The correct writing posture is key for modern calligraphy. In this blog I will give you a number of steps to help you develop a better writing attitude. Before you start calligraphy, prepare the following things:
- Paper (rhodia is best for practice)
- Ink
- Clean water
- Nib in nib holder
- White paper
Use paper suitable for calligraphy. You can read here which paper is best suited for this. Dark non-waterproof ink is recommended because it flows easiest from your nib, commonly used ink is Sumi ink.
Step by step a correct calligraphy posture
Sit up straight, on the edge of your seat and keep breathing. You quickly have the tendency to get stuck, hunch over and hold your breath. Do your best to keep your body as relaxed as possible. Sitting on the edge of your chair helps you keep your back straight, allowing your forearm to slide across your desk on your dominant side, which is better than leaning on it.
Hold your pen with a relaxed grip on the curve that most pens already have. Don't hold it at the end of the nib, this will cause sore fingers and stiff calligraphy. Your fingers should not be completely straight, but not completely round either. You hold the holder firmly, but someone should still be able to grab the pen from your hands. Your fingers must still be able to bend so that you can move the pen by moving your fingers.
Imagine your hand, wrist and forearm as a unit, moving as one: controlled by your shoulder and upper arm. Let your elbow and shoulder take control and do most of the movement. The arc you make this way is much larger and more even than the arc you make with just your wrist.
Stop regularly and re-examine your grip, posture, etc. And oeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! :) There are some examples that you can use when practicing.
You can hold an oblique pen in two different ways. If you want to write in a corner, hold the pen straight. If you want to do more of a modern writing, you can hold the pen at an angle so that the nib is straight on the paper.
I hope you learned something from it :). Please ask your questions in the comments!
Love,
Judith
