Calligraphy Class Outline

Class 1

  • Intro (teacher and students and intro class)

  • History (St. John's Bible, etc.)

  • Double pencil lines. 30 Degree angle practice

  • Watercolor, Nibs, Holders distributed

  • Pen practice. Squiggles. consistent 30 degree angle. "i"s and "n"s and "p"s one row each on loose leaf.

  • Practice tracing pages. Go over letters with pen.

  • How to rule. (May show Paul Antonio's Intro video.) 5 pen widths up from baseline="x" height. 5 more=ascender height. Halfway between "x" height and ascender height= Capital height. 5 below base line=descender line.

  • Practice I, N, P on ruled lines

    Homework: Pick a letter and fill row with consistent letters. Then first name. Then another row of consistent letters (different letter this time). Then last name.

    Class 2

  • Why hand lettering? Karen's Grandma's recipes -Special. -Cherish. -Imprefections. -Different and original.

  • Hand out thin manuscript nibs

  • Soften watercolor then put small amount of water in jars, just enough to cover nib hole and add softened color to form "ink".

  • Dip to fill manuscript nibs and play.

  • Demo line weight. Thin, thick, thicker. More pressure=thicker

  • Practice row of thin lines. Count how many until dry nib

  • Practice row of thick lines. Count again.

  • Serif font:. Sans serif font:.

  • Practice row of straight letters (Upper case N, E, Z, etc).

  • Practice row of Curved letters (S, C, e, d, etc).

  • Drawing too, try decorations like below:



  • Video: "Copperplate" with Manuscript nib.

  • Thank you cards Light Watercolor wash over and let dry.

  • Create your own font with down strokes. Drag the pen.

  • Darker Watercolor Calligraphy letters over dry card base

    • Homework: Create a word with either nib. Make it Ornate and include Flourishes. Let it dry and erase guide lines. Then wash over some watercolor. Bring it for show and tell next week.

    Class 3

  • Brush Lettering and Calligraphy

  • Kulzer Demonstrates and students Practice straight strokes with brushes.

  • Demo and Practice curve strokes with brushes.

  • Show Video: Hand Lettering Demo

  • Hand out letter stroke guide and Demo "Word" with brushes.

  • Demo adding pen lines to brush strokes- 3-d effect.

  • Video: Sponge/scraper lettering.

  • Evaluation of class.

    • Gerry Kulzer
    gk@kulzerdesign.com