If you want to learn modern calligraphy, there are a few things you need to practice with your brush pen. In this video, I show you the seven basic strokes for modern calligraphy. Then, I put the basic strokes together to form letters and a word.
Brush Pen
The first thing you need to remember with your brush pen is the difference between thick and thin strokes.
Commit this to memory:
- Thin on the up
- Thick on the down
- Light pressure on any upstroke
- Heaving pressure on any downstroke.
Thin on the up and thick on the down is the standard for brush calligraphy. Also, one more tip: every 3-4 strokes, turn your brush pen. This will help to preserve the tip of your brush pen so there is even wear on all sides of the pen.
Make Progress in Modern Calligraphy
Here is the progression I suggest for anyone starting out with modern calligraphy. First, learn how to use your brush pen. Yes, you guessed it. That means mastering “thin on the up, thick on the downstrokes.”
Then, learn the basic strokes. You can do this with step 1.
Only then will you be ready to move to letters and words and on to capital letters.
Modern Calligraphy Basic Strokes
In this video, I cover the seven basic strokes:
- Entrance/exit stroke
- Underturn
- Overturn
- Compound curve
- Ascending loop
- Descending loop
- Oval