The Calligraphy Pen

Someone just starting out in the art of calligraphy will want to pick up an inexpensive range of calligraphy implements that will allow them to start off cheaply. The reasoning being that if they chose not to follow up on their initial foray, they won’t be out of pocket by too much.

There are many different makers of calligraphy sets as well as individual calligraphy pens, nibs and inks. These calligraphy sets may range from quite basic sets to more complete and sophisticated sets. But what are the essential items you should be looking for in a calligraphy pen set if you were to set out to buy one.

It all depends on the kind of calligraphy you are setting out to perform. The 3 most common types of calligraphy are the western calligraphy which uses a calligraphy pen, Chinese calligraphy or Japanese calligraphy. Both of the eastern calligraphy styles are performed with a calligraphy brush.

In a Chinese or Japanese calligraphy set you can expect to get a range of brushes of varying sizes and made from different types of hair. You should also get an ink stick, an ink stone and a water cistern. With these three components you will be able to make your own calligraphy ink, something that is a very important part of the process of producing Chinese calligraphy.

A good calligraphy set, for example one that has been made by Brause, should come with a calligraphy pen holder, a set of nibs in a variety of sizes and thicknesses and a bottle of ink. A basic calligraphy set in this case might contain only 4 or 5 nibs while a more advanced set will contain up to 9 or 10 nibs. A less expensive calligraphy set will contain a set of 3 (or less) calligraphy pens that have permanently attached nibs and perhaps some ink cartridges.

To give you the most flexibility the best option is to find a calligraphy set that will allow you to change the nibs around rather than to actually have to change from one pen to another.

Just because a calligraphy set is cheap does not necessarily mean that it will give you good value for money. As you progress from the beginner stages to the more experienced early stager, you will appreciate the fact that you have a calligraphy pen holder that is familiar in your hand no matter whether you are using a thick nib or a thin one. You will also appreciate the fact that when you want to buy a pen that can produce thicker lines you only have to buy a new nib rather than a complete pen.

As with other shopping items it pays to shop around for a calligraphy set in order to get the one that will suit your needs the best. Calligraphy is a very arduous pursuit and you want to use implements that will help to make the task as easy as possible and before you know it you may be producing your own sample wedding invitations.

If you have a calligraphy pen that hasn’t been used for some time and the ink has dried in the nib and cartridge/converter you may be wondering how to clean it out for reuse. There are a number of simple methods that will work, some will work more quickly than others but there’s generally no right or wrong way.

The most simple way to clean your calligraphy pen is to remove the nib and place it in a glass of water, leaving it to soak and changing the water until it eventually remains clear.

Similarly, if you have a converter that is caked in ink you can simply draw clean water in and out until the water runs clean.

A quicker method of cleaning your calligraphy pen is to go out and buy a rubber ear syringe from the local pharmacy. With the syringe you can fit it over the cartridge-piercing nipple of the pen and hold it under water. When you squeeze the syringe you will be forcing water into and out of the nib. As with the other methods you can repeat this process until the ink has been completely removed and the water runs clear.

To give the process an added boost you can dilute a very small amount of ammonia, say, one part ammonia to 10 parts water and use the above techniques on the pen. After the pen has been cleaned, give it a flush out with clean water.

For an even more thorough clean or to remove the most stubborn dried ink you can get yourself an ultrasonic cleaner which uses ultrasound and cleaning solution to clean delicate objects such as pen nibs. You simply place your calligraphy pen nib into the cleaning solution for a short period of time. Ultrasonic cleaners are not expensive and will come in handy if you find that you are forever coming up against clogged nibs.

Try any one of these simple methods for cleaning the nibs of your calligraphy pen. The methods will work equally as well if you have a fountain pen that is clogged, too.

You can also find more calligraphy pen maintenance tips elsewhere at The Calligraphy Pen.

There are some very attractive looking fountain pens available for sale from some of the respected names in the pen industry at prices that are simply too good to pass up. One of those pens is the Sheaffer Prelude fountain pen which comes in a range of types and finishes that will suit any professional.

Black and gold, black and nickel, chrome and gold, chrome and nickel, blue, magenta, green, purple are just some of the colors available in this model range. You name it and the Prelude is available giving you the choice to buy a fountain pen that suits your own style.

Here is a brief selection of Sheaffer Prelude fountain pens that available for sale

Sheaffer Prelude Black Lacquer G T Fountain Pen Broad    US $63.75

Sheaffer Prelude Black Lacquer G T Fountain Pen FIne    US $63.75

Sheaffer Prelude Black Lacquer N T Fountain Pen Fine    US $45.00

Sheaffer Prelude Black Lacquer N T Fountain Pen Broad    US $45.00

Taking the comfort of the pen user into account, the body of the Sheaffer Prelude has been contoured so that a better fit is achieved ensuring that it is comfortable in the hand in case there are long stints necessary while writing. The pens also feature gripping pads so that the fingers don't slip while writing.

