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20+ Best Hand Lettering & Calligraphy Practice Sheets

Jul 7, 2023

By Alanna Flowers

A solid practice routine is essential for any serious artist seeking long-term growth.

Training exercises and drills help to improve your foundational skills in a given area, and mastering those fundamentals will expand your creative capabilities.

That’s especially true for lettering artists and calligraphy, where strokes need to be accurate, precise, and stylistically consistent.

Fortunately, you don’t have to come up with training resources all on your own.

Below, you’ll find a list of free and premium practice sheets to help you learn and master different styles of calligraphy and lettering.

Made by creative professionals, you'll be able to follow these sheets and download them to your iPad or print them to use with traditional materials.

Ready? Let's practice!

The benefits of practice sheets

Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned artist, there will always be room to practice and improve your skills.

While you're browsing through our list, it may be helpful to ask yourself these questions to start:

• What do I want to learn or improve?
• What lettering styles do I enjoy?
• What kind of materials do I have?
• Am I working in a digital or analog format?

If you're a complete beginner, the fundamental calligraphy sheets will be a great place to start. This will make sure you're practicing essential skills that will make creating more advanced lettering and calligraphy techniques easier.

For users with a strong grasp of the basics, practice sheets that focus on achieving specific styles with a certain type of brush or technique are probably the way to go.

Then there's the question of working digitally or analog.

You'll find that most practice sheets are downloadable as digital files, which makes them great for uploading into digital art programs like Procreate . You also usually have the option to print them out and use analog tools to practice if you prefer.

Not sure if digital lettering and calligraphy are for you? Check out our article for a complete guide to find out! 

How to use practice sheets

Most of the time, your practice sheets will be found via online marketplaces like Etsy or through an artist's personal website.

Usually, these practice sheets are available as JPGs or PDFs that can be downloaded to your computer or iPad.

While the directions below can be used as general guidance for when you're ready to download your first practice sheet, pay close attention to the download instructions on each site.

Here are two ways to install practice sheets onto your iPad:

Option 1: Import from the Files App

• Navigate to the Procreate Gallery / Main Page.
• Select Import in the upper right-hand corner.
• Choose your practice sheet.
• Add a new layer by tapping the + icon.

Option 2: Import from the Photos App

• Select Photo in the upper right-hand corner.
• Choose your practice page.

Once you have your practice worksheets loaded into a digital art program like Procreate ( check out our review ), you'll want to think about your brushes. 

For calligraphers and lettering artists, Procreate has a great default selection of brushes in its Calligraphy and Inking categories. These brushes are ideal because they're pressure sensitive, which will provide the stroke variations between thin upstrokes and thick downstrokes that are essential to many styles of calligraphy.

As a bonus, many of the practice sheets on this list come with brush downloads and a calligraphy tutorial. These are great for practicing because you'll be able to get the same specific effect or result in your work as the artist.

If you're choosing to work with traditional materials, you'll also find recommendations for what kinds of brushes each artist suggests you use for their sheet. Whether it's small or large brush pens, you'll be able to see if you have the right materials before you purchase or jump into the download. 

Some practice sheets also typically include ghosted templates of the letters you'll be practicing. This is ideal for tracing over the strokes so that you can follow them more closely.

For more advanced practice, you can try drawing letters on a blank grid while only using the templated letters and words as a reference. This is something you'll work your way up to as you practice and grow. 

Practice sheets

This list of calligraphy and lettering practice worksheets will start you off on the right foot no matter where you are in your creative journey. 

It also includes both free and premium hand lettering practice sheets and calligraphy practice sheets, so you'll find something for every level of investment.

All of these are amazing in their creative value as well as overall guidance for artists.

#caption# The basic strokes of calligraphy are a great place to start practicing as a beginner. (Image: Jillian & Jordan / Loveleigh Loops )

#alt# An image of a calligraphy fundamental strokes practice sheet with a set of brush pens to the right. 

01. Calligraphy Basic Strokes

Price : Free.

Designer : Loveleigh Loops .

Download : Here .

As with learning any skill, a strong foundation is key. This practice sheet is the perfect intro to calligraphy for beginners who are just starting to learn the fundamentals of calligraphy. 

To begin developing your skills, you'll be able to carefully trace over the grayed-out examples of each stroke by following the stroke direction. Use it as a printed sheet with tracing paper and brush pens or on your iPad.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• 10 fundamental strokes of calligraphy.
• How to connect the strokes for lowercase letters.
• Stroke sequences and where to apply pressure.

Twin sisters Jordan & Jillian are the teachers and calligraphers behind Loveleigh Loops . They use their social media platforms to share their love of calligraphy and lettering with others. Known for their analytic style of teaching, they create easy-to-follow resources and courses for both traditional and digital artists that make them accessible for everyone. 

If you want to learn even more from Loveleigh Loops, check out the Loveleigh Loops University .

#caption#A more in-depth approach to creating brush lettering can be found in this brush lettering workbook by Nico Ng. (Image: Nico Ng )

#alt#An image of an alphabet guide for brush lettering surrounded by drawing tools.

02. Brush Lettering Workbook

Price : $12.99.

Designer : Nico Ng .

Have you ever wanted to try brush lettering but weren't sure where to start? This comprehensive 23-page PDF workbook is the perfect guide. In it, you'll find detailed instructions on how to create amazing brush lettering, from how to hold your brush pen to how to add decorative strokes. Then you'll be able to use the two practice pages to sharpen your new skills.

• The basic techniques of brush lettering.
• How to draw uppercase and lowercase letters.
• How to add decorative strokes to your lettering.

Nico Ng is a multidisciplinary designer, educator, and creative entrepreneur based in Manila, Philippines. His work stands out through his compositions, embellishments, and bold styles. His design kits and composition rules deliver a practical approach that can help letterers get a grasp on a variety of different styles, from bevel to tile.

To check out more resources from Nico, visit his online store .

#caption#Feeling bold? You can practice different bold lettering styles and a calligraphy style as well from Threeologie. (Image: Natalie Brown / Threeologie )

#alt#An image of four lettering practice sheets in four different styles.

03. Bold Lettering Workbook

Price : $10.

Designer : Threeologie .

After you gain more experience, it's normal to want to add more styles and variety to your lettering. This workbook will teach you four different bold lettering styles. You'll enjoy fun swashes and curves in these letters that will make any message stand out. Among the styles, you'll notice a Modern Script that's perfect for calligraphers to practice as well. 

• Three bold lettering styles and a calligraphy script.
• The stroke breakdowns for each letter.

Natalie Brown of Threeologie is a hand lettering artist based in California. She uses popular social platforms to share resources with creatives trying to turn their passion into a full-time business. Natalie's fun and bold lettering spans traditional and digital mediums that feature a bright and fun color palette. She's also created a number of online courses, like her best-selling online Lettering and Business course for artists.

To check out more resources from Natalie, visit her online store .

#caption#Uppercase script letters can be fun when you try this style with expressive strokes. (Image: Karin Newport / iPad Lettering )

#alt#An image of an uppercase letters practice sheet on an iPad with an Apple Pencil.

04. Uppercase Letters Sheet

Designer : iPad Lettering .

Want to get focused in your practice? With this sheet, you'll get to learn how to create fun expressive strokes to achieve uppercase script letters. Practicing these will help you style your lettering in a way that gives it more personality. If you ever need extra guidance along the way, you can also watch this video from the iPad Lettering YouTube channel.

• The basic strokes of calligraphy.
• How to draw uppercase script letters.
• How to draw on and follow a grid.

Karin Newport of iPad Lettering is a software developer, lettering artist, and graphic designer who loves to create brush lettering and modern calligraphy. Her bouncy and playful work bursts with so much color and texture you might not realize that it's entirely digital. Not only does she show you how to create the letters, but she also demonstrates how to achieve techniques and effects that will take your work to the next level. 

For more practice sheets from Karin, visit her online store .

#caption#The next step from practicing letters is practicing a whole composition. (Image: Dawn Nicole )

#alt#An image of a piece of lettering that says “Faith over Fear” on an iPad.

05. Faith Over Fear Practice Sheet

Designer : Dawn Nicole .

Practicing letters and strokes is one thing, but creating a complete piece is another. This sheet will take you through the process of recreating the phrase "Faith over Fear" in three different styles. You'll move from a classic script to bouncy modern brush calligraphy and finish with a complete composition. From the examples shown, you'll be able to transform each individual word to create a beautiful lettering piece.

• How to draw in three different script styles.
• How to connect your letters.
• Basic composition for a lettering piece.

Dawn Nicole is a lettering artist and illustrator who creates custom work for clients. She also creates workbooks, brushes, and more for Procreate users who want to hone their skills in lettering and brush calligraphy. Over the years, Dawn has continued to share a number of free calligraphy practice sheets that are perfect for beginners. 

To see more resources from Dawn, visit her website .

#caption#A nice quote is always a great source of inspiration for lettering and calligraphy. (Image: Molly Suber Thorpe )

#alt#An image of a quote written in calligraphy on an iPad.

06. Flourished Calligraphy Quote

Designer : Molly Suber Thorpe .

Who doesn't like a good quote? For this sheet, you'll use a quote from Frederick Douglas to create a flourished calligraphy style on a full page in Procreate. You can find this practice sheet included in the free Lettering Toolkit by Molly Suber Thorpe. The file is layered so that you can practice and see the process for recreating it the way Molly does. She also shares the entire process in this video on her YouTube channel.

• Flourished calligraphy script.
• Creating a full-page calligraphy composition.

Molly Suber Thorpe is a lettering artist and teacher creating custom work for brands and individuals around the globe. For over a decade, she's helped lettering artists sharpen their skills with her workbooks, tutorials, and digital assets. Molly also has a huge collection of over 10 Skillshare classes, where she's a Top Teacher on the platform. 

For more free downloadable resources from Molly, check out her Lettering Toolkit .

#caption#Drills are important for calligraphy because they serve as great warm-ups and can be relaxing as well. (Image: Lindsey Bugsbee / The Postman's Knock )

07. 11 Calming Calligraphy Drills 

Designer : The Postman's Knock .

A key part of practicing is repetition. With this practice sheet, you'll embrace repetition not only as a technique for improving your skills but also as a form of relaxation. As you train your muscles for calligraphy with these 11 calligraphy drills, you'll enter a flow state with each turn, curve, and loop. This is great to use as a warm-up for your calligraphy skills as well. Enjoy your practice with this sheet as a printable or on your iPad.

• 11 relaxing drills for calligraphy.
• How to draw loops and turns.
• How to follow calligraphy angle lines and grids.

Lindsey Bugbee is the artist and calligrapher behind The Postman's Knock. Inspired by her love of snail mail, she created her platform back in 2012 as a way to share her love of art and calligraphy. Over the years, she has become a great resource for other artists who want to develop their skills in calligraphy and watercolor painting. 

For more from Lindsey, visit her website .

#caption#Calligraphy can be done digitally with special calligraphy brushes in Procreate. (Image: Nicole Mauloni / iPad Calligraphy )

#alt#An image of calligraphy practice sheets for Procreate.

