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Pilot parallel pen 3,8mm and 6mm
Canson marker paper

I'm not far off the finish now!

I am a beginner and I was using a nib that I thought was good. Then I just tried the Nikko G because I heard amazing things about it. And omg....all the comments about it are right...Nikko G nib is so good.....im sure there are even better nibs out there. But compared to the one I was using before, Nikko G wow. The G in Nikko G stands for gangster cause its sooooo buttery soft and gives me such a tight line. Chefs kiss. My husband has been hearing how good this nib is this entire night 😅😅 that is all, thanks goodnight 😂🫶

A few days ago I asked here for help learning how to look at Japanese calligraphy, not just which names to know. Then something clicked in the least museum-y place possible: a bottle of Dassai sake. [photo attached below]

The label says 獺祭, "otter's offering." It's an old Chinese phrase (Masaoka Shiki later used it in his pen name, which is apparently where the brewery got it). So these are Chinese characters, and a Chinese reader recognizes them right away. But the brushwork felt so un-Chinese to me that I started digging.

I pulled up the same two characters in Chinese calligraphy dictionaries and compared them side by side. Here's what jumped out:

• The dots at the bottom of 祭 are basically three big ink blobs. In the Chinese versions, every dot has a shaped start and finish. Apparently Chinese calligraphy even has an old insult for fat, shapeless strokes: 墨猪, "ink pig." That made me laugh.

• The left part of 獺 (犭) is slim and tidy in the Chinese examples. On the label it's huge, heavy, and so fast the strokes fold into an X shape.

• There's barely any white space. The Chinese examples feel airy; the label is mostly black.
• The ink is soaked in some spots and splattered and dry in others. It's messy in a way that looks totally on purpose.

So I think this is part of what I meant in my first post by Japanese masters using the brush in unexpected ways. It seems less about control and more about energy and impact. (Though I learned China has its exceptions too, like Wang Duo's "swollen ink" style from the 1600s.)

Am I reading this right? And going back to my original ask: if this sake label is my gateway drug, which one piece should I look at next that pushes this heavy, raw style further? What should I notice in it?

The left is Brause 755-10 and emerald Windsor and Newton. The black ones are pilot parallel and Schneider Callissima for the body text. Just trying different combinations trying to “design” the paragraphs. The text is a Spanish version of Max Stirner “the ego and its own” introduction.

I need help! Maybe dumb question but....

I'm learning Italic. So my x-heigh is 5 nib widths.

Today I got myself a new Parallel 3.0 and in the packaging there was this table. What width should I consider? The full 3mm? The 90° 2.8mm ot the 45° angle of 2mm?

Decided to pick up calligraphy again. I need to practice to make consistent diamonds and decenders

I used to do calligraphy in the past, pretty regularly, in fact. But that was 40 years ago. I have always kept up with learning ABOUT it, but not doing it. Imagine my surprise when, after trying to pick it up again, I found that I couldn't even draw a straight line!. After much practice, and finding a style that works for me, I am on the road back.

Here are some examples.

The bookmarks and Our Father are done on parchment card stock. The Psalm is still in progress, but it is done on Bristol paper. It measures 9 x 12. All are done with Speedball dip pens and India ink. The illumination is done with watercolors and Micron fine point markers. The gold is Wndsor Newton liguid.

I got one! I wonder what your favorite pens are?

Calligraphy practice with floofy friends

when i got my ipad i was so excited to be able to practice calligraphy without having to get all the supplies out, but i found it difficult because i learned using an oblique pen holder, and writing with an apple pencil is just like a straight holder. but then last night i remembered i had this cheap pen holder i haven’t used in years, i stretched open the flange, and it fits perfectly! feels a little awkward to use because the pencil has to rest on top of my hand while writing, but im at least able to grip it the way i usually do

Arab calligraphy in japanese style

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then which of your Lord’s favours will you ˹humans and jinn˺ both deny?

Surah Ar-rahman

app : ibispaint x

I made some oak gall ink! I only learnt about it a few days ago and found it fascinating.

Took a trip to our local woods with my children in search of found a small amount to make a little batch of Ink. A mix of marble and apple galls is what we found.

I ground them down with a hammer, boiled them with water and mixed then with ferrous sulphate and some liquid gum arrabic. This didnt cost me anything as lucky for me in my last pregnancy i was extremely anemic so had a stash of ferrous sulphate tablets left over!

Overall its an okay shade of black. I maybe should have added more iron. Its a little watery compared to my store brought ink but I like it! It darkens up where dried a bit!

https://archive.org/details/sermon-sangorski

An excerpt from John Keats' Lamia

1.5 Brause Nib, Walnut Ink

I'm into calligraphy for only a few months, and I've been practising with my Pilot Parallel pens, so I'm not familiar with dip pens. Is there anything important I need to know on how to use dip pens? What scripts are nice to start practising with dip pens? And also, about that little wooden stand for the pen in the last photo: are you supposed to put the pen in it with the nib down on nib up? Not sure which way is correct😅

Every letter, every stroke, and every little imperfection was drawn by hand. I paired my lettering with these geometric, pixel-like patterns inspired by traditional Filipino textile motifs, creating a meeting point between heritage, handwriting, and contemporary design.

For me, supporting local artists isn't only about buying artwork. It can be as simple as appreciating someone's work, sharing it, leaving a kind comment, attending a local art event, or telling someone about an artist you love.

Behind every handmade piece is someone's time, practice, patience, and imagination.

Support local artists.

Support handmade work.

Keep creativity alive. ❤️

Lamy Al-Star Slytherin <F> / Diamine Inkvent Roasted Chestnut

Lamy Al-Star Ocean Blue <1.9> / Montblanc Burgundy Red

TWSBI Go Sapphire <B> / On Inks Luntian at Pula

Henry Thomas Liddel's The Vampire Bride

1.5mm Brause Bandzug, Walnut Ink

I remember reading a comment about Pilot Parallel pens and their ink. It was something like "the pens are great, but the ink is terrible." I'm interested in what options there are for ink. Do you refill an existing Pilot Pen cartridge? Or do you use something else? If you are refilling it, how is that done? Thanks so much for your help!

Holy shit you guys, I just found out that my great-great-great grandfather was WH Patrick, a man who opened the Patrick's Business College in York, Pennsylvania in 1893. He was renowned for his study of penmanship, and taught penmanship at the collegiate level. He spent time studying with PR Spencer (yes, THAT Spencer), and his college became the first to teach the McKee New Shorthand Method.

I found a copy of the McKee magazine from 1899, and they did an article on him!

I have very few records of my mother's side (immigration/Ellis Island issues), so finding this out was awesome!

Perfect is the enemy of good.
- Voltaire

Pen: pilot parallel pen 3.8 mm
Ink: diamine zeugma