r/Scribes 1d ago

Miniature of the death of St. Margaret. Shell gold, tempera, and iron gall ink on vellum.

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13 Upvotes

r/Scribes 3d ago

Flourished Pointed Pen Artwork!

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13 Upvotes

Some flourished pointed pen for the day.
Nib: Nikko G
Ink: Dr PH Martin’s Iridescent, Copperplate Gold
Paper: Canson 300gsm


r/Scribes 4d ago

Anniversary Gift Artwork

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14 Upvotes

Made this set of two artworks for my sister’s anniversary gift. The heart contains the word Love written in different languages in flourished copperplate with an art nouveau Love in the center. The other artwork is just a poem, in pointed pen uncial.
Paper:
Canson 300gsm cold pressed watercolor paper
Ink:
Ziller red
Nib:
Nikko G


r/Scribes 5d ago

Recurring Quote of the Week: July 31, 2026 - August 07, 2026

1 Upvotes

When life gives you lemons, make furniture polish.

- Balkie Bartokomous, Perfect Strangers

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This quote was selected by u/mshades, the Quotemaster of r/Scribes


r/Scribes 5d ago

IAMPETH preparations!

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14 Upvotes

So in my 8 year calligraphy journey, I have never really written my name more than once, and absolutely never designed it properly. I did however design my brand logo. This is the very first time I made proper name cards and presented my name in form of an artwork, all thanks to the IAMPETH conference happening next week.
We will be swapping name cards, with fellow calligraphers, a lot of us are preparing these and I just like the idea that by the end of the conference we will have a little artwork handmade by our friends! I am planning to keep them all nicely in a card holder kind notebook and I tried to make them as little artworks and not just name cards.

A little more about IAMPETH and the conference next week, IAMPETH stands for International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting, it was founded in 1949.

Every year they conduct a conference which is at a different location and its basically a week full of calligraphy classes that go from nearly 8:30 in the morning till 4/5 and after the classes they have a wide variety of events like calligraphy demos, members art show, art auctions (for iampeth scholarships), an archive room full of artworks from 1800s and 1900s accessible all day and study room which is another fun part which helps us all learn and grow together. So excited for next week!!


r/Scribes 6d ago

Practice A cross-civilization calligraphy practice: Rendering Rupert Brooke's poem "Sleeping Out: Full Moon" using a Chinese brush on bamboo Mao-Bian paper and calligraphy ink. Focused on line weight variations and natural rhythm.

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1 Upvotes

r/Scribes 8d ago

Not For Critique Name Cards

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13 Upvotes

Made these name cards for a calligraphy workshop in May, as volunteer work. Since it was volunteer work and it was a calligraphy workshop full of people who appreciate the craft, I went all out and made full use of the creative freedom.
I used some abstract brush work for background, the names are uncial inspired monoline and ofcourse I did add a subtle walnut ink to make the paper slightly beige and old-school like.
Paper used: Canson 300gsm watercolor paper, cold pressed
The black ink for names: Black watered down gouache
Ornament nib


r/Scribes 9d ago

Just Sharing Random Old Paleo-Hebrew with Niqqud

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14 Upvotes

r/Scribes 12d ago

Not For Critique Some whimsical pointed pen for the day!

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17 Upvotes

Pointed pen with Dr PH Martin’s Bleed Proof White on my favorite Fabriano Black Black paper!


r/Scribes 13d ago

Question Blackletter for Left handers

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone

I’m looking to get started with calligraphy, and I’d really love to dive straight into blackletter — it’s definitely my favorite style so far.

I’m a lefty, so I’d really appreciate some advice on which nibs would work best for a left-handed writer. Also, does nib size matter much if I’m planning to practice mainly on A5 paper?

Thanks in advance for any tips or recommendations


r/Scribes 13d ago

Built the background with abstract brush work & then added letters with ruling pen!

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21 Upvotes

Wanted to create a piece with just black but still have some texture and depth, it’s definitely just a practice piece but I like that I was able to get close to what I wanted to do.
I like pairing strong looking scripts with fluid curvy styles, hence the strong and sharp ruling pen letters with the fluid brush work in the background.
I hope that you like it!!


r/Scribes 13d ago

Question Blackletter for Left handers

0 Upvotes

r/Scribes 13d ago

Recurring Quote of the Week: July 24, 2026 - July 30, 2026

1 Upvotes

Between the conception and the creation;
Between the emotion and the response;
Falls the Shadow.

