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Merry Christmas Calligraphy Tutorial + Free Practice Sheet

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Learn how to letter Merry Christmas with this calligraphy tutorial plus a FREE calligraphy practice sheet.

Hard to believe that this year is ending and Christmas is almost here. This means it’s time to start working on Christmas decor and cards.

See exactly  how to write “Merry Christmas” in Calligraphy in my  tutorial video  (or keep scrolling if you prefer a printable step-by-step photo tutorial):

How to write “Merry Christmas” in Modern Calligraphy:

You can find more video tutorials on our YouTube channel

To help you get into the Christmas spirit and add a handmade touch, I created this Merry Christmas  Calligraphy tutorial along with a FREE Modern Calligraphy worksheet.

Free Download

Get my free merry christmas calligraphy worksheet for beginners.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you purchase by clicking a link I might earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)!  Read my  full disclosure policy .

Remember: the only way you’ll become better at calligraphy is by practicing. And I want to help you, by providing these practice sheets.

MERRY CHRISTMAS CALLIGRAPHY TUTORIAL

In this “Merry Christmas” Calligraphy Tutorial, I will show you three ways to write Merry Christmas.

1. Merry Christmas in Faux Calligraphy

The first part of the tutorial is doing Faux Calligraphy. I always recommend learning faux calligraphy before you move on to calligraphy with brush pens or pointed fine pens. 

These Tombow TwinTone Markers are super fun to practice Faux Calligraphy. But you can use whichever pen you’d like for this first part of the calligraphy practice sheet.

If you’d like to know more about Faux Calligraphy and why you should learn it first, then check this blog post. This other blog post gives you a detailed  step-by-step tutorial on how to do Faux Calligraphy , which also has a free worksheet to help you get the basics of Faux Calligraphy down.

First, you’re going to trace the “Merry Christmas” using the pen of your choosing . Pay attention to how you move your pen, keeping in mind that when you move your pen down, you will need to add outlines to thicken the downstrokes.

Second, you’ll continue to trace the “Merry Christmas” and add the outlines to the downstrokes.

Third, complete the same steps above, and this time, fill in the outlines. That’s it! This part of the tutorial is done! You’ve created calligraphy using any pen.

2. Merry Christmas in Calligraphy with Small Brush Pens

The second way of doing “Merry Christmas” in calligraphy is by using a small tip brush pen.

The small brush pen I recommend using with this part of the worksheet is a Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip .

I recommend these small tip brush pens to start learning calligraphy . If you want to learn more about them, I wrote this blog post where I share the best brush pens for beginners.

Pay attention to the “Merry Christmas” sample at the top of the sheet. I broke each letter down and numbered the strokes you need to make to form the letters. Keep in mind that every time your brush pen goes down you press hard and when your pen goes up you lighten the pressure of your pen.

Using your small tip brush pen , trace over the “Merry Christmas.” You’ll do the same for every “Merry Christmas” on this page.

Print as many pages as needed for extra practice. Or print once and use tracing paper over it.

3. Merry Christmas in Calligraphy with Large Brush Pens

The last part of this calligraphy tutorial is writing Merry Christmas using a large tip brush pen .

For this part of the worksheet, I recommend Tombow Dual Brush Pen . But you can use any large brush pen of your preference.

Same as with the small brush pens, this part of the worksheet has a sample “Merry Christmas” at the top of the page with guides on how the letters are formed. You can use this for reference when you are tracing over the “Merry Christmas”.

Those are the three different ways you write “Merry Christmas” in calligraphy, using a regular pen, a small brush pen , or a large brush pen . You can get access to these practice sheets for FREE by filling out the form at the end of this blog post. 

By giving you three ways to practice with this worksheet, there is no excuse not to do it.

You can practice using all three methods, or just with the pen, you have available at the moment. 

How to use this FREE Calligraphy Practice Worksheet?

• Fill out the form at the bottom of this post to get the Free Calligraphy Worksheet.
• The worksheet will be sent to your email and you’ll be able to download it instantly. You can print it at home or at a local printer store or library. I use this inexpensive laser printer  to print mine. (This printer is black and white. But that’s all you need at the moment to print the practice sheets).
• To use any of your brush pens, make sure you print the worksheets using quality paper. The paper I recommend is HP Premium 32 Paper .
• You can use any printer paper if you are using a regular pen. 
• Set your printer scaling to “Fit Page.”

TERMS OF USE:

these worksheets and all the files contained in my resource library are for  PERSONAL  use ONLY. They are original works designed, owned, and copyrighted by Vial Designs. You can’t alter, sell, or redistribute them. Re-distributing PDFs/JPGs violates digital copyright laws. If you love these creations and want to share them, send your friends to my free resource library so they can have access too!

Where to use what you’ve learned with this Merry Christmas Calligraphy Tutorial?

The possibilities are endless!

You can do handmade cards, gift tags, wrapping paper, or any other type of Christmas Decor.

Here’s an example of a Christmas Calligraphy card you can make:

I hope you have fun practicing and learning calligraphy using these practice sheets. And most importantly, have a great Christmas and an even better holiday season.

