When you picture yourself as a calligrapher, you think of high-quality paper, premium tools, and exceptional calligraphy skills. The truth is that calligraphy is an art form that has been around for ages and continues to be popular. Modern calligraphy is complex yet enjoyable, making it ideal for creative people who enjoy artistic pursuits.
While this art form has its roots in the East with Chinese calligraphy, it has a massive fan following in the Western world too. The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that craft and fine artists make a median pay of $49,120. These professions include calligraphy, which means you can make good money by embracing it as your career.
Before buying your first set of calligraphy tools and supplies and diving into the world of fonts and letterforms, you must understand that the calligraphy journey doesn’t have shortcuts. It requires a lot of practice and hard work. Deciphering the difficulty of fonts is the first step. Here is a beginner’s guide to help you learn the basic strokes, upstrokes, and downstrokes.
Different Calligraphy Fonts
When you start learning calligraphy lettering, expect to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of fonts. That’s one reason for the journey of an aspiring calligrapher being so challenging. Beginning as Chinese calligraphy, the art form has been evolving for centuries, leading to hundreds of different fonts and letter styles along the way.
From copperplate to serif, sans serif, Gothic, and brush calligraphy, there are different styles for new calligraphers to play with. Even as you adopt different fonts and styles step by step, ancient Chinese calligraphy is the best way to start your journey. It is the best way to gain an in-depth understanding of layouts, spacing, and graphic design as you master the skill.
The Challenges of Calligraphy Fonts
Although most Americans know this art form as Chinese calligraphy, its popularity as a career is increasing in the country. Statistics show that the calligrapher job market in the US is projected to grow by 5.5% in the decade between 2016 and 2026.
According to Creative Market, before beginning with the basic strokes, aspiring professionals must dig deep into the potential challenges of calligraphy lettering, fonts, styles, and spacing.
Here are a few worth considering:
Going Wrong with the Basics
As modern calligraphy gains popularity, finding lettering worksheets for sale is easier than you imagine. You may want to jump right in, even without knowing what the basic strokes are all about. That’s the worst way to start.
The right approach is to try your hand at Chinese calligraphy, no matter how challenging it seems. It helps you master the basic strokes before moving to upstrokes and downstrokes. Experts recommend trying faux calligraphy for an easy start. You can also rely on tutorials and online resources.
Opting for the Wrong Calligraphy Supplies
You may master hand lettering, but the wrong calligraphy supplies can be another blunder. Practicing with cheap supplies may seem like a good idea. However, you must avoid settling for less, and invest in high-quality brush pens, nibs, inks, and papers from the outset.
Remember that calligraphy tools are not created equal, so be careful about the ones you pick. Buy your supplies from reliable sites such as Amazon and choose trusted brands like Tombow.
Worrying About the Range and Complexity
As a beginner, you may feel overwhelmed by the sheer range and complexity of letterforms, fonts, and tools. Using Chinese calligraphy or being left-handed can compound your struggle. But don’t worry because dedication and passion can help you overcome this challenge.
Be realistic because experts have years of practice and tons of practice sheets behind them. Working on your muscle memory can also help.
Overcoming these challenges can help you become a pro calligrapher sooner than later. Everything boils down to awareness, practice, and patience.
FAQs
Let us answer a few frequently asked questions to help you breeze through your calligraphy journey.
Why is calligraphy so hard?
As a skill, calligraphy is not hard to learn, but you may experience challenges in mastering it. You may need years of practice and dedication to get the hang of it.
What is the most difficult calligraphy style?
Most calligraphers consider the cursive style most difficult because it requires a steady hand and good practice of basic strokes, upstrokes, and downstrokes.
Which is the easiest calligraphy font?
The Roundhand font family is relatively easy because it is clear, simple, and beautiful. Its proportions are also forgiving of minor errors.
How many types of calligraphy are there?
Chinese calligraphy is the oldest type of this art form. Western calligraphy is divided into three types: traditional, modern, and faux calligraphy.
Conclusion
Despite being an ancient art form, calligraphy flourishes in the modern world because it replicates grace and beauty. Art lovers are enthusiastic about learning the skill regardless of the challenges and complexities it entails. Knowing these facts about calligraphy can help you master it without stressing too much.
