My Favorite Calligraphy Learning Tools
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It’s the last weekend of the month, which means it’s time for my June Favorites!
In my May subscriber’s newsletter, I shared a grab bag of my favorite tools, from gold ink to custom tissue paper. This month, I'm sticking to a specific category: learning tools. Below is a compilation of my favorites for calligraphy learners at different levels. I've labeled each one for the level I recommend!
If you missed my May Favorites, you can read it here. Most of my newsletter content is exclusive to my subscribers, but I will be posting my monthly favorites series here on my blog!
Design KOUS
Beginner level
Every single product produced by Design KOUS is impeccable, but I have to say that as basic beginner kits go, this has to be my favorite. I'm asked all the time to recommend a supply kit for people just starting to learn pointed pen calligraphy – one that includes only the most essential tools – and this one is always on my list. (And seriously, that muslin bag is worth the price in itself, am I right?!)
Rodolfo & Aspacia Kusulas are the brother-sister duo behind Design KOUS. Aspacia is a great modern calligraphy teacher who is currently offering online classes in English and Spanish, so check her out!
Free. All levels.
For bite-sized lessons and inspiration, the Calligraphy Masters YouTube channel is the place to go. They describe themselves as an “online magazine for calligraphy, hand lettering, and sign painting.” If you want to chill out and just watch renowned artists draw beautiful letters, this is the perfect outlet for that. But you’ll also find tutorials, interviews, and product reviews that make this a fantastic (and 100% free!) learning resource.
Modern Calligraphy Practice Pads / Written Word Calligraphy
Beginner to Advanced
Karla Lim of Written Word Calligraphy has some of the best ink-on-paper modern calligraphy sheets around. These spiral-bound pads not only have individual letter exemplars, but practice exercises for words and connector strokes as well. They're printed on reliable calligraphy practice paper, and feature blank vellum sheets between the printed pages for additional practice.
The Kickoff Lettering Toolkit for Procreate / Shoutbam
Beginner to Intermediate
For those of you picking up the Apple Pencil for the first time, I can't recommend this Procreate learning kit by Shoutbam highly enough. From brushes to textures and practice sheets to exercises, this digital workbook is packed with tools to get you started. I consider it a 2-in-1 resource, because it will really help you learn the ropes of Procreate while also improving your hand lettering!
If you want the tools without the iPad, the download also includes a PDF version that you can print!
Shoutbam is a really fun lettering studio. I highly recommend following their inspiring type and branding work here: @shoutbam.
Copperplate Practice Pads / Logos Calligraphy
Beginner to Advanced
Younghae Chung, the calligrapher behind Logos Calligraphy, is known for making Copperplate look effortless. Spots in her classes are always in high demand, so it was wonderful to see her come out with this Copperplate Practice Pad Duo, so we can all learn her fresh, flourished style from home. You can buy them as a set, or get the uppercase and lowercase pads separately.
Free • All levels
The International Association of Master Penmen, Engravers, and Teachers of Handwriting (better known as IAMPETH, since that's such a mouthful!) is a fantastic resource for learning traditional calligraphy styles. Their website has an extensive archive of free lessons and tools.
You can get downloadable practice grids for every traditional style, watch videos about pen angles, and read articles about choosing the right nib.
Left-handed calligraphers might want to bookmark this page because the collection of lessons for lefties is second-to-none!
Calligraphic Drawing / Schine Loong
Early Intermediate to Advanced
Schin Loong is the calligrapher behind Open Ink Stand. Her ornate, flourished designs are jaw-dropping. If you don't follow her work already, stop everything and do it now: @openinkstand!
I was so excited when Schin released her book, Calligraphic Drawing, about animal flourishing. It's worth getting purely as eye candy, but for those wanting to learn, Schin really breaks the process down, starting with choosing your nib and ink. She lays out the precise steps and patterns to follow, making it a great book for anyone who already has even a little familiarity with pointed dip pens.
Mastering Modern Calligraphy / Molly Suber Thorpe
Early Intermediate to Advanced
I'll end this list today with one of my own how-to books, Mastering Modern Calligraphy. Picking up where my first book leaves off, this is the perfect companion for pointed pen and digital calligraphers alike. Here’s what other calligraphers have said about it:
“Mastering Modern Calligraphy is the only book I keep at my desk full time. Molly’s user-friendly, spiral-bound book includes information that has taken me years of reading blogs, Instagram posts, and books – and taking classes – to glean.”
— Jennifer L. Wayne, JW Calligraphy
“Thorpe gives readers the tools they need to begin breaking habits and implementing changes that will result in a unique calligraphic style that’s entirely their own.”
― Paper & Ink Arts
“A solid source of information for calligraphy enthusiasts, echoing the kind and encouraging tone of Molly’s previous two books.”
— Lindsay Bugbee, The Postman's Knock
Well, that's it for today! Enjoy the coming week, and as always, tag me in your work on Instagram (@mollysuberthorpe) so I can take a peek!⠀
Until next time—
Molly
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