If you’d like to keep practicing your calligraphy with other Holiday quotes, then my Holiday Lettering Printable guide will be perfect for you! It has 25 different quotes plus 3 Christmas Traceable designs.

Learn more about it here:

Have fun practicing your Holiday Lettering!

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE THIS FREE MERRY CHRISTMAS CALLIGRAPHY PRACTICE SHEET TO YOUR FAVORITE DIY PINTEREST BOARD! 

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this is a helpful article, very nice

Thank you, Sagar! I’m glad you found it helpful!

Would love this tutorial and practice sheets

Hi Janet, The video tutorial is at the top of the page and you can fill out the form to have the free practice worksheet sent to your email. Regards, Maira

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Happy Holidays Calligraphy

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In a last watercolor tutorial, I taught you how to paint a watercolor snowflake that you can use for winter decor or a holiday card! Now, let's finish it off with a beautiful Happy Holidays script!

For this tutorial I use a pointed calligraphy pen and black Sumi ink.

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DIY Christmas Greeting Cards (with calligraphy templates)

How about sending some beautiful, handmade calligraphy cards to your friends and family this Christmas?

And no, you don’t even have to know how to do calligraphy, because I’m giving you all the designs as templates… for free. All you have to do is trace!

There’s a lot here – like six tutorials combined into one post. I’ll show you how to add extra, festive details to the cards and make them special and one-of-a-kind.

So get comfy with your cup of hot chocolate because we’re going to make six fun, DIY Christmas cards together!

This post contains affiliate links. Learn more .

Want to make these cards yourself? Just keep reading!

Here are the supplies I used for all of these cards. You don’t necessarily need all of them, but the list is here for reference.

(I’ll also link the pens I used throughout the post.)

• Cardstock paper (white and navy blue) or ready-made 5×7″ cards
• Pencil and kneaded eraser
• Sakura white gel pen
• Stabilo 68 brush pens (I used reds, greens, dark blue, & black)
• Tombow Dual brush pens (I used some light grays)
• Sakura metallic gel pens (blue and gold)
• Molotow liquid chrome silver 1mm paint pen
• Sakura stardust gel pen (silver)
• Calligraphy templates (get them for free below)

At a minimum, you’ll need cardstock for cards, the traceable templates, and some markers. Crayola markers would work great.

Download the free traceable templates below !

Get the templates

Six traceable Christmas card greetings ready for you to download and print. ​ I’ve already done the designing so you can just have fun making cards!

I won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, start by cutting and folding your cards. (I recommend saving any paper scraps to test markers on!)

The calligraphy templates are sized for a 5″x7″ greeting card, so that’s the size that I made all six of my cards.

How to use the calligraphy templates

I’ve made six holiday greetings as printable calligraphy templates for you to trace onto your own cards, so you don’t have to worry about lettering skills.

Once you’ve downloaded the templates and printed them, there are two ways you can get the designs onto the front of your cards.

• Use a lightbox. Just place the design template onto your lightbox (or even a window) and put a card on top. Make sure the placement is where you want it before tracing the design onto your card. You can tape it in place if you need to.
• Transfer with pencil. Scribble pencil on the back of the printed page so it covers the entire design you want to transfer. Turn the page over, place it on your card, and trace the design firmly with pencil. Then you’ll have a pencil tracing on your card that you can go over with markers. For dark cards, you can try using chalk.

I used the second method, but I had to hold my card and paper up to a window to see the placement, so you’ll probably want to loosely cut out the design first so it’s not so big.

You might also need to lightly erase the pencil tracing if it’s too dark.

When you’re tracing, outline the entire letter, including any thick lines. It’ll help you when you add ink!

One more thing: these designs have calligraphy lettering styles with thick and thin lines. If you’re not familiar with calligraphy, you can just draw and fill in the thicker lines.

If you’re using brush pens or Crayola markers though, you can press harder on the pen to get the thick strokes.

Ok, now let’s make some cards!

Merry Christmas card

First up, a Merry Christmas greeting card! I chose a classic red and green color combo for this one.

Once you have the design traced onto the front of the card, you can just go over it with your markers of choice. Go as slow as you need to!

(As soon as I started writing with the Stabilo pens I saw that they bleed slightly on the cardstock, but it’s not too noticeable.)

Next you can use a white gel pen or paint pen to add white details inside the thick parts of the letters. (I used a white Sakura gel pen. )

I put dots inside the word “merry” and lines inside “Christmas.” It’s so simple to do, but makes it look even more festive, don’t you think?

You could call it finished there, but I decided it looked a little too plain.

I added a few stars and dots around the greeting using a silver Sakura stardust gel pen. (If you haven’t used these, they are amazing. It’s like writing with pure sparkle.)

To make these little stars, draw a tall plus symbol and fill the inner corners in just a bit, like you see below.

I wish you could see how sparkly the silver details are in person. So pretty!

O Holy Night card

This next one might be my favorite. I made a card out of navy-colored cardstock to better fit the phrase “o holy night.”

You’ll of course need a white or metallic pen that will show up on dark paper to write the words. Use a scrap of paper to test your pen. I used my white Sakura gel pen again.

