Design A Flourished Script Layout in Procreate is a project-based online class for mastering large, flourished calligraphy layouts. You will learn how to combine 10+ lines of pointed pen calligraphy into a cohesive, decorated composition that you can then print, share online, and apply to products.
I share my design process every step of the way, including how to:
use calligraphy guidelines,
make a pencil sketch to determine line breaks and spacing,
plot out flourishes to make the most of negative space,
ink the calligraphy (I use a customized Procreate brush but you can follow along with ink on paper, too),
and recolor the finished artwork if it’s digital.
No iPad? No problem.
This class is for all lettering artists, whether you prefer digital calligraphy or dip pen and ink.
While I am using an iPad Pro and the Procreate app in the demonstration, you can follow along with paper, pencil, and pen if you prefer. Just print out the free guideline sheet I’ve included for you in the course materials.
Get a taste of Modern Calligraphy: Design A Flourished Script Layout in Procreate by watching the teaser:
…and get one month of Skillshare Premium free.
If you’re not yet a Skillshare member, the button above will unlock a 4-week trial of Skillshare Premium—no commitments, no strings attached.
As a Top Teacher on the Skillshare platform, I offer lots of classes about calligraphy, typography, Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, and creative freelancing.
If you found this post useful, consider sharing it. That’s the best, free way to support artists and authors you appreciate.
