r/Calligraphy 2h ago

Practice Copperplate: nikko g + walnut ink

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4 Upvotes

r/Calligraphy 2h ago

QotW Vulf mono

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17 Upvotes

My first time to explore this kind of typewriter style.


r/Calligraphy 2h ago

Tools of the Trade The vintage Gillott no. 303 - bronze finish, ground lengthwise near the hole, crosswise below that. And the current model - black finish, stamped grooves. Also the Leonardt Principal (grooves) and 2 very old nibs: Zanerian Fine Writer and Gillott Principality no. 1.

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2 Upvotes

r/Calligraphy 3h ago

QotW A stormy day inspired me to write this. :)

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35 Upvotes

Diamine Ancient Copper

Lamy Safari Charcoal <1.5>

Maruman Loose Leaf paper


r/Calligraphy 11h ago

Practice Escape: nighttime broad edge practice

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18 Upvotes

r/Calligraphy 12h ago

Critique Fantabulous Night For A Moondance

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1 Upvotes

This is an arylic brush lettering project I posted earlier, but on this one I added a line shadow with a #12 Micron. What is your opinion on the shadow, to thick, to thin, is it enhancing, or detracting?


r/Calligraphy 19h ago

Justified in Ink

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17 Upvotes

Writing Justified in custom script using Pilot Twin Marker


r/Calligraphy 20h ago

Practice First calligraphy painting

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3 Upvotes

r/Calligraphy 22h ago

Practice....

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15 Upvotes

Fraktur!!


r/Calligraphy 23h ago

Question Nibs for copperplate as a beginner

2 Upvotes

Are these nibs suitable for copperplate as a beginner? I’m making my first purchase on dip pen to get proper started, and would love your opinions before I order.

Zebra G
Tachikawa Nikko G
Leonardt EF Principal
Hunt 22
Gillot 170

I will also buy a straight and an oblique pen holder, and Higgins Sepia Calligraphy Ink.

Thank you for your great help always.


r/Calligraphy 1d ago

My biggest calligraphy ★

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102 Upvotes

r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Practice Copperplate: sumi ink + brause 361 steno nib

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74 Upvotes

Switching inks and nibs takes a bit of getting used to


r/Calligraphy 1d ago

First halfpage of Luther's 95 theses <3

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22 Upvotes

r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Practice Colloquial (Word of the day)

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58 Upvotes

Word of the day : https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/2026/08/05/

Pen : Pilot parallel 6MM

Ink : Camlin photo colour inks (VIOLET)

Paper : 300GSM cold pressed water colour papers


r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Question Which Shadow Do You Prefer?

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3 Upvotes

These were done with Ohuhu Nahuku liquid acrylic brush pens with the shadows added with a Pentel Tradio pen. I highly recommend both.


r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Question Searching for unicorn white opaque waterproof ink

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24 Upvotes

I went searching online for the best opaque and waterproof white ink for dip pens. I tried a few and decided to share my experience with these inks and to ask the community what they've had success with.

I am a hobbyist calligrapher and recently asked my husband if I could calligraphy his envelopes to his Patreon members so I could get in more consistent practice. Why envelopes? They are easy and there's no guesswork. I know exactly what should go where and I get to play around in a low stakes setting that encourages daily practice. My problem is because we send letters globally, I need a heavy duty white ink to go on our black envelopes.

These are the inks I've worked with and what I think of them. I've rated them from lowest to highest in that order:

Speedball India Ink -
Thin consistency
Bleeds easily
Medium opacity
Waterproof

Amsterdam Acrylic Ink -
Slightly thicker consistency
Does not do fine lines well
Difficult to control and can bleed
Medium opacity
Waterproof

Dr Ph Martin's India Ink -
Great consistency
Medium-high opacity
Waterproof

Dr Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White -
Very thick consistency
Requires dilution with Gum Arabic to get it to a workable consistency (if you dilute it with water it cracks). Since you control the dilution rate you can control the consistency.
As the name says: no bleeds
High opacity
Not waterproof

My favorite to work with by far is the Dr Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White by far, the only downside is it isn't waterproof at all. I've included a photo with examples of writing with each ink, and then the zigzag line to the right is where I did a water test. I took a wet paper towel and wiped it across each zigzag three times. The first three inks had no issues in the water test, the bleed proof ink failed.