Outline the letters with the pen and color in the thick strokes. (Be careful not to smudge the ink because it’s very easy to do.)

You can probably see that I used chalk to transfer the design onto the card. It didn’t show up that well, but it did the trick.

For the star details, I used a Molotow liquid chrome paint pen , but of course you can use any metallic pen.

Once I was finished, I made sure to let everything dry for a while before using an eraser to rub away the chalk.

I prefer to use a kneaded eraser because there are no eraser bits to brush away. ( Here’s one on Amazon. )

Happy Holidays card

For the “happy holidays” greeting card, I used pink for the first word and alternated an olive green and deep red color for the second.

Stabilo pens come in so many beautiful colors, so I had to use some of the more unusual ones!

To “lift” the lettering off the paper, I added simple shadows using the fine tip end of a gray Tombow Dual Brush pen (N95).

Basic shadows are pretty easy to add. Here’s how:

• Imagine where the light source is coming from. (I usually have it up in the top left.)
• Now you’ll draw lines on the opposite side of the light source. (For me, that’s to the lower right of the letters.)
• Leave a little bit of white space between the letters and the shadows, and follow the curves of the letters as you draw the lines.

After adding the shadows, I used the same light gray marker to draw stars and dots scattered around the greeting.

Once I start adding dots to something, it’s hard to stop! I tried to keep it simple for this one so it wasn’t distracting.

To do this, just draw stars in the same way as for the Merry Christmas card above, in a few different sizes, scattered in empty spaces, so it looks balanced.

Then add a sprinkling of dots around the star clusters and to fill in noticeable spaces.

I even went a step further and used a gold Sakura metallic gel pen to draw tiny stars in the thick parts of the word “holidays.”

(And yes, it’s true… I really like Sakura gel pens.)

‘Tis the Season card

This next card is so cute, especially with the addition of the greenery and berries.

I used a black pen for the words this time, then a dark green for the branches and bright red for the berries.

I left a tiny bit of white space inside the berries for highlights. (I should have added some darker red shadows, too.)

Then of course I had to add some shine to this one, too! I used my gold Sakura metallic gel pen again to draw lines inside the thick strokes of the word “season.”

It really is these extra details that make the cards so special.

Peace on Earth card

I kept this one simple and used a blue color scheme.

For the script lettering I used a dark navy blue marker, then switched to a dark blue Sakura metallic gel pen for the smaller letters.

I forgot to take any progress pictures, but all I did was trace the design and didn’t add anything else.

As with all of these cards, make sure to let the ink dry completely before erasing pencil lines or you might smudge your work!

I like how simple and elegant this one looks.

Ho! Ho! Ho! card

This last card design seemed to lend itself well to red and white. I used a deep burgundy red and bright red pen.

There are three cute lettering styles in the design. You could make each one a different color if you wanted.

Once again, you can add interest to the lettering by adding details inside the thickest lines (downstrokes).

I drew little white snowflakes and dots, but you can get creative. Plaid or peppermint stripes would look so cute, too!

You can see below that the white gel pen absorbed some of the marker coloring. This just happens with some pens. If you want it to be whiter, try adding a second layer after the first one dries.

To continue the snowflake theme, I scattered snowflakes around the lettering with a light gray marker. (They’re a little hard to see in the picture.)

Start by drawing an asterisk (with six points because, you know, that’s how many sides snowflakes have!) for a basic snowflake.

Then you can add dots or extra lines to the points . Basically, just have fun doodling! Snowflakes can be so fun to draw.

I varied the size of the flakes and added forked ends to the biggest few.

And there you have it! Six holiday-themed greeting cards that you can make yourself. Some are cute and some are more elegant, but they’re all so fun to make!

I’ve shown you how I made each of these cards, but of course you can use these ideas to make your own unique versions and let your creativity shine (literally, if you’re using metallic pens…).

Please remember, though, that the calligraphy templates are for personal use only.

Here’s where you can get the free printable designs again if you missed it!

I’d love to see what you create! Feel free to send me a picture or tag me on Instagram @byheidigrace.

Thanks so much for following along with me for these Christmas card tutorials. I hope you have a lot of fun making your own!

I'm a lettering and watercolor artist who loves making art with paint and letters. I started learning modern calligraphy and watercolor painting in 2017 and have learned a lot since then! I'm here to share what I know with you so you can create your own art with confidence.

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Holiday Calligraphy Printable Exemplar + Worksheet

Lindsey Bugbee

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If you’ve still got holiday correspondence to send out or gift tags to create (and don’t we all?), then you will enjoy the holiday calligraphy worksheet/exemplar printables included in this post! In the exemplars, you’ll find fun, fresh ways of writing traditional holiday phrases.

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If you’re anything like me, then all of your Yuletide correspondence — featuring beautiful holiday calligraphy — was sent out weeks ago. Yep, you did not procrastinate, and you have already calligraphed gift tags for all of the gifts that you perfectly wrapped.

Just kidding — that’s a description of the organized person that I want to be. My current situation looks more like this: I haven’t sent anything to anyone (or made any gift tags … except for the one above, which was whipped up earlier this morning). While I am not the picture of holiday preparation, by any means, I did come up with a way to create holiday calligraphy quickly and without a lot of brainstorming. Allow me to introduce the Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet 2016 Edition !