08. Copperplate Calligraphy Practice Workbook

Price : $29-33.

Designer : iPad Calligraphy .

Copperplate calligraphy is traditionally done with a pointed pen and ink. With this practice workbook, you can practice Copperplate calligraphy entirely in Procreate. With over 80 pages of practice sheets, you'll get two pressure-sensitive brushes that are perfect for this classic Copperplate style. No nib or calligraphy paper required. Need extra guidance? You'll have access to instructional videos to take you through every step, from how to use the workbook to extra tips and tricks for using Procreate.

• Basic strokes breakdown.
• How to draw uppercase, lowercase, and numerals.
• How to use the Copperplate pressure-sensitive Procreate brush.

Nicole Mauloni is the artist behind iPad Calligraphy. She loves all things digital lettering and calligraphy and uses her website to help other artists discover the art form while using Procreate. Nicole has been creating for the past six years and continues to share her knowledge and resources.

For more practice sheets from Nicole, visit her online store .

#caption#Basic strokes will help you create and connect your letters in calligraphy. (Image: Amy Latta )

#alt#An image of basic strokes of calligraphy.

09. 8 Basic Brushstrokes

Designer : Amy Latta .

You can't realistically create the calligraphy of your dreams without having the basics down. With these brush lettering practice sheets, you'll learn eight foundational strokes of calligraphy in a loose and expressive style. Embrace imperfections and the natural and varied flow of the strokes on this sheet. Use it as a warm-up for the other sheets on this list to get these strokes into your muscle memory.

• 8 basic calligraphy strokes.
• An example sheet of the entire alphabet with numerals.

Amy Latta is an artist, teacher, and author who has been creating lettering since 2016. She's taken her interest in crafts and creativity and created a blog where she can share her experiences, project tutorials, and more. Amy has authored five books on hand lettering and continues to inspire other artists from around the world to grow in their lettering practice. 

For more from Amy, check out her hand lettering tutorials .

#caption#Lowercase letters are great to practice after you've mastered the basic calligraphy strokes. (Image: Karin Newport / iPad Lettering )

#alt#An image of a lowercase letters practice sheet on an iPad with an Apple Pencil.

10. Lowercase Letters Sheet

Once you've got the basic strokes of calligraphy down, a natural progression is to practice lowercase letters. That's because it'll be easier to see how the basic strokes connect to form each letter. These lowercase letters showcase a unique way of styling your lettering to give it personality. This is also a great companion to the uppercase letters sheet. If you ever need extra guidance along the way, you can also watch this video from the iPad Lettering YouTube channel.

• How to draw lowercase script letters.

#caption#A few simple flourishes can take your lettering to the next level. (Image: Jillian & Jordan / Loveleigh Loops )

#alt#An image of the Simple to Spectacular flourish practice sheets.

11. Calligraphy Flourishes Worksheets

Designer : Loveleigh Loops. 

Calligraphy is a beautiful art form that can continue to challenge you as you level up your skills. Learning about flourishes can add a special touch and visual interest to otherwise ordinary letters. Flourishes typically extend off the strokes of your letters to help balance your composition. As a part of their free course Simple to Spectacular , Loveleigh Loops will show you step by step how to add flourishes to your calligraphy. You'll start with the basics of the forms, and then see how to identify the best places for your flourishes.

• Flourish shape drills.
• How to draw flourishes.
• Where to place your flourishes for visual balance.

#caption#Flourished calligraphy is a great formal style to practice. (Image: Lindsey Bugsbee / The Postman's Knock )

#alt#An image of a flourish formal style calligraphy alphabet practice sheet.

12. Printable Calligraphy Exemplar

Feeling fancy? This formal style flourished calligraphy alphabet is for artists looking for their next challenge. With angle lines and space to practice each letter and numeral, you'll be able to follow the examples from the sheet. If you find the blank lines intimidating, try tracing over the strokes to start. These printable worksheets are great for using with dip pens or digitally on the iPad. Once you're done practicing the letters, try creating complete words to continue your practice.

• Formal style calligraphy.
• How to add flourishes to all letters and numerals.

Lindsey Bugbee is the artist and calligrapher behind The Postman's Knock. Inspired by her love of snail mail, she created her platform back in 2012 as a way to share her love of calligraphy. Over the years, she has become a great resource for other artists who want to develop their skills in calligraphy and watercolor painting. 

#caption#Practice is more effective the more consistent you are, which is at the heart of the Word of the Week practice sheets. (Image: Amanda Arneill )

#alt#An image of Word of the Week practice sheets and art supplies.

13. Word of the Week Calligraphy Worksheets

Designer : Amanda Arneill .

Need a reminder to stay consistent with your practice? This unique weekly practice sheet series will help you with just that. Once you sign up for free, you'll be given your worksheet as a download to practice creating the word of the week. You can print them out or use them on your iPad in Procreate. Digital lettering artists will enjoy a special iPad brush that's included with the sheet download. To get started, check out this introduction video from Amanda's YouTube channel.

• How to draw different styles of modern calligraphy. 
• Where to apply pressure in your lettering.

Amanda Arneill is an artist and teacher who has successfully joined her professional background in education with her obsession with lettering. Whether it's through tutorials, free worksheets, or resources in her shop, she is constantly sharing her knowledge with other artists. Amanda also has a variety of courses covering topics like lettering, art, business, and more for artists of all skill levels. 

Want to learn more from her? Check out Amanda's online courses .

#caption#Bounce lettering is the perfect style for artists looking to break the rules to create something unique. (Image: Peggy Dean / The Pigeon Letters )

#alt#An image of bounce lettering practice sheets on an iPad.

14. Bounce Lettering Practice Sheets

Price : $15.20.

Designer : The Pigeon Letters .

Looking for a fun, playful style of lettering to try? The bounce lettering that you'll learn from these sheets gives you two versions of each letter to practice. You'll be able to see how bounce lettering can break the rules of calligraphy in a way that produces whimsical results. Once you get the hang of the strokes by tracing the examples, try out each letter on blank guidelines to make them your own.

• How to draw bounce lettering in two styles.
• How to break the rules of calligraphy.

Peggy Dean of the Pigeon Letters is an internationally published artist, best-selling author, and award-winning educator. Her work features a mix of modern calligraphy and fun, expressive lettering. Peggy's work and platforms are a must-follow for advice and resources that can benefit all artists. 

Want to learn more from Peggy? Check out her online membership group, The Flock .

#caption#Serif lettering can be fun or serious, but it helps to first know the basics. (Image: Ian Barnard )

#alt#An image of serif capital letters in a notebook.

15. Serif Capitals Practice Sheets

Designer : Ian Barnard .

Serif style lettering can be fun to create, but hard to master. If you've had trouble knowing where to place your serifs in the past, this practice sheet can help. It'll guide you through how to create serif capital letters by breaking them down, from creating the skeleton of the letters to adding weight. Available as a printable PDF or as a layered file in Procreate, you'll be creating stylish serifs in no time!

• How to draw serif letters.
• Where to place serifs on uppercase alphabet letters.
• The stroke sequences from skeleton to adding weight.

Ian Barnard is a hand lettering artist and calligrapher with a passion for inspiring and entertaining people who want to improve their lettering skills. On his social media pages, he provides unique insights into how he works both on and off the iPad to create his lettering pieces. Using his own digital lettering brushes, he's made it easier for all digital artists to create dynamic lettering and compositions on the iPad. 

Check out Ian's digital lettering resources in his online shop .

#caption#Digital lettering can be an easy way for you to experiment with different effects in your work. (Image: Karin Newport / iPad Lettering )

#alt#An image of gradient lettering on an iPad.

16. Gradient Practice Sheets

Price : $17.90.

An advantage to creating digitally is all the effects that you can achieve in your work. This practice sheet pack will show you how to create a fun bounce lettering style with expressive strokes. If that wasn't enough fun, it also includes a gradient brush and a color palette for Procreate so you can add a colorful flair to your work. You can check out this video to watch how Karin uses the gradient brush to create this style on her iPad. 

• How to draw bounce lettering.
• How to use a special Procreate brush.

#caption#Take your lettering back to the 70s with a groovy script style. (Image: Liz Kohler Brown )

#alt#An image of a 70s lettering practice sheet open in Procreate on the iPad.

17. 70s Lettering Practice Sheets

Designer : Liz Kohler Brown .

Script lettering gets a blast from the past with this 70s script style. This style of lettering is known for its extreme contrast in weight, making it a difficult style to master. But, that's also part of what makes it so fun to practice. These sheets will break down the forms for each letter, from skeleton to adding weight to the curves. You can practice these free hand, using Liz's examples as a reference, or try tracing them first. You can use this blog post from Liz, too. 

• How to draw 70s-style lettering.
• Lettering for the uppercase and lowercase alphabet.
• Where to place weight along your stroke.

Liz Kohler Brown is an artist and designer who creates work for greeting cards, fabric collections, and more. Her bold work often features a combination of illustrations and lettering with vintage inspiration. As a Top Teacher on Skillshare, she has a library of over 50 classes on lettering and calligraphy in a variety of programs. 

Ready for more resources? Check out Liz's online membership community The Studio .

#caption#The more you practice, the more your inspiration will grow. (Image: Becca Courtice / The Happy Ever Crafter )

#alt#An image of uppercase lettering style practice sheets.

18. Uppercase Letters Worksheets

Designer : The Happy Ever Crafter .

These practice sheets are all about the magic of possibility. 15 style possibilities to be exact. For each uppercase letter, you'll have plenty of inspiration to practice brush lettering. Find a style you've never tried before, and begin tracing it. Having so many styles to choose from can help inspire you to add your own unique take on each letter. You can also use this free printable to practice with small brush pens like the Tombow Fudenosuke or digitally on your iPad. Check out how Becca uses these sheets in her playlist on the Happy Ever Crafter YouTube channel.

• 15 styles of uppercase brush calligraphy.
• Lettering for the uppercase alphabet.
• Brush calligraphy inspiration. 

Becca Courtice is the calligrapher, artist, and teacher behind The Happy Ever Crafter. Her work shows her versatility with traditional materials and how you can use them to create personal and professional calligraphy projects. Lettering artists and calligraphers who are looking for a hobby or creative business advice will love learning from Becca. 

Want to learn even more? Check out Becca's calligraphy workbooks .

#caption#A monoweight script is a fun and approachable style to practice. (Image: Teela Cunningham / Every Tuesday )

#alt#An image of simple script practice sheets.

19. Simple Script Practice Sheets

Designer : Every Tuesday .

The simplest styles can sometimes be the hardest to master. These practice sheets will help you master this simple and friendly monoweight script style. With no contrasting strokes to worry about, you can focus on the stroke sequence, making it approachable for beginners. In this tutorial video , Teela shows you how you can use these practice sheets with tracing paper and fine liner pens as well as digitally on Procreate.

• How to draw monoweight script.
• Lettering for uppercase, lowercase, and numerals.
• How to connect your letters for words.

