Getting Started with Calligraphy in India

If you love beautiful lettering and want to give it a try here are some of the basic tools that will help you get started. Although, you need to invest a great amount of time learning the art, having the right tools for the right kind of work is very important. To start, you will need to choose a script or a lettering style. In the simplest term, you can go for Brush Lettering, Black/Flat Pens Lettering or Pointed Dip pen Calligraphy.

PS: All the information are written so that a layman can understand. I tried to omit most of the technical terms.

For Brush Lettering

One of the benefits of brush lettering is that you can do almost any script, depending on your skill level. You can write a rough retro lettering or you can go for that really smooth modern calligraphy. If you want to create awesome brush lettering like the sample images shown below going ahead and take a look at the tools shown below:

Black/Flat Pens Lettering

Popularly known as black lettering or gothic style, black lettering can be very diverse, the script ranges from Batarde/Fraktur, Old English text, Rotunda Gothic etc. or the simpler (but not so simple :P) Uncial or Half Uncial. You can look at some of the text that I have written to have a better idea. Also, this style of calligraphy can be written with both Brush, Dip pen and flat markers.

For Pointed Dip pen Calligraphy

This one is, in fact, one of the most serious and difficult styles. You will need a holder, a nib and an ink to start. There are two types of holders, a straight and oblique holder. When it comes to nibs there are famous nibs like the Nikko G, Hunt 101, Brause EF66, Leonardt Principal Nib etc. Supplies for these materials are limited in India. Ink comes under various names, composition and colours. Indian Ink, Poster Ink, Sumi Ink are one of the common ink that you can use. I have put down some materials below, please note that the supplies in India are quite limited.

Please note that the subject is really vast and the below discussed material are just to get you started, once you get to a certain stage you will find better options.