Choosing the Right Calligraphy Pen
You can find calligraphy pens in wide variety of weights, sizes, and prices. If you are new to the world of calligraphy, you might find it hard to choose a pen that is just right for you. Here are some things that you should look for when choosing a pen.
One of the most important things that you need to remember when choosing a calligraphy pen is that it feels comfortable in your hand when you hold it. This is necessary in order for your writing to be fluid, so make sure the pen feels comfortable in your hand.
When choosing a pen, be sure to look at the width of the nib, different size nibs produce different sizes of calligraphy scripts. The wider the nib, the larger the text will be, while a thinner nib is great for writing smaller detail. A good size nib to start out with is about one and a half millimeters in width. Once you get the feel of calligraphy you can always move up to a larger nib.
The shape of the calligraphy nibs come in a variety of shapes such as wide, rounded, or chiseled points. If you’re a beginner, you might want to start out with the chiseled point, it is the easiest to use and is less likely to tear or rip your paper, but still allows you to make crisp lines and edges.
You will find that calligraphy pen nibs can be very stiff or remarkably flexible, depending on the type of material that they are made of. Depending if you are heavy handed or light handed will be the deciding factor of the type of nib you should choose. If you are just beginning to draw calligraphy, you will want to choose a nib that is easy for you to control. A heavy handed person should choose a nib that is stiff for better control. If you are looking for a variety of thickness when you write, you will want to choose a nib that is more flexible.
The weight and size of your pen is really a personal preference. Since calligraphy pens come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes you will want to choose a pen that is comfortable in your hand.
Since there are so many manufacturers of calligraphy pens, you might want to try out the pens before you purchase one. There are stores that will let you try the pen out before you purchase. You can also purchase a calligraphy kit that is for beginners. These kits usually come with everything that you need in order to start calligraphy: a pen, a couple of nibs, and a variety of inks. While this is a great way to get started with everything you need in order to start drawing, you may end up with a pen that does not fit well in your hand.
If you’d rather start out by purchasing a pen without the kit, just be sure that it fits well in your hand and feels comfortable when you write.