Weeks 1–3 · The strokes
Thin upstrokes, thick downstrokes, and consistent pressure.
The programs, in detail
Four programs of 6 to 12 weeks, all built on short daily drills and weekly photo feedback.
Program 01 · Your first consistent letters
Modern calligraphy
Every letter in modern calligraphy comes from about eight basic strokes. We drill those first, which is dull for two weeks and then suddenly pays off, before building the lowercase alphabet and learning to connect letters without the spacing falling apart.
Weeks 4–6 · The alphabet
Lowercase letters built from the strokes you've drilled.
Weeks 7–8 · Connecting
Joining letters and keeping slant and spacing even.
Weeks 9–10 · A finished piece
One quote, laid out and completed.
Weeks 1–3 · Setup
Preparing a nib, mixing ink, and paper that behaves.
Weeks 4–7 · Letterforms
Minuscules with correct slant and proportion.
Weeks 8–10 · Capitals
Majuscules, which are where most people struggle.
Weeks 11–12 · Flourishing
Adding flourishes without wrecking the letters.
Program 02 · The classical hand
Pointed pen
Pointed pen is unforgiving and beautiful. We cover nib preparation, ink choices and paper that won't feather, then work through the classical letterforms with the rules of slant and proportion that make them hold together.
Program 03 · Beyond single words
Layout & composition
Beautiful letters arranged badly still look amateur. We work on thumbnails, guidelines, centering by measurement rather than eye, and the planning that means the last line doesn't run off the page.
Weeks 1–2 · Thumbnails
Planning small before working large.
Weeks 3–4 · Guidelines
Ruling up properly, and erasing cleanly.
Weeks 5–6 · Balance
Line lengths, emphasis and white space.
Weeks 7–8 · A finished piece
A quote or poem, planned and executed.
Weeks 1–2 · Speed and consistency
Producing fifty envelopes that match.
Weeks 3–4 · Pricing
Per-piece rates, spoilage and rush fees.
Weeks 5–6 · Client handling
Address lists, proofs and approvals.
Weeks 7–8 · Delivery
Timelines, packaging and what to do when you misspell a name.
Program 04 · Getting paid for it
Envelopes & commissions
Envelope calligraphy is the most common first paid work. We cover pricing per piece including spoilage, working out how many you can do in an evening, and the practicalities of client lists, deadlines and the inevitable misspelled name.
Want to see where your letters drift?
Thirty minutes, free, on your practice sheets and what to drill first.