Teela Cunningham of Every Tuesday is a graphic designer, lettering artist, and illustrator.  Within Teela's work, you'll find a beautiful pairing of florals and script lettering. From her tutorials, you'll be able to see how Teela uses brushes, textures, and more in Procreate to create lettering that's great for a range of skill levels.

If you want more resources, check out and sign-up for Teela's Tuesday Tribe .

#caption#You won't run out of things to practice with the three styles included in this practice sheet pack. (Image: Shelly Kim / Letters by Shells )

#alt#An image of 3 different lettering styles practice sheets.

20. 3 Different Lettering Styles

Price : $15.50.

Designer : Letters by Shells .

You'll get plenty of lettering practice with these sheets that include uppercase and lowercase letters in three different brush lettering styles. Use it as a way to spark inspiration for your lettering and to try something new. With the ghosts of each letter and numeral in a lower opacity, you'll be able to follow each stroke with precision as you practice traditionally or on your iPad. 

• How to draw three lettering styles.
• Lettering for uppercase and lowercase letters.

Shelly Kim is the artist, educator, author, and podcaster behind Letters by Shells. She specializes in creating modern calligraphy and lettering. Shelly started her lettering journey back in 2015, turning her hobby into a full-time career. She teaches a number of workshops virtually and in-person where she shares her unique perspective and style of lettering with other lettering artists. 

If you want more resources and freebies, check out Shelly's full resource list .

#caption#As you practice your lettering, you'll be able to craft beautiful messages in stunning compositions. (Image: Amanda Reid / Amanda Reid Designs )

#alt#An image of four quotes drawn in a modern calligraphy script style.

21. Empowering Affirmations - Modern Calligraphy Practice Worksheets

Price : $14.99

Designer : Amanda Reid Designs.

This 30-page practice sheet workbook will show you how to practice modern calligraphy through quotes. With 24 quotes in total, each is an affirmation designed to make your calligraphy practice a form of self-care.

As you practice the connections between each letter, you'll be training your muscle memory. You'll also have a sheet for writing and practicing your own quotes and affirmations. These can be used on your iPad or printed and traced over with traditional calligraphy pens and paper.

• How to draw modern calligraphy.

Amanda Reid is a modern calligrapher, workshop instructor, and Doctor of Physical Therapy based in Austin, TX. Since 2015 she has been creating and using calligraphy as a form of self-care and expression. Through her business, she provides calligraphy and engraving services for brands and events. Amanda is also the founder of Calligraphers of Color , an inclusive online community that highlights minority-owned calligraphy businesses. 

If you want to see products, resources, and more from Amanda, check out her online shop .

#caption#Creating calligraphy on an angle isn't the way to create. (Image: Sarah Wilde / The Inky Hand )

#alt#An image of a Flamingo style brush lettering practice sheet.

22. Flamingo Style Brush Lettering

Designer : The Inky Hand .

Unlike other hand lettering worksheets we've seen, this Flamingo style of brush lettering features no angled letters. It's not only a fun style but also a different way to approach drawing letters. It features sheets for practicing lowercase letters with the exact stroke breakdowns for you to follow. Once you've mastered each individual letter, you can try the word samples to help you connect your letters in a natural way. 

• How to draw Flamingo style brush lettering.
• Lettering for lowercase letters.

Sarah Wilde is the lettering artist and calligrapher behind The Inky Hand. She is also the creator of The Inky Box , a monthly subscription box for calligraphers and lettering artists. Traditional artists will love fueling their obsession with art supplies with a new box full of practice sheets, cards, and more. 

If you're interested in learning more calligraphy styles from Sarah, check out her practice sheets in her online shop .

#alt#An image of lowercase practice sheets on a desk.

23. Serif Lowercase Practice Sheets

Serif style lettering can be fun to create but hard to master. If you've had trouble knowing where to place your serifs in the past, this practice sheet can help. It'll guide you through how to create serif lowercase letters by breaking them down, from creating the skeleton of the letters to adding weight. Available as a printable PDF or as a layered file in Procreate, this is a great companion to the capital serif lettering sheet.

• Where to place serifs on lowercase alphabet letters.

Can digital art look traditional? 

Yes, and we've seen this with apps like Procreate and Adobe Fresco that are constantly pushing the boundaries between digital and traditional art. Digital painting, illustration, and so much more can be rendered beautifully while only using digital tools.

The live brushes from Adobe Fresco were engineered specifically to look like wet watercolor and oil paint. Powered by Adobe Sensei , you're able to interact with and manipulate digital paint in a way that's impressive to see for artists.

Textured brushes in raster-based art programs are also another way that digital art can look more authentic.

How can I improve my skills as a digital lettering artist or calligrapher? 

Besides using practice sheets, you can try Skillshare classes, workshops, and following artists that you admire on social media.

The amount of time that you can invest into your skills will help you improve. Even if you can only do a few hours a week, you'll see your creativity and style develop no matter what you choose to create.

Is the iPad worth it for digital lettering and calligraphy? 

The iPad is a great investment for digital artists because of its high quality and ease of use. You also won’t need to buy the newest iPad to get the most out of your art programs, especially if you're just starting out.

On top of that, the Apple Pencil is one of the best stylus options on the market, and it’s only available for iPad users.

Most, if not all, digital art apps have support on the iPad because it is among the most popular devices. It’s also the only one compatible with Procreate .

When it comes to creating digital art, the iPad is a versatile tool that acts as a channel for a variety of artistic disciplines. If you're looking for our recommendations for digital artists of all kinds, check out our full guide .

Whether you're into lettering, calligraphy, or both, we hope that this list gives you a great place to start with your practice. Remember, practice makes progress! Perfection is never the goal. 

Continue exploring a variety of styles to learn something new as a beginner, or challenge yourself if you're further along in your journey. And the more you practice, the more inspired you'll be to create. 

And no matter where you go, remember to take Paperlike with you. It makes practicing more comfortable and natural with an added resistance that makes your screen feel like paper. Get yours today , along with our new Folio Case , for the perfect pair!

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Stacy Fisher is an expert on crafting, sewing, and frugal finds, sharing her knowledge of hands-on DIY creations, finding freebies, and budgeting. Stacy was a guest on "The Dr. Oz Show" and featured in Woman's World Magazine. She has nearly two decades of writing and editing experience.

Cavan Images/Getty Images

These free calligraphy practice sheets will teach you the basics of modern calligraphy. There are practice worksheets that teach you brushstrokes, help you relax your breathing, and even teach you a few different styles of the alphabet.

Modern calligraphy, sometimes referred to as faux calligraphy, doesn't require any special tools. All you need is an everyday writing utensil and some paper.

Being able to write using modern calligraphy means that you can write beautiful notes and letters impressing all your friends and family. It's really perfect for someone who is looking to improve their handwriting, whether you want to make it decorative at not. You'll learn some great techniques that you'll be able to use in your everyday handwriting. It's also great for the beginner, who may want to get into traditional calligraphy or brush lettering in the future.

If you find that you enjoy these free calligraphy practice sheets, you may want to consider taking a calligraphy class .

Breathing Drills Traceable Worksheet

Crooked Calligraphy

Breathing in a relaxed manner while you're writing is how you get smooth letters that flow one into another. Breathing this way can be more challenging than you may think. This free calligraphy worksheet will help you regulate your breath while learning some basic calligraphy strokes.

There are more calligraphy freebies here including guideline sheets, envelope addressing templates, and a wide variety of tracing worksheets. You'll get these for free too, when you download the breathing drills worksheet. There are even some seasonal worksheets that will help when you're addressing those Christmas cards and sending your holiday letters.

Breathing Drills Traceable Worksheet from Crooked Calligraphy

Printable Pencil Calligraphy Worksheet

This calligraphy worksheet was made especially for regular pencils. It has practice areas for downstrokes, upstrokes, horizontal strokes, and an uppercase and lowercase alphabet tracing guide.

Before you get started, check out this Beginner's Guide to Pencil Calligraphy so you can be readily prepared for pencil calligraphy. You'll learn all about choosing a pencil, holding the pencil, achieving stroke variation, using a lightbox, and waterproofing your paper to avoid smudges.

Printable Pencil Calligraphy Worksheet from TPK

How to Do Faux Calligraphy Worksheet

The Happy Ever Crafter

Before you download this worksheet, be sure to check out the written and video directions. It will teach you a ton about faux calligraphy.

The free calligraphy worksheet teaches you the basics of downstrokes and then asks you to try out your new skills on a copy of the alphabet.

How to Do Faux Calligraphy Worksheet from The Happy Ever Crafter

Faux Calligraphy Alphabet Worksheet

Scribbling Grace

This Faux Calligraphy 101 worksheet teaches you how to write pretty script letters and then fill in the downstrokes. It will take you through each step and then give you room to practice on your own. There's also a video that goes along with this worksheet if you need some extra help.

Faux Calligraphy Alphabet Worksheet from Scribbling Grace

Calligraphy Practice Sheet

Small Brown Writes

Grab a pencil and a pen, as well as a ruler and an eraser, for this calligraphy practice sheet. You'll be learning how to write the letters and add downstrokes. An emphasis is placed on making letters uniformly slanted.

Calligraphy Practice Sheet from Small Brown Writes

Basic Faux Calligraphy Exemplar

A micron ink pen is recommended for this worksheet but really any writing utensil will do. Using the "Kaitlin" style of calligraphy, you can trace this lowercase alphabet and then fill in your downstrokes.

Basic Faux Calligraphy Exemplar from TPK

Faux Calligraphy Alphabet Worksheets

Smiling Colors

There are two faux calligraphy worksheets here, an uppercase alphabet and a lowercase alphabet. Simply print the worksheets and then use a writing utensil (like a gel pen) to trace the letters and add the downstrokes.

There are lots of other free worksheets here on brush lettering and other writing techniques.

Faux Calligraphy Alphabet Worksheets from Smiling Colors

Faux Calligraphy Practice

Teachers Pay Teachers

This free calligraphy worksheet is great for the beginner who wants to practice the alphabet. It's an uppercase and lowercase alphabet that you can trace and then add downstrokes to. There's also a page of some words that you can practice.

Faux Calligraphy Practice from Teachers Pay Teachers

Free Faux Calligraphy Worksheet

Vial Designs

This set of modern calligraphy worksheets is a great way to wrap up your practice. It has a great overview of downstrokes and then has room to practice the alphabet: first by tracing, and then by writing it yourself. There's a blank page at the end that you can use to practice your new skills.

Free Faux Calligraphy Worksheet from Vial Designs

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What is calligraphy

Unveiling the Art of Beautiful Writing

Calligraphy Practice Exercises: Hone Your Skills

Table of Contents

Calligraphy Practice Exercises: Essential Drills for Improving Your Lettering

Calligraphy is a beautiful art form that requires practice and patience to master. In this section, we will explore various calligraphy practice exercises that can help you improve your pen control, perfect your flourishes, and elevate your overall calligraphy skills. These exercises have been recommended by professional calligraphy artists and have proven to be effective in honing your calligraphy skills.