About the Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet 2016 Edition

This printable holiday calligraphy worksheet set came about when I received a reader email requesting a holiday calligraphy exemplar. I started making one, but found that I wanted to get more detailed than a standard exemplar. I thought it would be nice to make sure the exemplar was accessible for all calligraphy levels, and not just those who can mimic writing what they see. That way, you could practice a little bit on the exemplar, then go forth and calligraph your gift tags, add a “Happy Holidays!” to the back of your envelopes, and/or whip up some calligraphy-centric  DIY holiday cards .

So, I calligraphed seven common holiday greetings, all in different TPK-original calligraphy styles, including:

• “Happy Holidays” in an embellished Janet Style
• “merry christmas” in all-lowercase Kaitlin Style
• “Merry and Bright” in Amy Style
• “Season’s Greetings” in Beth Style
• “Happy New Year!” in Kaitlin Style
• “Warm Wishes” in Amy Style
• “Feliz Navidad” in an embellished Janet Style

I figured that, even if you already own a TPK calligraphy worksheet  or two, it’s nice to have readymade holiday calligraphy examples. Especially if you’re just beginning with a calligraphy style, it can be tough to know how the letters will connect. In the case of “Embellished Janet Style”, this worksheet set even takes some creative license, adding lots of swirl to the d’s! The worksheet also includes four creative ways to write “2017”. In addition to providing you with practice and tips + information, each section of the worksheet includes a “Shortcut Tracing” section. You can use the graphic in that section to trace over using a light box and a dip pen, or a bright window and a pencil (which you’ll then trace over with a dip pen).

… Not Just Holiday Calligraphy

When we think about dip pens, we usually just think “calligraphy”. This worksheet will get you out of that mindset with detailed instructions on how to make this gorgeous flourished holiday tree! The tree, shown here created with Finetec gold , can make a beautiful holiday card!

The beauty of the tree is its versatility; you can use it on anything from cards to gift tags to mail art. It is splendid by itself, or you can add some holiday calligraphy above or underneath it. Of course, you don’t have to use gold to make it … every ink gives it a different “feel”. Gold makes a decadent tree, walnut ink makes a vintage tree, white ink makes a snowy tree, etc.

It’s worth noting that, while the holiday calligraphy worksheet set is intended to help all levels of calligraphers, it does presuppose some dip pen experience. While it provides a detailed walk-through of how to form the words, numbers, and the tree, it assumes the following:

• You know to keep both tines of your nib evenly on the paper as you write.
• You know to exert pressure on downstrokes and use gentle pressure on upstrokes.

If you’re not quite there yet, it’s worth it to read The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy !

Limited Edition

This worksheet set is a limited edition — and sales of it will stop on December 26, 2016 (so: the day after Christmas). My intention is to create a completely new edition of the holiday calligraphy worksheet every year.

While sales of this worksheet will end on December 26th, owners of the worksheet will have access to it indefinitely. You can re-use it every year, if you want to! It will live in your account (if you have one), as well as in your order confirmation email. Note that if you own the 2016 edition, you will not be grandfathered into the 2017 edition next year. My policy with other calligraphy worksheet sets is always to grandfather you into updates, but the 2017 edition of this set will be completely new and different!

If you’re interested in purchasing this worksheet set, you can do so (and learn more about the set) by clicking here . If, however, you can exactly mimic writing what you see, you may be interested in the free exemplar (details below).

Free Holiday Calligraphy Exemplar

Whenever I release a product like the Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet Set , I also like to provide a basic, free alternative. The free version of the worksheet is this one-page holiday calligraphy exemplar . It includes four greetings (“Happy Holidays!”, “merry christmas”, “Merry and Bright”, “NOËL noël”) for your reference. While it doesn’t provide instructions on how to write, it does offer a tracing/practice opportunity!

You can download the free exemplar by clicking here! Like the paid version of the worksheet set, it is best printed on 32# laserjet paper , which will allow you to write on it sans ink issues.

Whether the exemplars will come in handy for you or not, I am wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons! No matter how — or if — you celebrate, my hope is that the rest of December is wonderful for you. And, after December, we start with a clean slate in January! Thanks for giving me bits of your time here and there this year; I really appreciate that you read TPK. It’s been awesome for me to read your comments, see results of various TPK tutorials on social media, and hear from you in emails! You made my 2016 amazing, and I’m really looking forward to an equally wonderful 2017.

*This post contains affiliate links to Amazon

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Calligraphy 101 – The ULTIMATE Guide For Beginners

This post and the photos within it may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a commission at no extra charge to you.

If you want to learn how to start with calligraphy, you’ve come to the right place.

On this page, you will find everything you need to know about what calligraphy is and how to get started with it.

Whether you’re just starting with calligraphy or have been practicing for a while, this page contains many valuable resources to help you learn and improve your calligraphy skills.

Let’s get started!

Note – This page is consistently updated as I create new helpful resources. 

What is calligraphy? In simple words.  

