FAVORITE CALLIGRAPHY SUPPLIES
Below are some of my tried and true favorite supplies from when I first started learning calligraphy—and I still use most of them!
Happy practicing. :)
Photo: Manali Photography
NIBS
Nikko G - A beginner favorite! Strong + medium-flex nib that holds ink well. A good in-between of the Hunt 101 and Hunt 512 used in class.
Brause Steno (Blue Pumpkin) - Works well for papers that are rougher (kraft paper, handmade paper, etc.) because of its rounder tip. Allows you to write bigger letters.
Leonardt Principal - Flexible tines so you don’t need to press too hard. Creates super thin upstrokes.
Brause EF66 - Small but mighty nib.
Hunt 56 - Holds ink well and creates thin upstrokes.
Hunt 512 - The silver nib from class. Has stiffer tines.
Hunt 101 - The copper nib from class. Has very flexible tines.
inks
Sumi ink - This bottle has literally lasted me years.
Dr. Ph Martin’s Bleedproof White - My favorite white ink. Dilute small amounts of ink with water before writing.
Dr. Ph Martin’s metallic inks - Requires a lot of shaking before + mixing throughout using, but the shine is worth it! Comes in lots of colors, but the gold, copper, silver, and iridescent orchid are some of my favorites.
Winsor & Newton calligraphy ink - Available in several colors. The dark blue is gorgeous.
Holbien gouache - Dilute with water to use—a little goes a long way. The color options are endless because you can mix custom colors!
Dinky dips - For holding ink. The wood block holder helps keep the jars in place. Also available in a larger size.
Water dropper - I use this to slowly add water to any thick inks or transfer ink to a smaller ink jar.
pen holderS + PENS
Speedball oblique pen - This blog post from The Postman’s Knock is helpful in learning more about how to hold an oblique pen.
Straight pen holder - The pen holder used during class
My Beloved Calligraphy customizable oblique pen - My go-to pen holder as of late. The shape of it keeps my hand from cramping and getting fatigued.
Tombow dual brush pens - Double-ended brush markers for brush lettering.
Fudenosuke brush pen - The hard tip may be easier for beginners to control. Also comes in a soft tip version.
Writech brush pen set - Vibrant colors and write very smoothly.
Photo: Manali Photography
Paper
HP Premium 32 paper - Super smooth to write on + ink will not bleed.
Neenah 65 lb cardstock (lighter weight)
Neenah 110 lb cardstock (heavier weight)
BOOKS
tech + other tools
Laser level - Stick this next to your paper to create a straight line to write on.
Laser square + mat - I personally haven’t used this but like that it has two different lasers to help with centering.
Apple iPad + Pencil - Use Procreate to practice your calligraphy! I particularly enjoy this calligraphy brush by Canvas & Kale.
Light pad - Helpful for tracing if you need guidelines under what you’re writing on.
Acetone - Use with a q-tip to remove stubborn ink stains from nibs.
favorite places to shop supplies
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