Key Takeaways:

• Regular practice is essential for improving your calligraphy skills.
• Calligraphy practice sheets and worksheets provide structured exercises for honing your skills.
• Start with basic exercises and gradually progress to more advanced drills to challenge yourself.
• Choose the right practice sheets that suit your needs in terms of size, slant, and paper type.
• Utilize free calligraphy practice sheets and worksheets available online to enhance your skills.

The Importance of Practice in Calligraphy

Practice is essential for improving any skill, and calligraphy is no exception. By regularly practicing calligraphy exercises , such as pen control drills and flourishes, you can develop muscle memory, improve your hand-lettering technique, and enhance your overall calligraphy skills. These practice exercises are designed to help you gain control over your pen strokes, refine your letterforms, and cultivate a unique calligraphy style. Through consistent practice, you can improve your calligraphy skills and create stunning hand-lettered pieces.

When you practice calligraphy, you give yourself the opportunity to experiment with different techniques and styles. It allows you to explore various letterforms, strokes, and flourishes to find what resonates with you. By dedicating time to practice, you can refine your skills and develop your own unique artistic voice.

Remember that calligraphy is a journey, and improvement takes time. Embrace the process and be patient with yourself. Set aside regular practice sessions, even if it’s just a few minutes each day. Consistency is key in building muscle memory and improving your pen control.

“The expert in anything was once a beginner.” – Helen Hayes

The Benefits of Regular Calligraphy Practice

Regular calligraphy practice offers several benefits that contribute to the improvement of your skills. Firstly, it helps to develop muscle memory, allowing your hand to move fluidly and effortlessly as you create strokes and letterforms. With practice, your hand becomes more familiar with the movements required for calligraphy, resulting in smoother and more consistent penmanship.

Secondly, regular practice allows you to experiment and explore your creativity. As you try new techniques and styles, you expand your repertoire and develop your own unique calligraphy style. Practice sessions provide an opportunity for self-expression and growth as an artist.

Lastly, practice helps to build confidence. The more you practice, the more comfortable you become with the tools and techniques of calligraphy. This confidence shines through in your work, allowing you to create beautiful and impactful pieces.

How to Incorporate Practice into Your Routine

To make the most of your calligraphy practice, it’s important to establish a routine that works for you. Consider setting aside dedicated time each day or week for practice. Treat it as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself, just like any other commitment.

Create a comfortable and inspiring workspace where you can fully immerse yourself in your practice. Surround yourself with tools, materials, and inspiration that motivate and excite you. Whether it’s a designated corner of your home or a portable practice kit, make sure it’s a space that sparks your creativity.

Additionally, consider joining a calligraphy community or finding a practice partner. Connecting with others who share your passion for calligraphy can provide valuable feedback, inspiration, and accountability. Whether online or in-person, these communities offer a supportive environment for growth and learning.

Calligraphy Practice Sheets and Worksheets

Calligraphy practice sheets and worksheets are valuable resources for honing your calligraphy skills. These structured exercises provide guided lines, stroke sequences, and lettering drills that allow you to practice specific techniques and styles. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced calligrapher, using calligraphy practice sheets can help you refine your strokes, improve your letterforms, and enhance your overall calligraphy skills.

There are various types of calligraphy practice sheets available to suit different preferences and areas of focus. Traditional calligraphy practice sheets are designed to help you master classic scripts like Copperplate or Spencerian. Modern calligraphy practice sheets cater to those interested in contemporary lettering styles. Brush lettering practice sheets focus on developing skills specific to using brush pens , while digital calligraphy practice sheets offer exercises for creating calligraphy on digital platforms like the Procreate App.

By incorporating calligraphy practice sheets into your routine, you can establish a structured approach to learning and refining your calligraphy technique. These sheets provide a solid foundation for building muscle memory, improving pen control, and exploring various lettering styles. With consistent practice using these resources, you’ll be on your way to creating beautiful, professional-quality calligraphy in no time.

Basic Calligraphy Exercises for Beginners

If you’re new to calligraphy, starting with basic calligraphy exercises is a great way to build a strong foundation. These exercises focus on fundamental strokes, such as upstrokes and downstrokes, transitioning between thick and thin strokes, and creating oval shapes. By practicing these drills, you can improve your pen control, learn proper letter formation, and develop a consistent writing style. These exercises are designed to help beginners develop the necessary skills and techniques for creating beautiful calligraphy.

One of the key calligraphy drills for beginners is practicing upstrokes and downstrokes. This exercise involves applying pressure to create thick downstrokes and releasing pressure for thin upstrokes. By mastering this technique, you can achieve the desired contrast in your letterforms.

Another important drill for beginners is transitioning between thick and thin strokes. This exercise helps you understand how to vary the pressure on your writing instrument to create different line weights. It’s essential for creating elegant and dynamic letterforms in calligraphy.

In addition to these drills, beginners can also practice creating oval shapes. This exercise involves smoothly transitioning from thin to thick strokes to form perfectly rounded shapes. Mastering this technique will help you create beautiful flourishes and decorative elements in your calligraphy.

Remember, practice is essential for improving your calligraphy skills. By dedicating regular time to these basic calligraphy exercises , you can develop the necessary foundation to progress to more advanced techniques and styles. So grab your pen, find some practice sheets, and start honing your calligraphy skills today!

• Calligraphy for a Latté: Basic Calligraphy Drills
• Cursive Calligraphy for Beginners: An Easy Way to Start

Advanced Calligraphy Exercises for Skill Development

If you’re looking to take your calligraphy skills to the next level, it’s time to challenge yourself with advanced calligraphy exercises. These exercises are designed to push your skills beyond the basics and allow you to explore more complex techniques and styles. By regularly practicing these advanced exercises, you can further develop your own unique lettering and refine your overall calligraphy technique.

One of the key areas to focus on in advanced calligraphy is brush lettering. Brush lettering involves using a brush pen or a paintbrush to create thick and thin strokes, adding depth and dimension to your letterforms. By practicing brush lettering drills, you can improve your control over the brush, experiment with different pressure variations, and create beautiful calligraphic compositions.

Another important aspect of advanced calligraphy is mastering various calligraphy drills . These drills focus on specific aspects of calligraphy, such as achieving consistent spacing between letters, creating intricate flourishes, and perfecting complex stroke combinations. By dedicating time to practicing these drills, you can enhance your overall technique, develop your muscle memory, and expand your repertoire of lettering styles.

Finally, using practice sheets specifically designed for advanced calligraphy can be immensely helpful. These practice sheets provide guided lines and exercises that challenge you to experiment with different shapes, angles, and lettering styles. They can also serve as a valuable reference as you work on perfecting your technique and developing your own unique calligraphy style.

“Advanced calligraphy exercises allow you to push the boundaries of your skills and explore new possibilities in lettering. By challenging yourself with more complex techniques and drills, you can greatly enhance your calligraphy skills and create stunning hand-lettered pieces.” – Professional Calligraphy Artist

Take Your Calligraphy Skills to New Heights

If you’re ready to take your calligraphy skills to new heights, start incorporating advanced calligraphy exercises into your practice routine. Dedicate regular time to brush lettering, explore different calligraphy drills, and utilize practice sheets specifically designed for advanced techniques. Through consistent practice and experimentation, you can continue to grow and improve as a calligrapher, developing your own unique style and creating breathtaking hand-lettered artworks .

Choosing the Right Calligraphy Practice Sheets

When it comes to improving your calligraphy skills, choosing the right calligraphy practice sheets is crucial. These sheets provide structured exercises that allow you to practice specific techniques and styles, helping you refine your strokes, improve your letterforms, and elevate your overall calligraphy skills. Here are a few factors to consider when selecting the perfect practice sheets:

• Size: The size of the practice sheets should be compatible with your writing utensil, whether it’s a brush pen, dip pen, or a regular pen. Opt for sheets that offer enough space for you to comfortably practice your strokes and letterforms.
• Slant: Consider the calligraphy script you are practicing, such as Copperplate or Spencerian, and choose practice sheets with the appropriate slant. This will help you maintain consistency and accuracy in your letterforms.
• Paper Type: Different writing utensils require different types of paper. For brush pens, marker paper is recommended to prevent ink bleeding. On the other hand, dip pens work best with premium 32lb paper, which can handle the ink flow without feathering or smudging.

By selecting practice sheets that suit your specific needs, you can ensure a more effective and enjoyable calligraphy practice experience.

Sample Calligraphy Practice Sheets

Here is a sample of calligraphy practice sheets that you can use to enhance your skills:

These practice sheets are just a starting point, and there are countless resources available online that offer a wide range of practice materials. Explore different styles, techniques, and scripts to continuously challenge yourself and improve your calligraphy skills.

Free Calligraphy Practice Sheets and Worksheets

Enhance your calligraphy skills with a wide range of free calligraphy practice sheets and worksheets available online. These resources provide valuable practice materials for both beginners and experienced calligraphers, allowing you to improve your hand lettering and lettering techniques.

Whether you’re interested in traditional calligraphy or modern calligraphy, you can find a variety of free practice sheets that suit your needs and skill level. These practice sheets cover everything from basic strokes and alphabet lettering to more advanced techniques and styles. By regularly using these practice sheets, you can refine your calligraphy strokes, perfect your letterforms, and develop your own unique calligraphy style.

Many professional calligraphers and calligraphy enthusiasts generously share their worksheets for free, making it easier for aspiring artists to access high-quality practice materials. So, take advantage of these free resources and start practicing your calligraphy skills today. With consistent practice and dedication, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can improve and create stunning hand-lettered pieces.

“Practice makes perfect. Take advantage of the free calligraphy practice sheets and worksheets available online to sharpen your calligraphy skills. These resources provide structured exercises that target specific techniques and styles, allowing you to refine your strokes, improve your letterforms, and enhance your overall calligraphy skills.” – Calligraphy Master

Benefits of Using Free Calligraphy Practice Sheets

Using free calligraphy practice sheets offers several benefits for calligraphy enthusiasts:

• Structured Exercises: Practice sheets provide guided lines, stroke sequences, and lettering drills that help you practice specific techniques and styles in a structured manner.
• Progress Tracking: By using practice sheets regularly, you can track your progress and see how your skills improve over time.
• Diverse Styles: Free practice sheets cover various calligraphy styles, giving you the opportunity to explore different lettering techniques and find your own unique style.
• Accessible Resources: With numerous calligraphy practice sheets available online for free, you can easily find and download practice materials that suit your preferences and skill level.