Calligraphy is a visual art form that creates decorative handwriting using specific tools.

In other words, calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing.

However, calligraphy is a broad term that encompasses a wide variety of styles and cultures from every corner of the globe. 

We can primarily divide calligraphy into different cultures around the world.

To name a few – 

• Western calligraphy (the Latin alphabet)
• Chinese calligraphy
• Japanese calligraphy
• Arabic calligraphy
• Indian calligraphy

Note:  Despite the art of beautiful writing being present in many cultures across the globe, I focus primarily on studying, practicing, and teaching Western calligraphy and the Latin alphabet. 

What are some key features of calligraphy?

It’s important to distinguish between handwriting (including cursive) and calligraphy.

It is common for the untrained eye to see these two as the same.

With that in mind, here are a few key features of calligraphy. 

1. Variation in stroke thickness.

Calligraphy can be done with any writing tool; however, there are specific tools dedicated to calligraphy.

The two most common tools are broad-edged and pointed pens.

These tools are specific for calligraphy because they can create stroke thickness variations.

The broad-edged nib achieves that by keeping the pen at a consistent angle (and the direction of movement), whereas the pointed nib achieves that by adding/removing pressure as you write.

The contrast in stroke thickness that these tools can create while you write is one of the most prominent features of calligraphic letters. 

2. Letterform proportions and structure.

A specific proportion and structure of letters are maintained throughout the writing.

This is particularly important for traditional calligraphy scripts.

For example, Blackletter calligraphy is created with a broad-edged tool.

The angle of the pen is held at a 45-degree angle.

The letters are completely vertical, and they are proportionally sized according to the width of the pen.

That’s why we use the pen width as a measuring unit when it comes to broad-edged (flat tip) calligraphy styles.

These are just some of the “rules” you need to follow to create this particular style of calligraphy.

Calligraphy guidelines allow us to focus on creating beautiful and consistent letterforms.

Without calligraphy guidelines, you would have to guess and eyeball all the sizing and proportions, and it would make the whole process much more difficult.

3. Consistency and uniformity.

Calligraphy places great emphasis on consistent and uniform letterforms.

Achieving consistent stroke widths, angles, spacing, rhythm, etc., and overall letter shapes throughout a piece of writing is essential for creating a cohesive and visually pleasing result.

In the example below, I am using two different colored brush pens along with the basic calligraphy strokes to write out the word minimum.

I am focused on maintaining consistent spacing, slant, space within the letters (also known as counters), etc.

What is calligraphy used for?

Today, calligraphy is used in many different ways.

From personal use as a relaxing hobby and artistic expression to commercial purposes, official documents, wedding invitations, font designs, and much more. 

The written word can be used to convey not only information but also emotions.

As you can see in the image below, the same sentence written in two different styles can communicate a very different feeling.

Often we don’t pay any attention to letters used in advertisements, logotypes, and other promotional materials.

Try to pay more attention the next time you’re in the city or any other place where you can see letters around you.

Take a moment to look at the letters and think about what they communicate on an emotional level and how they make you feel.

This could also be a helpful exercise to determine what sort of style of calligraphy you want to learn and practice.

At this point, it’s also important to mention that calligraphy and hand lettering are not the same thing.

Despite the fact that these two terms are often used interchangeably.

When doing calligraphy, you’re writing letters, whereas, with hand lettering, you draw them.

I wrote an article about the difference between hand lettering and calligraphy . Check it out!

The Origins Of Calligraphy

Paleographers and historians believe the first alphabet evolved in Phoenicia around 1200 B.C.

As Phoenicians merchants traveled and traded across the Mediterranean, the Greeks adopted their alphabet around the eighth century B.C.

Soon after, the Etruscans adopted (and adapted) the Phoenician alphabet, which the Romans subsequently took.

By the first century B.C., the Romans had already developed several scripts using the Latin alphabet, which we all know and use today.

The word calligraphy derives from the Greek words “kallos” (beauty) and “graphein” (to write).

According to Britannica.com , the word calligraphy entered most European languages by the end of the 16th century.

This was initiated by the introduction of the printing press in the mid-15th century and thus created a clear distinction between handwriting and more elaborate forms of lettering.

We often take it for granted, but the written word is one of the foundations of human civilization.

Writing has allowed us to share and preserve information, ideas, and knowledge for thousands of years.

The history of calligraphy is rich, with many evolutions throughout centuries.

Below you can see a shorter general overview of how the Latin alphabet evolved throughout history.

In case you want to learn more about the history of calligraphy, I’ve written a separate in-depth article on the history of calligraphy and how it evolved throughout the years.  

How to get started with calligraphy? The three-step formula

Ok, now we know what calligraphy is, what it is used for, and where it comes from.

Now it’s time to learn how to start learning and practicing calligraphy.

If you’re a complete beginner, the best way to start learning calligraphy is by following the three-step formula :

• Choose a calligraphy style that you want to study and practice.
• Pick the correct calligraphy pen for the style you want to practice + the essential calligraphy tools.
• Find a proper study resource and create an effective practice routine.

With that in mind, let’s have a closer look at each of these three key steps. 

