What is Calligraphy?

These days we rely heavily on computer fonts for our labeling and lettering needs. But nothing can replicate the unique beauty created by a calligrapher. This art form brings a special and personalized touch to your wedding invitations, home decor, or any other piece that requires the written word.

The History of Calligraphy A form of art based on creating beautiful, handwritten letters is called calligraphy. The word calligraphy comes from the Greek words "kallos," which means beauty, and "graphein," meaning "to write." This ancient art form has many variations across different cultures and time periods.

Before the invention of printing, all books and documents were handwritten using calligraphy.

Styles of Calligraphy There are various styles of calligraphy, but most fall into three main categories. These three categories can be further broken down into substyles. An aspiring calligrapher will learn the basics of each subcategory to build their repertoire. The three main categories of calligraphy are: 1. Western 2. Oriental 3. Arabic

Tools used in Calligraphy Calligraphers primarily use a brush or a pen to create their art. The part of the pen that makes contact with the writing surface is called a nib. Calligraphers use nibs that are flat, pointed, or round. They usually use water-based ink and textured paper with high ink absorption for clearer lines. Pens and brushes used most commonly in calligraphy include:

1. Quill Quill pens are made from a molted flight feather of a large bird. They do not contain ink, as more modern pens do, and therefore need to be dipped in an inkwell while writing. This type of pen wears down quickly on most paper types but is said to have a sharp stroke and more flexibility than a steel pen.

2. Dip pen These pens were created to replace quill pens in the early 19th century. They consist of a metal nib with a handle made of wood, bone, plastic, or metal. In some cases, an ink reservoir is attached to the nib to allow for writing for several minutes. Otherwise, it will need to be dipped into an inkwell similar to the quill pen.

3. Ink brush The ink brush dates back to 300BC, when it was invented in China. It is used most commonly in Chinese, Japanese and Korean calligraphy. It is typically made from the hair of a goat, rabbit, wolf, or other animal and typically contains a bamboo handle.

4. Qalam This pen is made from a cut, dried reed, and used in Islamic calligraphy. The Qalam is seen as a symbol of wisdom in the Islamic culture.

5. Fountain pen Fountain pens are what we most commonly use for writing today. They contain a metal nib and an ink reservoir, so they do not need to be constantly dipped in ink while writing.

Future of Calligraphy In today's society, we rely heavily on technology for our creative and entertainment needs. In schools, notebooks have been replaced with electronic tablets. Some children are no longer being taught cursive in the classroom. We must preserve the art of calligraphy so that it is not a lost art form.