Calligraphy & Watercolor Resources
Hi! Looking for some more info on where to get calligraphy supplies? Here is a list of some of the things that I love that have seen me through from beginner to professional. They are tried and true for me and other calligraphers I work with. I usually buy all my supplies from JohnNeal Bookseller or Amazon.
Nibs
The Nikko G nib, is my favorite and go to nib for almost all jobs, its friendly enough for beginners and widely used by professionals.
The Blue pumpkin nib, is my suggestion for all beginners! It’s friendly and flexible and makes some really nice downstrokes.
Holders
Having a comfortable holder is important! I find that plastic holders are great for learning, but once you have a feel, look around at other pens holders, especially if you have arthritis or joint issues, but even if you plan to just use your pen a lot (and you should!). Be comfortable, it will make a world of difference!
For straight pen holders, I recommend this cork tipped one. It’s super comfortable to hold and feels a little more natural in your hand. I started with exact one and still bust it out sometimes.
For oblique pen holders, I recommend this style. They are made of wood and more comfortable to hold while lettering. This pen is a little thicker and heavier which makes it the perfect choice if you have arthritis or joint issues. I personally use this holder and it was game changing when I switched to it!
Another lighter option is this pen. Comfortable wood handle and a little fancy looking.
Ink wells
You will need a place for your ink and these are the most perfect little things in the world! Dinky-dips come in different arrangements, I use the four dips. They are small, but they are all you need and they will hold your ink pot in place as you dip and re-dip for ink.
Ink
Your ink does matter. Some ink is water soluble and some, like acrylic ink, is not. Some ink is thick and some ink is thin. I mostly use Sumi ink. Nothing compares to it!
Moon Palace Sumi ink is my go to for most jobs. It’s got a great flow and is mostly water proof.
Best Bottle Sumi ink is another favorite of mine. It’s not waterproof so be warned if your working on projects that may need to get wet.
You can also find great sumi ink on amazon, I love the Kaimei Sumi and the Yasutomo sumi ink as well.
For white ink, I’ve tried a few and always go back to this one, Dr. Martin’s bleedproof white ink. It’s an industry standard for the best white ink. The caveat- you need to add water to this ink to get it just right to flow from your nib. I take a little out of the bottle, put it in my dinky dip and add water until I’m satisfied with the flow and color.
Paper
It sounds crazy, but good ole’ regular printer paper and tracing paper are great for practice and beginners! As an artist/ calligrapher, I go through TONS of paper, so I usually always stick with printer paper (25lb) and tracing paper when I need it.
Free Printable Guides
Sip and Script has a great selection of free printables that you can print out at home and trace with tracing paper! Tracing is your friend while you gain that muscle memory.