The year was 2015. I was bewitched by modern calligraphy and had only wrapped my head around its distinction from lettering. I wanted to be able to write modern calligraphy and was browsing the web for the best options to learn. As I’ve said before, I had tried and failed to learn by looking and imitating only, and had decided that I needed guided practice.

I didn’t take local classes, because they’re quite pricey. I opted out of online video courses because I wouldn’t be able to revisit them, and my internet connection is unreliable.

One of the most accessible point of entry to learn modern calligraphy on the web that I’ve discovered is the perfectly titled “The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy” post by The Postman’s Knock. Enticement enough was an image, which says “anyone can learn calligraphy” in a tidy script. I’ve sidled around the site for some time, and the Kaitlin worksheet offers the exact look that I want to go for, so that’s what I bought.

So this sheet was updated in October 2015 (free upgrade for us old timers, how considerate), and later a video course and an add-on was offered (separately sold). Basically what it is is a digital (pdf) printable guide and worksheet, and you can use this sheet even if you don’t know what calligraphy is. No physical supplies would be sent to you, of course, so that’s not included. But I actually prefer it because I get to choose my own tools. (How many ‘beginner’s kit’ do you need?)

Now, I have downloaded the update, but I haven’t printed and done them. The old guide’s stroke formation illustrations, though, gave me my first understanding about how a pointed pen works. This was an aha-moment as any calligraphy pen was a mystery to me, but this particular piece seems to be excluded in the updated sheet. Thus I have made a reconstruction attempt below.

How Pointed Pen Works

After the title page, there’s a couple of introductory page, with tools recommendations. And then you learn to write ‘faux calligraphy’ with not-calligraphy-pen by letter (capitals, then lower case, then numbers and punctuations) and words. After that it’s with dip pen, starting with stroke practice, then by letter and words. The most prominent differences with the old sheet are probably the addition of stroke dips guide and the slant in every sheet.

I wouldn’t know if it could make you a better Kaitlin style writer the first time, because if I do it it would be my second time. Was it worth my money? Yes, I’d say it was a $5 well spent for beginners, because the guide is very encouraging and the worksheets are enjoyably doable.

S.