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Pointed Pen Basics
hey there
If you want to get started with pointed pen calligraphy, you’re in the right place!
I’ll guide you through what beginner-friendly supplies to get, and exactly how to use them to achieve the beautiful hairlines and shaded strokes unique to pointed pen calligraphy.
Supplies you'll need
To get started with pointed pen calligraphy, I recommend these specific supplies that are beginner-friendly (this article explains each item in-depth).
You’ll also need a printer to print guidelines, a small jar to pour bottled ink into, paper towel, and rubbing alcohol / dishwashing liquid / lighter to clean the nib.
01
Pointed Pen Nib
03
Ink
04
Paper
Preparing to Write
Before starting to write, let’s prepare your supplies and learn how to use them correctly.
The most important information you need to know are included below, but I explain more in-depth in this article.
cleaning the nib —
New nibs are coated in some oil to prevent rusting, and this prevents ink from flowing off the nib smoothly (left). After cleaning, ink coats the nib evenly and smoothly (right).
There are a few ways to clean a new nib:
- Wash gently with dish soap;
- Run the nib quickly through a flame; or
- Wipe the nib with rubbing alcohol.
Clean the nib after each writing session too. Remove it from the pen holder to clean it thoroughly, and let it dry completely before storing in a cool and dry place to prevent rusting.
inserting the nib —
Now, you can go ahead and insert the nib into the pen holder.
If using a straight holder, simply insert the nib until it is held firmly in place and doesn’t drop off easily. If using an oblique holder with a flange (which I recommend) insert the nib until its tip is aligned with the centre axis of the pen holder.
holding the pen —
Depending on how you were taught to hold a pen, you may need to adjust it for calligraphy!
I recommend a triangle grip for calligraphy — it offers stability while making it easy to control pressure. Three fingers help to keep the pen holder in place:
- Place your index finger on the top side of the pen holder;
- Position your thumb on the side behind the flange; and
- Your middle finger supports the pen holder from the bottom.
positioning the paper —
When writing, simply make sure that the nib is aligned with the slant line of the guidelines.
It’s easier to move and rotate the paper to fit the nib, instead of moving your hand to fit the paper. Right-handers usually rotate the paper in an anti-clockwise direction, while left-handers usually rotate in a clockwise direction.
Writing Your First Strokes
Now it’s time to start dipping in ink and writing!
When dipping the nib in ink, make sure to cover the vent hole or you’ll run out of ink very quickly.
If you have any problems with the nib catching on paper, ink blobs or inconsistent ink flow when writing, check out this article.
The general rule of thumb in pointed pen calligraphy is hairline upstrokes and shaded downstrokes. This means applying no pressure when writing upstrokes; the pen simply glides along the paper. Apply even pressure when writing downstrokes; this splits the tines of the nib to create a shaded stroke.
Drills exercises —
The finger movement section of my calligraphy drills worksheets will help you practise simple hairline upstrokes and shaded downstrokes, and transitions from one to the other.
Use these exercises to get comfortable with using a pointed pen.
When you feel ready, move on the wrist and arm movement exercises to practise writing bigger strokes smoothly. Read this article to learn the difference between finger, wrist and arm movement.
after learning the basics of pointed pen...
What's next?
Related Resource
free resource —
Calligraphy Drills Worksheets
Simple calligraphy drills and exercises that help you to master pressure and release strokes, and build muscle memory for wrist & arm movement!
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