Step 1 – Choosing a calligraphy style 

The first thing you should do is find the calligraphy style that appeals the most to you.

This is the first step since the next step (picking the tools) will depend on your calligraphy style, aka script choice.

I often get asked what is the easiest calligraphy style to start with, and the truth is that each style has its little nuances that will create challenges along the way.

Some people might find working with a pointed nib easier, while others find it more comfortable with a broad-edged pen.

To learn, understand, and properly execute a specific calligraphy style, you need to stick to it for an extended period, so it’s essential that you choose something that is appealing to you. 

Generally speaking, there are a few main categories of calligraphy styles.

We can categorize calligraphy styles according to the type of pen we use. The main categories are – 

• Pointed nib calligraphy styles (Copperplate, Spencerian, etc.)
• Broad-edged calligraphy styles (Uncial, Gothic, Foundational, etc.)
• Brush pen calligraphy 

To make it easier for you, I created a separate guide on the 10 best calligraphy styles for beginners.

That article contains the most popular calligraphy styles and many helpful resources to help you make the right first step.

So if you’re a complete beginner, make sure to check out that article first.

Quick note:  The different calligraphy styles are usually referred to as scripts. People commonly use the term “calligraphy fonts,” but that is incorrect. Fonts are what (today) computers use to display text.

Step 2 – Picking the correct calligraphy pen + the essential calligraphy tools

Remember, not every calligraphy pen suits every style.

This is why it’s crucial to pick the style and then the calligraphy pen that fits that style.

Entry-level pens and tools are not crazy expensive, but it would be silly to waste your money simply because you didn’t know what you needed to get started.

Luckily, with one pen, you can create a bunch of different styles.

On top of that, there are only three main pen categories to choose from.

To help you find the right pick, I have created a complete in-depth guide on choosing the right calligraphy pen. 

In addition to the calligraphy pen, you will also need the basic calligraphy tools.

The basic calligraphy tools are :

• The calligraphy pen
• Calligraphy ink

To learn more about this, I created a separate article on the 6 essential calligraphy tools.  

By following these two guides, you will find the correct high-quality tools without wasting your time or breaking the bank. 

What if you cannot afford or find any calligraphy tools in your area?

I wrote a tutorial where I show you how to create calligraphy with a regular pen , and if you have a pencil lying around, you can also do calligraphy using just a pencil. 

Other articles about calligraphy tools you might be interested in checking out :

• Calligraphy Paper – The Ultimate Guide For Beginners
• 10 BEST Brush Pens For Calligraphy Beginners
• 10 Useful Lettering And Calligraphy Tools
• How To Clean Your Calligraphy Nibs (5 EASY Ways)
• How To Make A Calligraphy Pen At Home
• Lettering & Calligraphy Gift Ideas (The ULTIMATE Guide)

Step 3 – Find a proper study resource and create an effective practice routine.

Once you’ve picked out the calligraphy style and the needed tools, it’s time to find a proper resource and start practicing.

One of the best ways to learn calligraphy is by attending an in-person workshop hosted by a professional calligrapher.

An online workshop is also great. 

However, you can still find a bunch of great free resources online.

Instructional calligraphy books are also fantastic – I’ll talk more about them later on.

With the help of a good study resource, you’ll learn how to construct letterforms properly and keep your calligraphy proportional, consistent, and well-balanced.

Basically, all the elements you need to develop a strong foundation upon which you can then easily build more complex elements and learn new calligraphy styles.

You could just find an alphabet from Google Images or Pinterest and copy that for several months, but you might do more damage than good with that approach.

It’s much better to practice with a correctly structured exemplar that has a ductus along with it.

An exemplar is a full alphabet demonstration for you to use as a reference.

The ducts are the little red arrows indicating the stroke sequence to construct the letters. You can see an example of it below.

Trust me when I say this – finding a good study resource could make a massive difference in the quality of your calligraphy artwork and how quickly you can learn and improve your skills. 

Here is a list of current step-by-step guides for various calligraphy styles that you can find on the Lettering Daily website – 

• Blackletter/Gothic Calligraphy For Beginners (+FREE Worksheets)
• Fraktur Calligraphy Tutorial for Beginners (+FREE Worksheets)
• Italic Calligraphy For Beginners (+FREE Worksheets)
• Copperplate Calligraphy For Beginners (+FREE Worksheets)
• How To Get Started With The Foundational Hand (+FREE Worksheets)
• How To Do Modern Calligraphy (+FREE Worksheets)
• Brush Calligraphy Alphabet – a to z (Lowercase Letters)
• How to Do Faux Calligraphy (+FREE Worksheets)
• How To Do Pencil Calligraphy For Beginners (+FREE Worksheets)
• How To Get Started With Dip Pen Calligraphy (+FREE Worksheet)
• How To Do Calligraphy With Crayola Markers
• How To Draw Illuminated Letters
• How To Improve Your Handwriting (+FREE Worksheets)

This list will grow with time as I keep creating and adding more tutorials. 

Creating an effective practice routine.

Calligraphy is a motor skill.

This means that the brain, muscles, and nervous system all need to work together.

It also means that building muscle memory requires a lot of practice.

