Tag: brush pen
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Basic brush calligraphy strokes: The entrance/exit stroke
Basic strokes are the building blocks of your brush calligraphy foundation. Not flourishes, not design, not even letters. It’s all about the basic strokes. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be devoting one blog post (and video!) for each of the basic strokes you need to master as a brush calligrapher. Let’s start…
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Transitioning from thick to thin strokes
Mastering when and how to transitioning your brush calligraphy stroke from thick to thin can be extremely frustrating. Trust me, I know. I know because I was there just over a year ago. And honestly, I still struggle with this skill even now. But the good news is, you get to hear my best tips I…
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Why you should focus on the direction your brush pen faces
In previous posts, I gave overviews of how to hold the brush pen and the angle at which you should hold it. I explained that the key to writing with the brush pen is to focus on the angle of pen to the page, and that you shouldn’t hold the pen upright. But I didn’t tell you the full story.…
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The reason you should focus on the thin stroke, but not the hairline
Over the past few weeks, you have seen the importance of holding the pen at an angle and practicing how to exert pressure to achieve those thin strokes in brush calligraphy. But you might still struggle with the fact that your thin strokes do not exactly resemble a hairline. In fact, you may be complaining that…
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How to blend with the Tombow blending palette and dual brush pens
Blending colors is so much fun! Blending also allows you to bring more color into your work, and experiment with various color pairings. This is great news especially for someone like me, who often gravitates toward using only one color in an entire piece. I am surprisingly not creative (or brave?) enough to use multiple colors…
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How to apply pressure when creating brush calligraphy
When it comes to brush calligraphy, it’s important to really understand what is meant by “pressure.” Many tutorials and tips (mine included) emphasize the use of varying amounts of pressure, but what exactly is pressure? How do you create it? How do you control it? Can you apply the wrong pressure?
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How to hold your brush pen at an angle
I’ve written about brush calligraphy being defined by its distinct thin and thick strokes. I’ve shared my favorite brush pens and how they work to create brush calligraphy. But some of you are still wondering, how does it really work? What is involved with this process of creating brush calligraphy? How do you get the words from pen to…
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Tips for improving your brush calligraphy: Thin and thick stroke drills
I get it. You see calligraphy everywhere. There are amazing, talented artists and they seem to just write with ease. You wonder how on earth you will get there. Despite any artistic abilities, you must practice in order to improve. And not just any practice. But a deliberate practice. How can you deliberately practice? You can break…
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Beginner supplies for brush calligraphy
The number one question I am asked about brush calligraphy is: What supplies does a beginner need to get started? My answer: All you need to get started with brush calligraph is a brush pen and some paper. Really! That’s it. Yes, you can get more fancy and throw in some other supplies, such as rulers,…
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Make your brush calligraphy strokes thinner
Calligraphy is defined by its distinct thick and thin strokes. It can be a challenge achieving the proper variation in stroke thickness, especially when first learning any form of calligraphy and getting used to the required tools, hand and body positioning, and technique. When first learning brush calligraphy, you want to establish a solid foundation…
Pieces Calligraphy 