Brush Calligraphy and Lettering FAQs. Answers to the questions I’m most frequently asked about Brush Calligraphy!
Brush Calligraphy and Lettering FAQs
I compiled and answered all the questions I’m most frequently asked about Brush Calligraphy and Lettering into one handy page!
Before we get into the FAQs, I want to share something with you. The first time I tried Brush Calligraphy it was so hard, I didn’t try again for months. Once I did try again, I committed to practice. Practice is the only thing separating you from “meh” brush calligraphy and “wow” brush calligraphy…so keep at it and don’t give up!
Watch the Brush Calligraphy Basics Video:
This video is a free real-time mini bonus module from my Constellation Lettering Online Class.
Check out all the FAQs right after the video lesson!
What brush pen do you recommend for beginners?
The Tombow Fudenosuke hands-down. Here’s why it is the number one brush pen I recommend to beginners.
What other brush pens/supplies do you recommend?
You can check out all my favorite brush pens and supplies here. I also just did a full review on the Kuretake Zig Metallic Brush Pens.
What paper should I use?
Using the proper paper keeps your brush tips in great condition so look for ultra smooth paper designed for use with brush pens and markers. My favorites are:
- Rhodia Dot Pad
- Canson Marker Paper
- Copic X-Press It Paper
- Watercolor Paper: Hot Press is smoother than Cold Press so opt for hot press!
- Copy Paper: HP Premium Choice Laserjet Paper
Do I need to have pretty handwriting to be good at Brush Calligraphy and Lettering?
No! Mine is actually pretty awful. Lettering is a form of drawing. So, sure you need some natural drawing talent, but if you have the passion and you’re willing to show up each day and practice, you’ll make a ton of progress.
How should I hold my pen?
You can really hold your pen however it is comfortable for you, but one thing you need to do is hold it at a roughly 45-degree angle, as demonstrated in the video at the top of this post.
I’m having trouble getting my downstrokes thick enough. Any tips?
If you’re holding your pen at the 45-degree angle, then chances are you’re not pushing down hard enough. The pens are made for it, so don’t worry that you’ll break it. For the thin upstrokes, your pen tip should just barely “kiss the paper” and for the downstrokes, push down hard! Do you see how much my tip bends in the pic below?
Any tips for lefties?
I’m a lefty myself so I love seeing other lefties overcome the myth that lefties don’t make good letterers! Check out all my lefty tips here.
My brush pen tips are fraying! What gives?
Frayed tips are usually a result of one of two things (or a combo of both):
- You’re not holding your pen at the 45-degree angle.
- The paper you’re using is too rough for the brush pens soft nibs, so try some of the brush pen friendly paper I recommended earlier in this post!
Where can I find free Brush Calligraphy and Lettering practice sheets?
I offer a TON of them here on my site. Check out the practice sheet archives for all kinds of free practice sheets.
The 30 Days of Drills Workbook
This workbook is perfect for busy beginners who want to learn the art of Brush Calligraphy. Commit to doing just one worksheet every day for 30 days and keep track of your progress with the included checklist!
I keep seeing people doing Brush Calligraphy on the iPad. Can you tell me how that works?
I didn’t like lettering digitally until the iPad Pro + Apple Pencil came out. Check out this post to learn all about doing Brush Calligraphy + Lettering on the iPad Pro.
Did you go to school to learn hand-lettering?
Like most hand lettering artists, I’m largely self-taught. In design school, one of my typography instructors said I really had a knack for choosing and mixing type, and I just fell in love with typography. So I started buying books on hand-lettering and practicing…and practicing a lot. You can find a list of my favorite books here.
If you want to know more about the 5 Ways Design School Changed my Life, you can read all about that here.
What’s the best way to get better at lettering?
Practice makes progress! The more you practice, the better you’ll get.
- Join my 30 Day Art + Lettering Challenges.
- Check out my Hand Lettering 101 Page for tips on shading, blending, adding style and more.
- Grab my comprehensive Lettering Bundle!
I want to learn Brush Calligraphy and Modern Calligraphy (with a Pointed Pen). Which should I learn first?
Modern Calligraphy with a pointed pen didn’t click for me until after I’d mastered Brush Calligraphy, so based on personal experience, I recommend learning Brush Calligraphy first and then moving on to Modern Calligraphy.
Did I miss any of your Brush Calligraphy and Lettering FAQS?
Leave me a question in the comments and I’ll be sure to answer it!
Happy lettering!
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HI Dawn! I am lettering with pens thanks through your course that got me started, and afterwards I have to hassle with scanning or taking a photo, then going into PS or AI to make my files so I can make prints or put them on stuff like mugs and shirts. Will the Ipad pro make it easier to make a file so I can skip scanning and photoshop or Illustrator? Thank you!!
Hi Cheryl! I still like to move to Illustrator to finalize my work (often because I’m creating a Silhouette cut file with the design) but lettering on the iPad still saves me a TON of time! You could create printables right on the iPad and never use anything else as Procreate lets you export your designs as PNGs or JPGs (and even PSDs).
Thank you for your quick answer Dawn! I was on the fence before but now I am all in! I will share when I have something to show 🙂
Hi Dawn! I’m new to lettering, but I’m having fun learning and practicing. One of my main frustrations, however, is that I seem to have shaky hands. It’s really noticeable when doing brush lettering. I know that Practice Makes Progress, but do you have any tips on making my lettering less “wobbly”? Thank you!!
Hi Jamie! I have a post with my tips for improving shaky lines. You can check it out here: http://bydawnnicole.com/2016/10/hand-lettering-4-tips-for-improving-shaky-lines.html. 🙂
Thank you so much for your reply! I’ll definitely try the guard sheet idea…I am a fellow lefty and am also constantly battling smudging 🙂
I don’t know if I should get a pack of Crayola Supertips or the Tombow Fudenosuke forgetting started into calligraphy. I am leftie so I am confused.
Go for the Tombow Fude. The Crayola’s have a flexible tip but it’s not a brush tip. The Crayola’s are harder to work with and the tips break off easily when you apply the downstroke pressure.
what font size did you use in the 30 Days to Better Brush Calligraphy?
I don’t go by font size for worksheets. I write with the intended brush pen the sheets are designed for, measure the overall size, create the lettering guidelines based on that size and then size the fonts/lettering to match the grids.