Practicing Calligraphy for Improvement

Consistency is key when it comes to improving your calligraphy skills. By dedicating regular time to practice and focusing on targeted exercises, you can enhance your technique and achieve the desired results. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your calligraphy practice:

• Start with basic calligraphy drills: Begin your practice sessions with exercises that focus on fundamental strokes and letterforms. This will help build a strong foundation and improve your pen control.
• Gradually progress to more advanced drills: Once you feel comfortable with the basics, challenge yourself with more complex exercises. This could include practicing intricate flourishes, experimenting with different line thicknesses, or working on control with different shapes and angles.
• Set specific goals for each practice session: It’s important to have a clear objective in mind when practicing. Whether it’s mastering a specific letterform or improving your spacing, setting goals will help you stay focused and measure your progress.
• Record and compare your progress: Keep a record of your work and regularly compare it to older pieces. This will allow you to see how far you’ve come and identify areas where you can continue to improve.
• Learn from mistakes: Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Embrace them as opportunities for growth and use them to refine your technique.

Remember, practice is the key to improving your calligraphy skills. Stay dedicated, be patient with yourself, and enjoy the journey of honing your craft.

Table: Common Calligraphy Drills

Regularly incorporating these drills into your practice routine will help you develop muscle memory, improve your technique, and elevate your overall calligraphy skills.

Calligraphy is a beautiful and expressive art form that requires practice and dedication to master. By incorporating calligraphy practice exercises into your routine, using practice sheets and worksheets, and staying consistent with your practice, you can greatly improve your calligraphy skills. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced calligrapher, there are always new techniques and styles to explore and refine.

With time and patience, you can develop your own unique calligraphy style and create stunning hand-lettered pieces. So pick up your pen, grab some paper, and start honing your calligraphy skills today!

Embrace continuous improvement

Remember, learning calligraphy is a journey, and each practice session brings you closer to your goals. Set specific objectives for your practice sessions, whether it’s perfecting a certain letterform or refining your flourishes. Regularly compare your earlier works to track your progress over time. Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and keep pushing yourself to grow. With dedication and a growth mindset, your calligraphy skills will continue to improve.

Express yourself through calligraphy

Calligraphy allows you to express your creativity and unique style. As you practice and refine your skills, you’ll develop your own signature lettering and flourishes. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques and styles. Explore traditional calligraphy, modern calligraphy, brush lettering, or even digital calligraphy. The possibilities are endless, and the more you practice, the more your calligraphy will become a reflection of your artistic voice.

What are calligraphy practice exercises?

Calligraphy practice exercises are structured activities and drills designed to improve your pen control, flourishes, and overall calligraphy skills.

Why is practice important in calligraphy?

Regular practice in calligraphy helps develop muscle memory, improves hand-lettering technique, and enhances overall calligraphy skills.

What are calligraphy practice sheets and worksheets?

Calligraphy practice sheets and worksheets provide guided lines, stroke sequences, and lettering drills to help you practice and improve specific calligraphy techniques and styles.

What are basic calligraphy exercises for beginners?

Basic calligraphy exercises focus on fundamental strokes, transitioning between thick and thin strokes, and creating basic shapes to develop pen control and proper letter formation.

What are advanced calligraphy exercises for skill development?

Advanced calligraphy exercises focus on intricate flourishes, varying line thickness, and practicing control with different shapes and angles to push your skills to the next level and refine your technique.

How do I choose the right calligraphy practice sheets?

Consider the size, slant, and paper type that align with your writing utensil, calligraphy script, and prevent ink bleeding or damage to your writing utensils.

Are there free calligraphy practice sheets available?

Yes, there are numerous free calligraphy practice sheets and worksheets available online that cover a range of techniques and styles, shared by professional calligraphers and enthusiasts.

How can I practice calligraphy for improvement?

Dedicate regular time for calligraphy practice, set specific goals for each session, track your progress, embrace mistakes, and focus on targeted exercises to enhance your skills and achieve desired results.

Source Links

• https://www.loveleighloops.com/blog/free-calligraphy-practice-sheets
• https://thepostmansknock.com/all-of-tpks-free-calligraphy-worksheets-a-master-list/
• https://www.domestika.org/en/blog/10179-5-fun-calligraphy-exercises-to-master-a-nib

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• Calligraphy Practice Routines: Hone Your Skills Daily
• Daily Calligraphy Exercises: Boost Your Skills
• Pointed Pen Techniques: Hone Your Craft

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Hi, I'm Jay, the author behind What is Calligraphy. As an avid calligraphy enthusiast, I've dedicated this website to share my passion and knowledge with all things calligraphy. With a deep love for the art form, I aim to provide a comprehensive platform where beginners and experienced calligraphers can explore and learn. Through informative articles, step-by-step tutorials, and helpful resources, I'm here to help you embark on your calligraphy journey. Whether you're curious to know the history, different styles, or the tools needed, this site has got you covered. Join me as we dive into the enchanting world of calligraphy and unlock your own creative potential.

How To Practice Calligraphy Effectively

This post and the photos within it may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a commission at no extra charge to you.

In this article, I will show you how to practice calligraphy effectively. 

If you’re struggling to see improvements in your calligraphy, chances are that your practice routine is slowing your progress. 

By implementing these practice tips, you can create a routine that will allow you to make more progress in less time. 

These are tips that I’ve gathered over the years of practicing calligraphy and that have helped me improve my skills. 

By this point, you’ve already –

• Picked the calligraphy style you want to practice,
• Choose the proper calligraphy pen for that style, 
• Got the basic calligraphy tools. 

If you haven’t, check those articles and return to this one. 

Let’s get started. 

1. Deliberate practice

Like any other skill, consistent practice is important, but how you practice makes all the difference. 

I’ve seen people over the years making more progress in six months than others did in five years. 

Deliberate practice is the key. 

Think of professional athletes; let’s take basketball players, for example. 

They dont just come to the court and run around randomly shooting the ball and hoping to win. 

They have a whole team of specialists dedicated to analyzing and improving specific areas of their practice routine. 

Why not take a page from that book and apply it to calligraphy?

If you’re just aimlessly copying calligraphy artwork you find online, making progress will be slow and difficult. 

So if you’re regularly practicing but do not see any progress, keep reading and implement these tips.

2. Consistent over intensive practice

It’s better to practice every day, even in small increments, than batch your practice twice weekly. 

In other words, it’s better to practice, even if it’s just 15-20 minutes daily than do two hours during the weekend. 

Calligraphy is a motor skill that requires consistent practice to build muscle memory.

The more you do it, the better you become at it. 

It’s that simple. 

A great tip to remain consistent with your daily practice is to schedule it into your daily plan literally. 

You can do that on paper, google calendar, or whatever other method for planning your day you prefer. 

By scheduling these practice sessions, you are creating a commitment that will make it much easier for you to show up every single day. 

3. Moving gradually from easy to difficult

One of the most common mistakes I see beginners make is not moving gradually from easy to more challenging elements. 

Beginners often skip learning the fundamentals and immediately try to create complex layouts, compositions, flourishes, etc. 

You simply won’t be able to do those things if you don’t build a strong foundation with the basics first. 

You can only do a guitar solo when knowing how to play the basics first. 

Learning the basics and doing drills may seem boring, but it’s the exact thing that will lay down the foundation for you to create stunning calligraphy artwork. 

4. Use calligraphy guidelines

I cannot stress enough how essential calligraphy guidelines are. 

They are an absolutely essential element for calligraphy; with them, you will be able to practice effectively. 

Calligraphy guidelines help you keep your letters in the correct proportions and improve the consistency of your letterforms. 

Some calligraphy styles can be looser and require fewer or no guidelines, but if you’re just getting started, get that ruler out and draw those lines out. 

I wrote a whole in-depth article + a YouTube video where I explain what calligraphy guidelines are and how to use them.

5. Posture, placement, and position

This is a crucial tip that is often overlooked. 

Yes, how you sit, hold your pen, and position the paper on the table plays a significant role in how you practice calligraphy. 

You can’t practice calligraphy effectively if you’re sitting on the couch or slouching on the table. 

You can only execute smooth, flowing lines if you hold the pen correctly. 

Lucky for you, my friend Paul Antonio who is an absolute calligraphy master, created three separate videos that cover this exact topic. 

Here is the first video about posture – 

Here you can watch the video about placement and the one about the position . 

6. Find a proper resource for the calligraphy style you want to practice. 

Once you’ve picked out the calligraphy style you want to practice, finding a good resource for you to study from is crucial. 

The worst thing you can do is find a random alphabet from Google or Pinterest and copy the letters. 

If you can’t attend a workshop hosted by a professional calligrapher, a great alternative is a good calligraphy book. 

I’ve shared my top 10 calligraphy books for beginners, and in them, you’ll find all the needed information to get you started. 

On the Lettering Daily website, you’ll also find tutorials for various calligraphy styles.  

Finding a good study resource will help you learn the script correctly, allowing you to progress faster. 

7. Begin with the basic strokes.

Now that you have your tools and study resources, you can finally begin your practice. 

Before writing letters and words, it’s best to begin with the basic calligraphy strokes.  

Remember what I said about moving gradually from easier to more complex elements? 

The basic strokes can vary depending on the calligraphy style you’ve chosen to practice. 

These basic strokes are usually the building blocks of letters, and it’s a great starting point if you have yet to gain experience. 

It will also help you better understand how to operate the tool since you’re using different movements than you would for your regular handwriting. 

How do you know when to move from the basic strokes to actual letters?

This is a great question. 

If you can execute the same basic stroke three to five times in a row in the same way. 

This indicates that you’ve built the needed muscle memory to move on to the next step. 

8. Practice letters in groups

Now that you’ve got some practice with the basic strokes, we can proceed to writing letters. 

Depending on the calligraphy style you’ve chosen to practice, you will notice that some letters share similarities. 

This allows us to divide the letters of the alphabet into various groups based on these similarities. 

Rather than practicing the alphabet in order, we practice it in groups based on similarities. 

By practicing the alphabet in letter groups, you will better understand the relationship between the basic strokes and each letter. 

A great example is Sheila Waters’s book Foundations of Calligraphy , particularly where she talks about the Foundational hand (btw. Great book, highly recommend it). 

In this book section, she presents the whole Foundational Hand divided into four main letter groups. 

She also talks about the parent letters o and n and how their shapes repeatedly appear in one way or the other across the entire alphabet. 

A great quote from her book is – “ A coherent alphabet style must have unity of its parts.” 

As you write out the letters, keep a close eye on your exemplar and ensure your letters are as proportional and consistent as possible. 

Pay close attention to the spacing and the positive and negative spacing. 

Not just between words but also between each letter pair. 

Obviously, as you’re just getting started, it will be difficult, but follow the process and keep showing up daily, and you will see progress. 

Note  –  In calligraphy, an exemplar is an example alphabet used for learning a specific script. Usually, exemplars also need a ductus. The ductus is the name of the little arrows that indicate the sequence and direction of each stroke needed to form a specific letter. 

9. Write and analyze your calligraphy. 

This is also an excellent practice tip from Sheila’s book. 

She calls it rhythmic and analytical practice. 

As soon as you feel confident enough with single letters, move on to writing words and even shorter sentences. 

An excellent exercise I learned from attending a blackletter calligraphy workshop by Luca Barcellona was to write out big blocks of text. 

These could be individual words or even sentences. 