The Sheaffer Prelude fountain pen is a pen that has been keenly sought the world over and its no wonder with every pen crafted to the highest quality with 22K gold plate or chrome trim.

The majority of instruction in calligraphy is aimed at the right-handed calligrapher while largely ignoring the left-handed calligraphers who make up a solid proportion of those looking to take up the craft. There are definitely differences and obstacles to be acknowledged and overcome for the left-handed person looking to learn calligraphy. The following article attempts to highlight some of these differences as well as suggest ways that a left-hander may approach their use of the calligraphy pen.

Calligraphy is an art that can be learned by anyone willing to devote a few hours per week to the study and practice of letters. For the left-hander the challenge has been coping with a chisel-edged nib as they try to find the best angle for the required writing line. After this alignment has been achieved the sequence of strokes have to be made in a reverse manner to the right-handed mode. It would seem to the left-handed calligrapher that everything must be done the opposite way around.

When writing in the accepted left to right direction the right-handed writer makes the majority of their strokes by directing the pen away from the body. The left-handed writer makes the majority of strokes by pushing the pen in a movement towards the body. When the right-hander writes the writing hand is well in advance of the damp ink that has just been scribed onto the page. The left-hander pushes the pen in the same direction but must hold the pen in such a way that their hand does not smear the damp ink. This can be accomplished by either holding the pen below or above the line of writing in an unnatural way.

There are three known writing positions that may be chosen by a left-handed writer: the hook position, the under-arm position and the vertical position. The hook position is where the writer writes from above the line of writing with the paper positioned straight down. The under-arm position is where the hand is placed under the line of writing and the paper is positioned on an angle. The vertical position is achieved with the paper turned at 90 degrees and the pen then works from bottom to top rather than from left to right. This position will be most effective for those who want to use a right-handers pen nib.

A mechanical solution to the problems facing left-handed writers was the oblique nib which is cut on the opposite angle to a right-handed nib. Many calligraphers use the left-handed oblique calligraphy nib combined with turning the page on an angle.

A further tip to help the left-hander relates to the way you have the lighting set up. The right-hander should have the light on the left side while the left-hander should have the light coming from the right side. The reason for this is to ensure the shadow of your hand does not fall where you are writing.

Another compensation that may be necessary could well be in the way the left-handed writer must sit at their calligraphy desk. To help get the required pen angle, it may be necessary to sit further to the right of the page than would otherwise be advised. This, of course, will come down to a matter of personal preference and working out what feels most comfortable to you.

Being left-handed should not discourage you from picking up a calligraphy pen and trying this beautiful art. The techniques might be a little different and, at times, challenging bu remember, there are many successful left-handed calligraphers.

One piece of calligraphy equipment that may be overlooked but is definitely an essential part of the calligrapher's utensils is the calligraphy pen holder. Holders can be made of wood or plastic with the very rare and very exquisite Venetian glass an option too and are often combined with metal fittings.

When choosing a calligraphy pen holder you need to take a couple of things into consideration: the mechanism that holds the nib in place and the barrel of the stylus. Some brands of nibs are a different size to others and so will only fit the specific manufacturer's holders. The weight and girth of the pen barrel will affect how easily the pen can be gripped. Some plastic shafts can be very smooth and become slippery after being used for any length of time which causes tension in the hand as the grip tightens.

Some calligraphers prefer to get a pen holder with a cork wrapping or a grooved rubber grip at the point where the fingers grip the barrel. It's all up to the individual calligrapher and you won't know how you feel about a particular pen barrel until you have felt it in your hand. Some calligraphers prefer to feel a heavy instrument while others would rather it to be light to enable them to feel the nib more keenly.

When you buy a calligraphy set, a calligraphy pen holder will be included with it. You don't necessarily have to use the one that comes with the set. Most times you can buy one separately and use the nibs that came with the set. As mentioned earlier, some pen holders are specific to their manufacturers own nibs. Pelikan nibs, for example can only be used with their own holder because of the complex nature of the connection which involves small metal tongues and hooks that link into one another.

It's a good idea to have a test drive with any pen holder you're considering buying. It should feel comfortable from the first moment because, if it's not comfortable to hold before you start writing it's going to be extremely uncomfortable later.

If there is a gripping device on the barrel of the pen you need to make sure that it fits tightly without any movement. A wobbly pen holder will not be conducive to making crisp straight strokes. Next, check that the nib sits straight in alignment with the holder. Any misalignment will prove to be very distracting.

Calligraphy pen holders are not necessarily particularly high priced items. Fitted with a high-quality nib, the plainest looking holder will be just as effective as an expensive, fancy as all get out one.