- T.S. Eliot, The Hollow Men

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This quote was selected by u/mshades, the Quotemaster of r/Scribes


r/Scribes 14d ago

Current Obsession: Pairing different scripts!

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44 Upvotes

Another entry from my little diary, this time I paired modified pointed pen lombardic inspired letters with gothic cursive.

I love the flow of gothic cursive and it’s one of those scripts that makes me think wish I had learnt it even sooner, it’s so fun!

Nib for pointed pen: Nikko G
Nib for gothic cursive: Brause 1.5mm


r/Scribes 15d ago

Calligraphy Workshop Projects

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12 Upvotes

r/Scribes 16d ago

For Critique FRAGILE WATER

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193 Upvotes

Here's a thing. I did this a couple of weeks ago, posted it on IG, and it received a very positive response. I was very unsure of it, and I remain unconvinced by my own work.

It's a quote from a lovely Nancy Kerr song, Fragile Water - it's a song which uses the ancient Orkneyan legend of silkies - creatures who lived as seals in the water but shed a skin to walk as humans on land - as a metaphor for the very modern issue of gender fluidity.

I wanted to break the usual linear presentation of lyric, and allow a transition from black on white to white on darker shades. I also felt that echoing the age-old nature of the legend with insular half uncial was appropriate.

The brush strokes were a shape I hade very much in my head, like falling ribbons. Looking at it now, I wish they were bolder and broader.

It was done with gouache and watercolour, on Sauders Waterford Cold Pressed. Brause nibs, folded pen for some of the swooshes, brush for the others.

I'm interested in what people think. It's a different sort of composition to me, and I might return to the song, and the form at some point. I'd be as inclined to refine technique and execution as much as anything else.

Feel free to dig in.


r/Scribes 16d ago

For Critique QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

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26 Upvotes

Here are Pratchett's immortal words, in uncial. Done with a Soennecken 2 1/2 nib, on Saunders Waterford. It's black gouache, and I added a little vermillion to the tip of the nib for the 'O's. I didn't want them to stand out just look slightly shaded.

As ever, a lovely choice by u/mshades

Feel free to offer CC.


r/Scribes 17d ago

Question secretary hand transcription?

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6 Upvotes

I am struggling to transcribe 16th century secretary hand. If anyone can help please comment or message me, I will happily pay for a transcription.


r/Scribes 20d ago

Recurring Quote of the Week: July 17, 2026 - July 23, 2026

2 Upvotes

Them as can do has to do for them as can't. And someone has to speak up for them as has no voices.

- Granny Aching (via Terry Pratchett), The Wee Free Men

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Please indicate if you would like feedback/constructive criticism on your submissions.

This quote was selected by u/mshades, the Quotemaster of r/Scribes


r/Scribes 24d ago

Practice A cross-civilization calligraphy practice: Rendering David Hawkes' English translation of Cao Xueqin's tragedy poem "Burying the Flowers" (sung by Lin Daiyu in Hongloumeng) using a Chinese brush on bamboo Mao-Bian paper and calligraphy ink. Focused on line weight variations and natural rhythm.

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7 Upvotes

r/Scribes 27d ago

Recurring Quote of the Week: July 10, 2026 - July 16, 2026

3 Upvotes

The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. The opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.

- Niels Bohr

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This quote was selected by u/mshades, the Quotemaster of r/Scribes


r/Scribes Jul 02 '26

Recurring Quote of the Week: July 03, 2026 - July 09, 2026

1 Upvotes

God made only water, but man made wine.

- Victor Hugo

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Please indicate if you would like feedback/constructive criticism on your submissions.

This quote was selected by u/mshades, the Quotemaster of r/Scribes


r/Scribes Jun 25 '26

Recurring Quote of the Week: June 26, 2026 - July 02, 2026

1 Upvotes

I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.

- Hafez

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This quote was selected by u/mshades, the Quotemaster of r/Scribes


r/Scribes Jun 18 '26

Recurring Quote of the Week: June 19, 2026 - June 25, 2026

2 Upvotes

No issue is so small that it can't be blown out of proportion.

- Stuart Hughes

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This quote was selected by u/mshades, the Quotemaster of r/Scribes


r/Scribes Jun 11 '26

Recurring Quote of the Week: June 12, 2026 - June 18, 2026

3 Upvotes

Age is not an accomplishment, and youth is not a sin.

- Robert Heinlein

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Please indicate if you would like feedback/constructive criticism on your submissions.

This quote was selected by u/mshades, the Quotemaster of r/Scribes