The idea is to keep the block of text simple and focus on executing the letterforms properly and maintaining rhythm and spacing. 

The additional idea is to write out pangrams. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, pangrams are sentences containing all of the alphabet’s letters. 

The most popular pangram is – The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. 

Here you can find a list of 20+ pangrams for your practice.  

So take out your ruler and pencil, draw some guidelines, and start practicing. 

If you make a mistake or miss a letter, let it be for now. 

Focus on maintaining a rhythm of writing and finish the page. 

Once you’re done with your rhythmic practice, it’s time to analyze your work.

This can be done during the same practice session or even the next day. 

It’s essential to keep the style (script) exemplar next to you so you have a reference and can objectively criticize your work. 

This is a tremendously helpful strategy since you’re going deep into the details and issues you currently face. 

This method will allow you to find your weak spots and improve them. 

You might have issues with the letterforms, pen angles, proportions, consistency, interlinear spacing, etc. 

I also recommend writing down your weak spots in a diary or separate piece of paper so you can use them for your next rhythmic practice session. 

Doing this will make you much more conscious about where to pay more attention. 

Make sure to date your sessions so you can follow your progress over time. 

Quick note  – make sure to do at least 5 minutes of warm-up drills before you begin writing. It takes a bit of time to warm up and adjust the fine motoric movements in your arm. 

10. Work on final pieces

When I say final pieces, I mean creating artwork ready to be shared online or hung as a decorative piece on the wall.

A piece of work that requires you to invest time and effort to create it.

By doing these sorts of projects, you push yourself to create the best artworks that reflect your current skill level. 

These could be single letters, single words, or even multiple words, quotes, etc. 

Feel free to take more time to work on these projects. If you need a few days to complete such a project, that’s totally fine.

Rushing to create something just to share it online makes no sense. 

After all, the goal here is pushing your limits and improving your skills. 

Not chasing empty praise or vanity metrics such as likes and followers online. 

How often should you create these finished pieces?

If you find the time to do one finished piece per week, or at least 2-3 each month, that’s a good start. 

The rest of the time, I would focus on practicing both the hand and the eye by doing the drills mentioned above. Particularly the rhythmic and analytical practice along with the blocks of text. 

Bonus tip – Train your calligraphic eye.

This tip is different but, in a way, one of the most important on the whole list. 

It has had a massive impact on the way I create my artwork. 

This tip was inspired by concepts already talked about by hand lettering artists Martina Flor and Ken Barber . 

Both are outstanding and experienced professionals. 

Martina calls it training your typographic eye, while Ken refers to it as the power of observation. 

The idea is that the real skill lies in noticing what works and what doesn’t. 

Training your arm and building the muscle memory required to produce a straight line isn’t the biggest challenge. 

It’s also not about being able to create the perfect single letter. Rather making a whole piece work as a unity.

Learning how to observe and analyze a piece and determine what is good or bad about it is a fundamental skill that takes years to develop. 

Creating artwork with proper understanding and confidence is something im aspiring to do more than anything else. 

Next time you see an artwork you like, ask yourself what makes this piece good. 

Is it the composition, the rhythm, the well-balanced counters, the consistency of the letterforms, etc?

You can do the same thing with artwork that you don’t like. 

Why not? What makes it so wrong? Are you able to answer with some concrete understanding?

Try to pay attention to the little details and nuances. The more you do it, the better you become at it. 

And before you know it, you’ll start using the same approach to your work, which will inevitably improve it. 

Try to be aware of this thing next time you create or look at a calligraphy piece. 

Bonus tip 2 – Seek feedback from more experienced calligraphers

This tip could also have a massive impact on your progress. 

I understand that some might feel uncomfortable sharing their work and having someone more experienced take it apart. 

However, if done correctly, you could learn a lot.

I always welcome feedback as long as it’s constructive, and you should embrace the same approach. 

I highly recommend contacting more experienced calligraphers and asking for feedback on your work. 

You will be surprised to see how many are willing and happy to help people interested in learning and improving. 

Im one of those people, so if you would like me to give you some constructive feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out 🙂

I’ve done this multiple times with various people via Instagram, email, etc. And almost every single time I received great feedback that has helped me tremendously with my calligraphy practice.

Suggested practice timeline for calligraphy beginners

As I mentioned in tip number three, you should move gradually from easier to more complex elements in your practice.

So to recap all of these tips, here is how I envision the timeline for those just getting started –

• Pick a calligraphy style (script) you want to learn and practice.
• Buy the correct calligraphy pen as well as the essential supplies needed.
• Find a good study resource that includes the correct proportions and sizing, exemplar with a ductus, basic strokes, letter group division, etc. This could be a workshop, instructional book, online course, etc.
• Begin by studying the exemplar and by practicing the basic calligraphy strokes.
• Once you get comfortable with that, practice blocks of text and divide your practice into rhythmic and analytical sessions, shorter (consistent) daily sessions will yield better results than practicing twice a week.
• Parallel with that practice, challenge yourself to work on the final pieces to the best of your ability.
• As the weeks pass, keep practicing your foundations and train your “calligraphic eye.” Pay attention to rhythm, (negative) spacing, correct proportions (referring to your study resource), etc.
• Begin playing with more complex layouts and compositions. Learn the fundamentals of calligraphy flourishing and incorporate them into your practice.
• You can start noticing that personal style is taking form at this point. The more you practice, the more confident you become to evolve and experiment with your calligraphy art.

What you should avoid doing

If you’re doing even one of the following things from this list, I advise you to re-think the way you practice.

• Buying a bunch of random calligraphy pens and tools without understanding what they are used for.
• Finding random “calligraphy” alphabets from Google images and aimlessly copying them without understanding the basics.
• Writing out letters and words without using guidelines.
• Slouching at the table, or even better, sitting on the couch while holding a notebook in your lap. Use the absolute same hold and movements as for your regular handwriting.
• Immediately attempt to create calligraphy layouts, compositions, and flourishing.
• Practice several different calligraphy styles all at the same time.
• The only thing that matters is creating artwork for Instagram and seeking validation through empty metrics such as likes and followers.
• Every time you get constructive feedback from more experienced calligraphers, label them as haters and disregard what they say. It’s art, so you can do whatever you want with it.

Final words 

There you have it, folks. 

These are some of the tips I gathered over the years, and I’m confident they will help you improve your calligraphy skills.

Obviously, you don’t have to do any of these things. If you enjoy just scribbling calligraphy into your notebook because it relaxes you and makes you happy, by all means, keep doing that.

At the end of the day, what matters the most is that you’re enjoying the process and that you have fun with it. I just think it’s more fun when you understand at least to some degree what you’re doing rather than just shooting in the dark and hoping for the best.

Now I would like to hear from you. 

Which of these tips helped you improve your calligraphy? Should I have included some other suggestions as well?

Let me know by dropping a comment below. 

I’ll see you in the next one. 

Stay updated with my tutorials and get instant access to the Lettering Crate –

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About the author

Hey, I’m Max Juric, and I’m deeply passionate about calligraphy and hand lettering.

I’ve spent years honing my skills in the art of lettering, working with hundreds of clients from all over the world on design projects such as logotypes, branding, custom lettering, murals, and more.

But my journey doesn’t end there. I’ve also dedicated myself to sharing my knowledge and expertise with others, creating a wealth of resources including tutorials, articles, and podcasts.

It’s been incredibly rewarding to see thousands of people engaging with my content each month. Knowing that I’m helping fellow enthusiasts grow and develop their skills makes me really happy.

Welcome to Lettering Daily, your hub for all things lettering and calligraphy. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, I’m here to inspire and guide you on your lettering journey. Stick around, and let’s explore the world of letters together!

18 thoughts on “How To Practice Calligraphy Effectively”

So useful! Thank you, Max!

Thank you, Angela! 🙂 Glad to hear that.

Thank you for really helpful article.I also want to know that how to know that what script to choose? There are so many of them it is really confusing.I hope you will help me with that. And also want to know where these scripts are being used for what handwritten scripts are for please help me with this. Thank you

Thank you 🙂 Check out this article – https://www.lettering-daily.com/calligraphy-styles/

Great article !

Thank you so much!

Dear Max, Wow! Super helpful! Thank-you. I feel inspired to put into practice your suggestions: consistent practice, even if short spurts, do a few finished pieces per month, take time to look over pieces and observe what works, choose a script and stick with it, and take the time to put in those important guide lines. Thank-you for caring about us newbies out here in all ages and all walks of life who benefit from a kind and helping hand:)

with respect and gratitude, Harinama d

Thank you, Harinama. Im glad to hear that you liked my article 🙂

This article was very interesting as always, it will help me with my exercises and tell me what to avoid in order to get better. Thank you very much, Jose

Super glad to hear that, Jose! 🙂

This article really resonated with me! I truly stand by the idea of practicing deliberately and not just doodling. Your example of basketball players showing up to a court and shooting hoops without improving specific areas was a good way to visualize deliberate practice! I like to think of this when I’m practicing my lettering and how you truly do have to work on something until it becomes muscle memory. Your quote “Consistency over Intensity” also reminded me of another favorite quote of mine “A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence”. This is basically what erosion is but if you think about practice as a form of erosion, sanding, polishing even, then you can also visualize that those methods require small, consistent movements to accomplish the final look. They smooth out surfaces, thanks to deliberate, uniform motion. Everytime you are deliberately practicing, you are eroding barriers and rough applications to form a more polished foundation. Anyways, I’m kinda writing this as a stream of consciousness but to conclude- I just have to say that it feels good to read this article and know exactly what you’re suggesting and why it matters. Practice makes professional! Thanks for sharing!

You summed it up perfectly, Corinne! Thank you for the awesome comment, and i truly hope that my tips will help you improve your calligraphy skills 🙂

Excellent article. I would love to review your article (just the lead points) for our local newsletter giving credit as due. Do I have your permission?

Absolutely, as we already discussed it via email 🙂

Awesome tips. This list alone could suffice in getting anyone started and on a proper track toward well executed lettering. I’m currently at a place where tip number 9 is the most important. Focusing on executing the letterforms properly and maintaining rhythm and spacing is important for good looking presentation. Calligraphy is such an esthetic thing and it’s easy to overlook the importance of a somewhat symmetrical presentation and balance between negative and positive space. Your bonus tips here are awesome too. Great read. keep writing!

Thank you Hugo! I really appreciate your constant support! 🙂

Actually, all of your tips helped. I’ve been enamored with Copperplate calligraphy for awhile, but also, I’ve been taking some courses on modern calligraphy. Think I need to scale back and just practice my Copperplate until I can master that without looking at guidelines! Then start on another style. I believe Copperplate is also known as English Roundhand? I do have books on Copperplate calligraphy, so I will get those out and start practicing. Thanks for such a great article; I really enjoyed it.

