Modern Calligraphy Basic Supplies
Hey there! I am so glad that you are interested in learning calligraphy. Chances are, if you’re here, you’re ready to invest a few bucks to follow a dream hobby or career! I’ve listed all of the basic calligraphy supplies that you might use to start learning.
Ok, just as a note, basically everything I list in this section is cheap, but is also pretty much the same supplies that professionals may and do use (I use all of these still). The beauty of calligraphy supplies is that they are quite affordable to begin.
Another note—almost everything linked here is from Paper and Ink Arts. I am not affiliated with them in any way. They just have an excellent selection of great art supplies and I purchase a lot of mine from there.
Related: Modern Calligraphy Part 1: Set Up and Basic Strokes
Here is a list of everything you need to get started:
Pen holder — This straight pen holder is the exact one I bought when I first started out. You might be tempted to get those speedball calligraphy kits from the craft store but don’t do it. It’s not that much of a difference in price and if you continue, you will likely replace it soon. This one is just $4.45 and has a universal insert, meaning all nibs should fit in it. I still use this now. It’s comfortable and quite perfect for anything, really.
Nibs — Nibs are the actual little parts that hold ink and serve as a “pen”. These are also really cheap, and I recommend that you order a couple at a time. Here are good nibs for beginners (and the only nibs that I use). You might want to test them out and see what you like writing with:
Nikko G — Likely the most popular of all, this is perfect for, again, beginners and professionals alike. It is pretty firm and not very finicky and is great for when you just start out. It costs $1.55.
Blue Pumpkin — That’s its nickname. It’s actually called the Brause Steno. This guy is my personal favorite at the moment. Quite flexible, holds a good amount of ink, and has a smooth flow. This guy is $1.66.
Brause EF66 — This one is more difficult for beginners but you may want to buy it and play around with it because it is another popular nib. This little powerhouse is $1.88.
Ink — This Sumi Ink is my favorite ink, and at only $5.95 for 180ml, this ink will likely last you a long while. It writes smooth, great consistency, dries very clean, and just a great ink. Smells a little interesting. You can also just buy ink in a jar but this is my personal favorite.
Ink jar — If you have a little jam jar lying around, this is the best option. Most of my ink is in old jam jars, but you can also buy empty jars online. I just find they come in packs of 24+ and as a beginner I can almost guarantee you: You won’t need 24. So see if you can find a jar or other small container that seals very well.
Cloth napkin without a lot of loose fibers preferably. Again, if you have one lying around, you can use it. Think restaurant table cloth/napkin material. You want something without fibers so when you wipe your nib you don’t get lint or fibers stuck on it, because they will ruin your calligraphy. Or just be careful, whatever you use, that there are no fibers stuck on the pen after wiping. I actually just use paper towels.
Pencil — You probably have one. I like using an HB pencil because it’s easy to erase.
Eraser — You probably have one, but a lot of people like the Staedtler Mars Plastic eraser.
Paper — For practice, and often for projects, you can just get your paper at an office supply store. I use this XEROX BOLD digital 32lb paper. Do not use regular 24lb copy paper. It will not work. It’s too fibrous and the nib will snag on it or the ink will spread like a spider web. You will not be satisfied using regular copy paper. Instead, grab a ream of 32lb paper. Technically any 32lb will suffice, but I personally use Xerox Bold Digital right now and it is absolutely perfect. A pack of 500 sheets is about $25, but this pack will probably last you a LONG TIME.
OR
Calligraphy practice pad. Lots of people love these dotted Rhodia paper pads, which are good for practicing writing straight. You can also get the lined or squared ones, it’s up to preference really. This pad is $9.
So I tallied up the prices for all these materials and they add up to:
with Rhodia pad: $24.49
with 500(!!!) sheets of 32lb paper: $40.49
So if you decide on the Rhodia practice pad, this is basically the cost of eating out twice (or sometimes once if you live in LA like me).
Totally worth the investment, right? And I’m being serious—this is all you need to start and grow as a calligrapher.
Happy writing!
Once you buy and collect your supplies, check out my next post: Modern Calligraphy for Beginners Part 1: Set Up and Basic Strokes
