A Beginners Guide to Using Fountain Pens for Calligraphy

Calligraphy is an ancient skill that was once reserved exclusively to the best writers of society. These days, however, calligraphy is more of an art and a livelihood for many people. Calligraphy artists create new fonts with their distinct pen or brush strokes and sell them online.

There’s a certain air of mystery and fascination that draws people in calligraphy, which is why many people take this on as a hobby. Calligraphy, however, can be frustrating at times, especially for those trying it out for the first time because this art requires perfection. What many calligraphy beginners forget is that it’s supposed to be fun as well.

The fun that is to be experienced with calligraphy, however, doesn’t equate to sloppiness. Nevertheless, there are several pens in the market that are meant to help calligraphers perfect the craft. A fountain pen, in particular, is an ideal tool for new calligraphers and professionals alike. This pen has the mechanisms that allow a steady flow of ink because of the built-in cartridges.

If you are just starting out with calligraphy, here is a guide on how you can use a fountain pen that comes with built-in ink cartridges.

Pinch the pen with your index finger and thumb

Let your middle finger be the support as you hold the pen. This style will not exhaust your fingers fast, which is what you should look out for because the difference of pressure on the strokes becomes visible on the overall outcome.

When the nib makes the first paper contact, remember to angle it at 45 degrees. Rotate the pen until you find the best spot that works for your writing style. Know that you can avoid straining your wrist by keeping your palm rested on the paper. Putting too much pressure on the pen will not work because fountain pens need gentle and light strokes. If you study calligraphy, you’ll learn that gentle strokes work better than hard-pressed ones.

 Know which nibs to use and when

Nibs for regular writing need to be rounded, especially if you’re making uniform lines. If you need to do thin lines, use smaller nibs instead. If you’re going to try creative calligraphy with lots of tails and curves, you will need to use italic nibs. This type of nibs is versatile and allows you to go from narrow to wide lines and back again whenever you need to. 

Learn how to change the ink cartridge

If you’re a first-timer, changing the ink cartridge might seem like a tedious task, when it actually isn’t. All you need is to unscrew the barrel and then remove the empty nib. Click the smaller end and then put on the new ink. It usually takes about an hour to let gravity pull the ink downwards. You can also help speed up this process by leaving the fountain pen standing vertically, tip down.

Conclusion

Calligraphy is an ancient art that has now caught the interest of many hobbyists. Fountain pens make it easy for non-calligraphers to transition to calligraphy because they are versatile and accommodating. Both professionals and beginners use it for its features as it allows for versatility that is needed in calligraphy.

If you are looking to start your hobby in calligraphy and are looking for reliable beginner fountain pens, contact us today to see how we can help your needs!