Hey Cathy, thank you so much for the nice comment. Guidelines are simply a part of calligrpahy, and the goal is not to learn to do calligraphy without guidelines. Even the masters with decades of experience work with guidelines. Focus on being able to create letterforms with confidence and understanding and on top of that, train your calligraphic eye to create beautiful finished pieces. As for the other question, no. English roundhand is the precursor of Copperplate. I linked some interesting articles in my article about the calligraphy styles. I highly recommend you check it out if you want to learn more about it 🙂

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How to Write in Calligraphy

Last Updated: June 3, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Katherine Rinewalt and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophia Latorre . Katherine Rinewalt is a Calligrapher based in Orlando, Florida. Katherine owns Rosebud Calligraphy and has over 6 years of experience. Rosebud Calligraphy is a calligraphy and stationery design studio offering invitations, handwritten pieces, and signage for weddings and special events. Katherine is passionate about helping others elevate their weddings and events with her personalized touch. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,096,609 times.

Calligraphy means “beautiful writing” in Greek and spans thousands of years and countless cultures. There are several styles, including Western, Eastern Asian, Southern Asian, and Islamic. All calligraphy uses the same basic principals to create beautiful lettering. If you want to practice the art of decorative handwriting, all you need to do is follow a few simple steps.

Learning the Basics

• For instance, try to make the vertical line the letter “d” parallel with the vertical line in the letter “b.”

Practicing Letters and Words

• For instance, in Western calligraphy, write vertical lines first followed by horizontal lines, such as when writing the letter “t.” [8] X Research source
• In Asian calligraphy, strokes begin at the top of the character and move downward to the to bottom of the character. [9] X Research source
• For Islamic calligraphy, begin with the largest strokes of the letter and progress to the smallest strokes and dots. [10] X Research source

Selecting Your Supplies

• Avoid paper that’s greasy or waxy, which can keep the paper from absorbing the ink.

• Dip pens are pens which you dip in ink. They consist of a wood, plastic or bone handle and a metal nib (the pointed end which will make contact with the paper). The nib is dipped in the ink and stores it in the well of the nib. These are often used in Islamic calligraphy.
• Fountain pens are similar to dip pens but instead draw their ink from a container within the pen. While this ink will occasionally need to be replaced or refilled, it will save you the trouble of constantly needing to dip your pen. Fountain pens are commonly used for Western calligraphy.
• Brushes come in a variety of sizes but will usually all be roughly the same shape. These are dipped in ink and use the pressure and direction of the writer’s strokes to form the line variations. Brushes are often used for Asian calligraphy.

• Pot ink is the most common ink used for calligraphy. This ink comes premixed in a small jar and your writing utensil will be dipped into it, such as for Islamic calligraphy. India ink is the most common type of pot ink used in calligraphy.
• Fountain pen ink is a special kind of dye-based ink which is used for fountain pens, typically for Western calligraphy. It is important to use only fountain pen ink in these types of pens as other ink types will clog the pen. Fountain pen ink will come in either pre-loaded barrels, which you place in your pen, or pots, in which case you fill the pen yourself.
• Ink sticks, which will also require an ink stone, are sticks of ink which must be ground and mixed with water in order to form the ink you will write with. They are an excellent option for calligraphers because they allow you to get many different tones from the same ink, depending on how it is mixed. These are often used in Asian calligraphy.

Sample Alphabets

Expert Q&A

• Calligraphy is a delicate practice - you'll need to devote a lot of time to it to become better at it. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 2
• Paper, ink, pens, and other supplies can be found in art, craft, and stationery stores as well as online. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 1
• Use calligraphy pens, which are available in many supermarkets. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 6

Tips from our Readers

• Calligraphy is also good for making cards or doing project work.
• You can also use brush pens for calligraphy.

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about calligraphy, check out our in-depth interview with Katherine Rinewalt .

• ↑ http://www.calligraphy-skills.com/how-to-write-calligraphy.html
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBoVGqiSzr4
• ↑ https://calligraphypen.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/stroking-the-rules/
• ↑ https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/mastering-calligraphy-how-to-write-in-roundhand-script--vector-25652
• ↑ https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/05/the-beauty-of-typography-writing-systems-and-calligraphy-of-the-world/
• ↑ http://calligraphypen.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/papers-for-calligraphy/
• ↑ https://calligraphypen.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/selecting-calligraphy-inks-tests-and-reviews/
• ↑ https://calligraphypen.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/basic-calligraphy-tools/

About This Article

To get started with calligraphy, you’ll need a few supplies, including smooth, acid-free paper, a ruler, a calligraphy pen or brush, and some ink. The right kind of pen and ink for you depends on your personal preferences. For instance, some people prefer to use a traditional dip pen and pot ink, while others like the convenience of a fountain pen with a cartridge built in. Have some painter’s tape or paperweights on hand to keep your paper from moving around while you work. Hold the pen diagonally, at a 30 to 60-degree angle, and point the nib slightly to the left as you write. Keep the nib aimed in the same direction all the time, since twisting it will affect the quality of the line. To prevent blotting and uneven lines, always move the nib backwards or sideways away from the direction it’s pointing, instead of pushing it forward. Apply light pressure as you write so that you don’t scratch the paper or damage the nib of the pen. As you’re mastering your technique, you might find it helpful to work on paper with lines or a grid. Follow the guides on the paper to keep your lines straight and parallel and the letter sizes consistent. Start by printing out an alphabet in a calligraphic font that you like, then cover it with a sheet of tracing paper. Trace the alphabet many times until you start to feel comfortable with the strokes. If possible, find a practice sheet that breaks down the letters into their individual strokes so that you know how to do them in the right direction and order. As you get more confident, try writing the letters on your own without tracing them. For instance, you might practice writing the same letter over and over on a grid until you can easily write it with clean, even, consistent-looking strokes. Practice writing notes, journal entries, or anything you like in calligraphy until it starts to feel easy and natural. For tips on how to choose the best paper, pen, and ink for your calligraphy, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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TPK’s Holiday Calligraphy Worksheets: A Guide

Lindsey Bugbee

— 17 Comments

When I released TPK’s first holiday calligraphy worksheet in 2016, I couldn’t have anticipated that making a new holiday worksheet every year would become a tradition. But! Here we are in 2023, and there are now six worksheets available.

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In 2016, the first TPK holiday calligraphy worksheet was born out of reader requests. People wanted inspiration and detailed instructions over how to write certain phrases and make festive motifs, and I was happy to oblige! Today, we’ll talk about the six holiday worksheets available on TPK and what makes each worksheet unique. Read to the end to find a link to several free holiday tutorials, too!

How to Use Holiday Calligraphy Worksheets

TPK’s holiday calligraphy worksheets were designed with two goals in mind. The first goal is to offer you general calligraphy practice. The second goal is to give you instructions for creating beautiful words, phrases, or motifs that can be used for your holiday (Christmas/Hanukkah/Winter Solstice) projects.

As with any pointed pen calligraphy worksheet, you’ll want to print the holiday worksheets on calligraphy-friendly paper such as 32# laserjet . (You can use laserjet paper in any home inkjet printer.) Then, use your pen, nib, and ink of choice to fill out the worksheet! When you feel ready, you can apply what you learned to making projects, like these creative TPK readers:

Meet the Worksheets

TPK’s holiday worksheets are available for two months annually (November/December). They disappear from the Catalog every December 26th, and you can count on them to reappear after Halloween of the next year.

TPK Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet 2016 Edition

The 2016 calligraphy worksheet mostly hones in on different ways to write various holiday phrases. The phrases aren’t too complicated in form, which make them excellent practice for those who are new to calligraphy. This is the worksheet that has the fantastic flourished holiday tree!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2016 HOLIDAY WORKSHEET

TPK Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet 2017 Edition

Like the 2016 worksheet, 2017’s worksheet also features several holiday phrases. They’re a bit more embellished than those that appear in the 2016 worksheet, but nothing too intimidating! The pièce de résistance is a snowflake-like medallion that looks incredible on the back of envelopes.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2017 WORKSHEET

(Note: There’s no 2018 holiday calligraphy worksheet. I became a new mom in September of 2018, and if you’ve ever taken care of an infant, you know how that goes. Not much got done from September-December of that year!) 

TPK Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet 2019 Edition

In the 2019 holiday worksheet, things start to get playful and a bit more challenging than in previous years! In addition to calligraphy designs, the worksheet features doodles, hand-lettering, and a calligraphy/watercolor tree artwork tutorial. This isn’t a great worksheet if you’re brand-new to calligraphy. However, if you’ve got the basics down, the worksheet is going to provide you with fun and new ways to use your pen for holiday paper goods.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2019 WORKSHEET

TPK Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet 2020 Edition

In the 2020 holiday calligraphy worksheet, flourished phrases take center stage. The worksheet teaches you how to write highly-embellished Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice greetings. The greetings make for excellent flourishing practice! The worksheet concludes with instructions for making a flourished deer and crosshatched ornament illustrations.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2020 WORKSHEET

Not Your Average Calligraphy Drills: Holiday Edition (2021’s Holiday Worksheet)

For the 2021 holiday calligraphy worksheet, I decided to focus on wintery drills. You won’t find any holiday phrases; after all, previous worksheets have you covered there! Instead, you’ll spend time writing fun drills designed to put you in a cozy state of mind. In addition to drills, the worksheet includes instructions for making a holly-and-berries calligraphy medallion and a friendly flourished snowman.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2021 WORKSHEET

TPK Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet 2022 Edition

The 2022 holiday calligraphy worksheet encourages you to get adventurous with your pointed pen. You’ll begin by making flourished ornaments that look amazing on greeting cards. Then, you’ll practice writing embellished holiday phrases. Next, you’ll draw a lovely embellished holiday wreath. You’ll finish up by making an intricate “Merry Christmas” motif that looks amazing on holiday cards. In short: this worksheet specializes in providing you with stunning artwork tutorials that will enhance any holiday paper good.

What About 2023’s Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet?

In December of 2018, I had recently become a mother, so I wasn’t able to create a holiday worksheet. Right now, I’m working on a different kind of baby that’s put me in the same position. This “baby”, in a way, requires the same amount of care and attention as a human infant does: a book. Right now, I’m under contract with a major publisher to write a pointed pen calligraphy book by March 1, 2024. 

While I’m grateful that the book doesn’t consume ALL of my time (I still get to write newsletters and blog posts), working on it leaves little time for innovation on the TPK website. I simply don’t have an extra moment to make new worksheets or video courses. BUT, I can promise that you’ll enjoy the holiday worksheets from past years for now, and that you’ll have a new holiday worksheet in 2024. Thanks so much for your patience with me!

Free Holiday Calligraphy Inspiration

I love TPK’s holiday worksheets because of their step-by-step instructions and practice opportunities. That said, there’s also a lot of holiday calligraphy inspiration that lives on the TPK blog — all of which you can find for free. Click here to see a list of TPK’s Christmas-themed calligraphy tutorials + free printables.

EXPLORE FREE TUTORIALS

I hope that this article helps to connect you to the holiday project or worksheet that’s best for you! If you have any questions about TPK’s holiday worksheets or blog content, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thanks so much for reading, and happy holidays!

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Lettering Generator

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Curved text, dancing letters, select font.