In other words, the more you practice, the better you will become at calligraphy.

This is one of my favorite videos that describes in detail how practice helps us to improve any sort of skill :

However, it’s not just about the consistency of your practice that matters.

It’s also the quality of your practice that is crucial.

If you’ve been reading my articles or will be reading them, you will often see me repeat the following sentence: Consistent practice is important, but how you practice makes all the difference.

Over the years, I’ve seen some people progress more in six months than others in several years.

The key difference was almost always the way they practiced. 

I cannot stress enough how important it is to create a good and effective calligraphy practice routine and how big of an impact it can have on your progress. 

I also want to point out that it’s important that you make the routine fun.

Aimlessly copying basic strokes and alphabets can quickly become tedious. 

I created a separate article on how to practice calligraphy effectively.

In that article, I share many helpful tips and a suggested practice approach that works for any calligraphy style you choose to practice. 

On top of that, you can check out my article on the most common calligraphy mistakes and how to avoid them. 

Additional learning resources for calligraphy

Alternatively, to the options mentioned earlier, calligraphy books can be a fantastic learning option.

Over the years, most of my calligraphy knowledge has come from calligraphy books.

I wrote an article sharing my top 10 calligraphy books for beginners.

Other options are also online courses.

For example, Domestika and Skillshare offer some great online courses to help you start your calligraphy journey.

I also wrote an article sharing some of my favorite online calligraphy courses.

I prefer live or online workshops over courses (even if they are more expensive) because you can interact with the teacher, ask questions and get detailed feedback on your work. 

Advanced calligraphy techniques and effects

Once have you covered the calligraphy basics, you can start experimenting with more complex effects and techniques. 

However, it is crucial that you go over the basics before you try different techniques and effects. 

Below you can see a list of various tutorials and guides for calligraphy techniques and effects you can add to your work :

• How To Add Shadows To Your Letters (5 EASY Ways)
• How To Do Calligraphy Flourishing (+Free Worksheets)
• How To Dry Emboss Your Lettering By Hand
• Color Fundamentals, And How To Use Them In Your Lettering
• 5 Ways You Can Add a Gradient To Your Lettering
• How To Vectorize Your Hand Lettering (4 EASY Steps)
• How To Create A Calligram (Step-By-Step Tutorial)
• How To Create Brush Lettering Compositions With Ease
• How To Become Ambidextrous (Beginners Guide 2023)
• How To Do Water Brush Lettering (+FREE Worksheets)

Frequently asked questions about calligraphy

Here are some questions (and answers) that I get from calligraphy beginners :

Although both relate to writing with your hands, calligraphy focuses on artistic expression and creating visually pleasing letterforms. Regular handwriting, on the other hand, focuses on speed, efficiency, and conveying information.

No, calligraphy and cursive writing are two different things. Calligraphy uses specific tools, requiring deliberate and focused movement to create beautiful letters. Cursive writing, on the other hand, is a form of handwriting that you can execute much faster since it needs fewer pen lifts.

Yes, this type of calligraphy is also known as faux calligraphy, and I wrote a tutorial on how to do it.

You definitely can. You can monetize your calligraphy skills in numerous ways. Some common methods are client work, advertisement, wedding invitations, teaching (online and in person), selling products (physical and digital), and more.

Yes, if you have the desire and the patience, you can learn calligraphy at any age.

Yes. Many great online resources can guide you through all the needed steps to get started. The online community is also very active and supportive, so you can always ask questions and get feedback from more experienced calligraphers. Aside from free online resources, you can also get an instructional book about calligraphy and attend an online or in-person workshop.

You can learn calligraphy regardless of the quality of your handwriting. The two are different from each other. All you need to learn calligraphy is a good attitude and patience to learn the skill since it does take a while. In case you want to improve your handwriting, check out this article.

It can get expensive, but you dont need to spend a lot of money to get started. You only need to spend 20-30 $ (USD) to get you started. In my calligraphy tool guides, I’ve shared many tools that are of great quality and don’t cost that much.

There is no exact answer to this question. It does take several months to get a good grasp of the basics. It all depends on the quality and frequency of your practice. I’ve shared some helpful tips in my article on how to practice calligraphy effectively.

My motto is – consistency over intensity. In other words, you can get better results from practicing 15-20 minutes daily than doing two hours twice a week.

I can only speak from personal experience. For me, calligraphy is a therapeutic activity that benefits my mental health. According to this article , there is concrete evidence of the benefits of calligraphy for mental health.

Before you’re able to develop your calligraphy style, you have to learn the basics first. By understanding the basics of calligraphy, you will develop a strong foundation that will allow you to develop your style. In other words, you must learn the rules before you break them.

Recap + Final words

Here is a quick recap of the beginner guide to calligraphy :

• Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing.
• The word calligraphy derives from the Greek words “kallos” (beauty) and “graphein” (to write).
• Calligraphy and hand lettering are different from each other – read more about their differences here. 
• Calligraphy is used to convey emotions as well as information. 
• The three-step formula to start learning calligraphy is as follows – 
• Choose a calligraphy style you like
• Find the right calligraphy pen + the essential tools.
• Find a good study resource + an effective practice routine.
• Explore additional learning resources.
• Once you’ve developed a solid foundation by practicing the basics, you can explore additional styles, techniques, and more advanced elements of calligraphy. 

