Why Christmas is the best time to learn Calligraphy
I see you! I know you’re already planning (in the back of your mind) the christmas card list, saving links to gifts - for your mum, nephew… yourself! So why not make it personal?
Even if you aren’t celebrating Christmas, chances are you’ll be sending a thank you card, a birthday gift, or something along these lines at some point.
The great thing about Christmas (not the only great thing!) is there’s often a list of things to wrap, gift tag, write which are SO much more exciting when you can use you ‘nice writing’... or crack out that new pen set.
So why is Christmas a great time to learn - or practice calligraphy?
Well, four MAIN things for me:
1.That festive motivation
If you’re a Christmas fan like me, it’s all about making gifts personal, maybe even a touch of the hand-made - and with calligraphy, you only really need a pen (not a knitting needle in sight!).
2. Endless things to create on
From the cards and wrapping to mugs, clothing, bags and beyond! Christmas brings us a bounty of items to calligraph names, words and much more to hang up on the tree, post out to faraway relatives, or add that special touch too for loved ones.
3. It’s calming
Not sure I’ve mentioned it, but CALLIGRAPHY IS YOUR SANCTUARY OF CALM. In fact that’s exactly why I got into calligraphy in 2017. Like the mindful nature of colouring, calligraphy drops us into a state of flow and relaxation - which I’m pretty sure we can all do with over the festive season!
4. All you need is… a pen
Some say ‘love’, I say ‘a pen’. You can even learn with a pencil! But when it comes to baubles, wrapping paper and personalising every item on your Christmas present list, you can learn a beautiful faux calligraphy brush script style.
Festive kraft wrapping paper with monoline and faux brush script calligraphy
Faux calligraphy should be your go-to!
You’ll have seen it everywhere. From shop and restaurant signage, window displays, on vases, ceramics, t-shirts and so much more. This style is great for creating with a permanent marker (like a Sharpie) or paint pen (like Posca - I like the 3M tips, or Uniball - fav is the PX-203).
So how do you use them?
…well, you can keep it one thickness, like a monoline style:
You can keep it as an “open brush script” style:
Or you can close the lines so it looks like you’ve hand-lettered with a brush pen:
Clever, huh?!
I love this style so much because it also helps learn the essentials of brush pen styles - reinforcing the “thicks” and “thins”.
Want to learn how to learn calligraphy in time for Christmas?
Join me for a workshop and kick-start your creativity with some Christmas Calligraphy!
In fact you get a selection of my favourite pens in my Christmas Calligraphy workshop packs, along with the worksheets, and materials to make your own gift tags, wrapping paper and baubles - delivered to your door for the online session or at the venue for the in-person workshop.
Want to just try it out - grab your free pencil worksheets and tutorial here.
Christmas Calligraphy Workshop worksheets