Select one or more terms to filter the library.

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Symbols, images and shapes, basic shapes, recently used colors, colorschemes, hello & welcome.

Welcome to the lettering generator. Your tool for the creative design of all kinds of writings. Take a look at the instructions or explore the individual tools on your own.

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Important: The use of the generator is only allowed for private purposes. If you want to use designs created with the generator commercially, you need the Lettering Generator Plus and additionally the commercial license .

Quick guide

You need a little help before using the lettering generator? No problem. In this quick guide, I will explain to you briefly the most important functions. Then you can create your own lettering right away!

The three function levels

The generator basically works over three levels. The global toolbar at the top, the sidebar with various functions and the modification directly via the active box.

1. Global toolbar

The global toolbar at the top. There you can add new text boxes, change the format or download your font.

2. Specific toolbar

The specific toolbar on the right side, where only the currently usable functions are active. There you can, for example, choose the font for your text, change the color or access useful tools.

3. Direct functions

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The context menu (accessible by right-clicking) gives you quick access to certain functions - depending on where the right-click is made (clicking on the workspace or clicking on an object).

You will need a modern web browser in order to use the hand lettering generator without problems (preferably the latest version of Chrome, Firefox or Edge)! Also you need to select the right format for printing (landscape or portrait, depending on what you choose when designing). If it doesn't immediately work with the print preview, save your image and then print it.

Lettering quotes for practice

If you are still looking for special quotes or words for the generator, visit my blog page with lettering quotes . There you will find great quotes, sorted by the number of words. I bet there are also many phrases that you will like.

The lettering generator is under constant development. Here you can find the latest changes.

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• Many new hand lettering and calligraphy fonts have been integrated.
• There are also many new symbols and ready-to-use templates.
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• In addition to images and symbols, there is now a category with shapes and patterns that you can use for your creations.
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• In the free version of the generator you can now use the "Instagram" format (1080*1080 px).
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• New fonts have been added. Even blackletters are now usable again.
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• On devices with touch support the workspace can now be zoomed in, zoomed out, and panned as needed using two fingers.
• The new split text feature lets you split words into individual letters so you can edit them one at a time. This allows you to easily make subtle modifications to a font.
• Some new fonts, graphics and icons have been added.
• The grid size can now be adjusted as desired.
• Users of the commercial license can now save significantly more templates.
• The font generator is now also available in Spanish.
• Fonts and symbols can now have an outline. The size and the color can be set individually.
• Improvement of the zoom functions.
• Introduction of an object window where you can select all objects on your canvas.
• Little adjustments to the interface so that frequently used functions (such as centering) can be reached more quickly.
• Test period for (watercolor) graphics started.
• Many new symbols related to autumn, winter and Christmas.

There are again some fundamental changes that affect many functions of the font generator.

• All values around the font (font size, spacing, line spacing, etc.) can now also be set nominally. This makes it easier to transfer the properties of different text boxes.
• The font size is now the central metric for the size of the individual boxes - so scaling the text box practically causes the font size to be adjusted.
• The adjustment has the consequence that the modified text boxes (round text and bouncy letters) have to be calculated differently. When transferring saved text boxes discrepancies may occur that have to be corrected manually.
• New fonts have been added.
• Objects can now also be moved with pixel precision using the arrow keys.
• Minor adjustments to the design to improve the overview of the different controls.
• More letterings can now be saved online.
• The color picker has been improved and additionally contains premade color palettes.
• All tools can also be used on the smartphone.
• The font generator now also supports custom formats.
• Zooming is now much easier and faster.
• The size of the workspace and the active object are displayed in pixels and millimeters.
• New deco elements and fonts were added.

With the new update, there are big changes that affect the entire font generator.

• It is now possible to purchase a license for the commercial usage of the generator. The license even allows you to design and sell your own products. You can read more about this in the terms of use .
• Due to the possible commercial use, almost all fonts had to be replaced. Instead, many new, very elegant fonts have been added.
• The same applies to the graphics.
• A new feature is online: Dancing letters! With a single click you can create individual bounce letterings.
• It is now possible to colorize fonts and graphics as desired apart from the global color setting.
• More functions have been added to the context menu.
• Some font design parameters have been added and the settings have been combined under one menu item.
• Letterings can now also be bent inwards.
• Download as PNG with transparent background is now possible.
• Performance optimizations for an even faster font generator. :)
• A long awaited feature finally makes its way into the font generator: Curved letterings! This way you can distribute any words in a circle.
• The paper size automatically adjusts to the available space on your screen.
• There is now a zoom function with which you can work more detailed.
• Improved storage management.

New functions and decorative elements.

• The selection of decorative elements has been renewed and enlarged.
• There are now complete letterings that you can combine with your own words.
• New sans serif fonts.
• A context menu (right click) to use various functions way faster.

The lettering generator has been completely revised optically and many new functions have been added. The biggest change is the possibility to use the lettering generator plus!

• Save templates online and continue working on them on any device
• New colors and the possibility to display only the outlines of the font.
• A grid that can be faded in and out.
• An extended range of paper sizes (A4 and US Letter).
• Many new fonts.
• New decoration elements.
• A selection of frames and banners.
• A template gallery to work on the basis of finished lettering compositions.
• Skewing words is now possible

It is finally possible to save your current letterings to work on them again later on. Just click on "Save as..." in the main menu and save your current lettering wherever you want. To start editing a saved lettering just upload it by click on "open...". No registration or login required!

New update, new fonts! Especially the clarity of the font selection has been significantly improved. There were also some performance optimizations.

• It is now possible to select 3D fonts. This helps extremely to understand and learn the principle of 3D letters.
• There is a beautiful new block letter style with shading. It's one of my favorite styles of lettering.
• Some decorative fonts have found their way (back) into the generator.
• The handling of fonts has been optimized. In the font selection all fonts are now the same size and easier to grasp. A faster switching is therefore also possible.

There is an update again, which optimizes the interface. New fonts and other decorative elements are also available.

• The specific tools can now also be found above. Only the tool that can be used in the respective state is active.
• The functions for arranging the individual text boxes are now labeled.
• Optimization of the side main menu.
• New font category (blackletters).
• New decorative elements.
• Improved display of the individual fonts.
• Many small optimizations.

Another update of hand lettering generator was done and I added new features the community wished for.

• There is now a first selection of decorative elements that can be added using the global tools. The decorative elements can be used in gray or black, just like text.
• Objects can now be mirrored horizontally or vertically.
• Text boxes can now be duplicated (even if multiple boxes are selected).

There was another large update with many functions which the community asked for. A lot of time has gone into the new features, so that I decided to implement some features as premium features. Each participant of my online course automatically receives access to the premium functions.

• Now you can select multiple text boxes at the same time and move, scale these together, skalieren, etc.
• The boxes can be centered horizontally and vertically with one click either on the entire working space or just within one selected group.
• The line spacing can now also be adjusted individually (helpful for longer texts in the same font).
• There are several new, beautiful fonts in the generator.
• You have the choice to save the current status (as a bookmark) and open it at a later time.
• The completed image can now also be downloaded as a PDF.
• The text boxes can now be moved on top or below each other in one click.
• When scaling, you receive information on the current size of your text box.
• The text is no longer directly editable. From now an the edit mode has to be started with either one click on the icon or by double-clicking on the text. The reason: The screen keyboard always opened on the smart phone if you moved a box. This was quite disturbing. Now this problem has been solved. Text blocks can now be moved even faster or even realigned.
• Two new fonts were added (one font with serifs and another handlettering font).
• The print preview is now generated from the pop up.
• The website's responsive behavior was completely edited and improved.
• We now have this changelog ... ;-)
• The finished templates can now not only be printed, but also be saved and downloaded as an image.
• The generator now also works on Internet Explorer 11.
• New fonts were added and divided into different categories.
• It is now possible to change between the text colors grey (template) or black (trace).
• The first version of the hand lettering generator is going online!

The lettering generator has grown over many years and has been constantly improved. Without support it would never have been possible for me to develop the generator to what it is today.

A special thanks goes to Christoph ( compress-or-die.com ), for his constant help in development.

Thanks to fabric.js for developing a great canvas library.

layer_upload_max_img_size_content

Upload images

Upload your own images and icons and use them in the generator.

Add new file (JPG, PNG or SVG) by just dragging it into this area. You can also click here to open your file explorer.

Your templates

Here you can find your saved templates. Open a template to continue working on it! Happy lettering. :-)

Restore file?

An automatic backup of your last file was found. Do you want to restore it now?

Template gallery

Here you can find a collection of designs that you can use directly or customize to your liking. As a logged in Handlettering Generator Plus user you have the possibility to save the changes to the design in your account at any time.

Log in now to get full access to the lettering generator.

Forgot your password? Request a new password here .

Reset password

Enter your email address so that you can receive a link to reset your password.

Export your work

Direct printing.

Opens the print dialog of your browser so you can print your work. Make sure your printer settings are correct.

Download your work as an image to use as you wish.

Alternatively, you can save your file offline.

Set canvas size

Choose format.

Select a predefined format from the list to create your design in the appropriate size.

Custom format

Enter a custom size for your design (max. 6000 px * 6000 px).

Lettering Generator Plus

Superpowers for your letterings! Stunning compositions, charming fonts and lovely decorations. The lettering generator plus helps you to realize exactly the ideas you have in mind.

• Save your templates online
• Use the complete selection of beautiful fonts (some were created exclusively for the generator)
• Get full access to fancy decorative elements, frames, banners and complete letterings
• Choose gorgeous templates from the template gallery
• Save or print your templates without a watermark
• Change the format as you like (max. 6000 x 6000 px)
• Save your creations as PDF or transparent PNG
• Use the generator without ads

Learn more Order now

You want more?

Wow, it looks like you are using the lettering generator a lot! I'm very happy about that.

However, you have reached the maximum number of free exports .

Please order a plus account for unlimited downloads and many other advantages (or wait an hour).

Wartungsarbeiten

Wegen Wartungsarbeiten ist gerade kein Login möglich. Der Generator ist in Kürze wieder für dich zurück.

What is the next step?

You decide about the future of the Lettering Generator! Please give me 5 minutes of your time and fill out a short survey.

The survey will open in a new window and you can continue designing afterwards without any problems. Thank you!

One time offer

I have a little present for you! Because of your busy use of lettering generator, you will receive a one-time discount code :

HLGP-PKLA-WUMH

With your code you save 30% on a new plus account. With it you can finally use the generator with all its features.

Use discount code

choose a handwriting

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upload your handwriting

• Download and print-out this template
• Fill in each box with your handwritten characters in the same order as shown
• Upload the filled template and await, as the magic happens :)

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behind the magic

Aditya Agarwal

Developer by day, and also by night. Creating tech to power the future.

Who is Aditya?

An artist who wants to make it possible to paint worlds beyond earth.

Who is Samarth?

Always remember, it's the step upgrades to objects and processes. Happy 'hand-writing'!!

Who is Manas?

contact us at [email protected]

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