Calligraphy is a complex art form with many little nuances, and it takes years of studying and practice to master this skill.

However, getting started shouldn’t be too complicated, and I’m confident that if you follow this guide, you will start seeing concrete results fairly quickly. 

I would like to hear it from you now :

What is the reason you decided to start learning calligraphy?

Also, what sort of style would you be interested in learning? 

Be sure to drop a comment below. 👇

Until the next one!

Stay updated with my tutorials and get instant access to the Lettering Crate –

A growing library of free lettering & calligraphy resources that includes –.

• Calligraphy practice sheets
• Procreate brushes
• The 30-day lettering planner
• Printables, and more!

About the author

Hey, I’m Max Juric, and I’m deeply passionate about calligraphy and hand lettering.

I’ve spent years honing my skills in the art of lettering, working with hundreds of clients from all over the world on design projects such as logotypes, branding, custom lettering, murals, and more.

But my journey doesn’t end there. I’ve also dedicated myself to sharing my knowledge and expertise with others, creating a wealth of resources including tutorials, articles, and podcasts.

It’s been incredibly rewarding to see thousands of people engaging with my content each month. Knowing that I’m helping fellow enthusiasts grow and develop their skills makes me really happy.

Welcome to Lettering Daily, your hub for all things lettering and calligraphy. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, I’m here to inspire and guide you on your lettering journey. Stick around, and let’s explore the world of letters together!

18 thoughts on “Calligraphy 101 – The ULTIMATE Guide For Beginners”

Thank you for all the content you have created and I look forward to what’s next. I love writing poems and I always thought poems look so boring on paper because I am not very good at drawing. So at a very young age I started to obsess over pretty writing, that’s how I came to my obsession with dip pen calligraphy. I love copperplate and spencerian

Hey Jillian, thank you so much for the kind comment 🙂 Would love to see some of your Copperplate and/or Spencerian.

Thanks Max for your newsletters and for this Calligraphy 101 Guide, plus all the extra topics and articles. Something you could put in your newsletter is where you get your calligraphic supplies and books from–Amazon, local art store, etc. Typism 2023 starts next week. I wonder if anyone is going to teach a class geared toward calligraphic art, mementos and such, for the 2024 Paris Olympics? (hopefully, the civil unrest will get settled). I took Natalie Brown’s Greeting Card 101 class, Typism 2022. Nice class, but am having difficulty with understanding PS/AI Pen Tool technique in order to vectorize my art, so it can be sent to a publisher. I’m getting help though. Bruce, North Carolina, US.

Hey Bruce, thank you so much for the suggestion. I have all those links on my site, but I will include them in my next newsletter as well. Shoot me an email, and i’ll send you some great resources that will help you with manual vectorization of your calligraphy. It’s not the easiest skill to learn but also not the hardest one. It just takes practice.

Thank You very much for this article, is a lot of very interesting information. Regards, Jose

Thank you for the nice comment, Jose. I really appreciate it! 🙂

Hello Max, This is an excellent resource for, in my opinion, calligraphers and lettering artists at all levels, from beginner onwards. Thanks for for the all the work you put into it — I know that I’ll come back to it often. Drew

Thank you so much, Drew. I am happy to hear you think that about my article, it really means a lot! 🙂

Hi there, Your emails and articles are very interesting and informative. I appreciate all the work you put into them. You must be a workaholic. 🙂 Nonetheless, I decided to get into calligraphy because it is a beautiful art form of conveying messages and I would like to give scripture messages using calligraphy as gifts to friends and family. I haven’t decided what style I will be using yet. However, I do like the templates you provided for your faux calligraphy fonts and I have been using that since I signed up with you. I have been painting them in gold. Thanks again for your sharing and generous spirit. God willing it will pay off.

Hey Lorraine, thank you so much for the awesome comment 😀 I used to consider myself as a workaholic before but now i think i have more work/life balance. I just enjoy doing this so i dont necesarily consider it as conventional work 😀 Faux calligraphy sounds awesome! Let me know if you ever struggle with something, always happy to help.

Max, you are a wonderful human being! Again, you have provided fabulous information (free!) for beginning calligraphers and those who want to improve their calligraphic skills. I’m always impressed with the offerings you provide and love to recommend your site to people…they will get quality guidance to steer them in the right direction! Thank you for all you do to promote calligraphy!

Thank you so much, Gail! You are awesome! It really means a lot hearing these things – thank you! 🙂 <3

Excellent resource for beginners or those wishing to advance their skills or expand their style range.

Thank you so much, Eden. I really, really, really appreciate it! 🙂

Damn, son, what a resource! I love the infographic and the other illustrations. Keep this gold coming. 🔥🔥🔥

Muchas gracias chica 🙂 I really appreciate it 🙂

What a wonderful Masterclass. The most in depth Calligraphy guide I’ve ever seen. Hats off Max!

WOWOWOW! Thanks so much bro! 🙂 Means a lot to hear that from you.

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