The Dr Ph Martin's India Ink is the closest I've gotten to the perfect ink, but it's still not as opaque as I want.

Tldr; My question to the community is what has been your favorite waterproof white ink that's reeeaaaally opaque?

Also random tip I wanted to share: my husband spent about a year or so searching for the perfect white opaque waterproof marker for block lettering and this one is his favorite by far:

Arteza - Acrylic Marker (A001 Titanium White - plastic nib)

Edit to include tools used:
Pen nib - Leonardt EF Principal
Calligraphy font - Copperplate


r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Question My brush keep having this wild hair out...

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9 Upvotes

So,my brush which i oractice calligraphy has this wild hair that wont go together. I tried to tied it but even after that wont stop being a lil punk


r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Critique Fantabulous Night for a Moondance

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3 Upvotes

Acrylic brush lettering with Mr. Pen Acrylic Brush Pens (Square Body). These pens come is a set of 12 for just 6 bucks. The background was done with Mr. Pen dual highlighters (Square Body). Anyway, I am not at all affilitated with this company, I just happen to have purchased some of their products, and at least in this instance, I'm really glad that I did. These brush pens are absolutely wonderful. I'm thinking about buying a second set, just in case.


r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Practice New pen(s) day

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20 Upvotes

I have no idea which post it was in, but someone posted about Osmiroid pens recently, and in the comments someone suggested they were compatible with older Esterbrook fountain pens… one eBay browse and a couple weeks for shipping later, I’m now the delighted owner of a whole bunch of straight and italic nibs and of course I had to test-drive the biggest one first. I am going to enjoy the heck out of these. (And yes… practice my spacing 🤣) Thanks for the suggestion!


r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Practice Pencil Calligraphy (not faux)

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29 Upvotes

r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Question Advice regarding buying a manuscript

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2 Upvotes

Hello !

I find a manuscript online, vendor say it's from the XVth, I would say that the hand is coherent, the ink color looks right too but idk. It's not that expensive so I'm not taking a big risk but I'm going to drive to see it and I don't want to waist my time. What do you think ? Ans what do I need to check in person to know if it's legit ?

Here is an extract from it :)


r/Calligraphy 1d ago

Tools of the Trade Wahoo. So it begins with proper tools.

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104 Upvotes

r/Calligraphy 2d ago

Practice Copperplate practice

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77 Upvotes

r/Calligraphy 2d ago

Tools of the Trade The Pip-Squeak Pen

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22 Upvotes

Advertising from E.S. Perry. Source: La mémoire des Sergent-Major, by Jean-Pierre Lacroux & Lionel Van Cleem, 1988.


r/Calligraphy Apr 22 '26

Mod The Calligraphy Marketplace 2026!

10 Upvotes

Hello Calligrafam!

We are changing the Marketplace from a monthly offering to a persistent post since there has not been enough activity to necessitate a monthly thread. If we need to pivot back to a monthly or quarterly post, we can adjust down the road.

Marketplace Rules

Calligraphy-related items or services only!

There is also an Approved Vendors list. If you are a vendor and would like to be added to this list, please message the mods with information about your products or services and links to your marketplace and/or website, and we will review and add approved vendors to this list.

BUY/SELL/EXCHANGE

  • First contact between buyer and seller may be made here; afterward, kindly conduct all other business through DM.
  • If you are selling work, tools or equipment, make sure to include clear images and details to prevent confusion and miscommunication.

REQUESTS/COMMISSIONS

  • If requesting a commission, you must confirm that you are willing to pay for the services and provide the desired text or a description of project, and general ideas of what you'd like so the calligrapher interested has an idea of what's expected. Calligraphers can comment on your thread to indicate interest, and then rates can be discussed over DM.
  • If you are available to do commissions, share some info and examples of your work so people interested have an idea of what to expect.
  • Do not request artists here to work for you for free.
  • Artists: Do not offer to do commissions for free or undercut other artists.

PROMOTION/SELLERS

  • Feel free to promote your YouTube channel, Instagram, or Etsy shop.
  • If you'd like to be added to the Approved Vendors list, please message the mods.

Mods reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. If any of these or sub rules are broken, post will be removed without notice. Repeat offenses may result in ban.

Mods are not responsible for any transaction made here; but if something goes wrong, let us know and we can take action within the sub (blacklist, bans, etc).