Brush & Nib

Pointed Pen

The flexible steel dip pen is the tool behind Copperplate, Spencerian, and most modern pointed-pen scripts, and it rewards a little patience richly. These guides walk you through seating a nib in its holder, preparing and loading ink, the gentle pressure that opens the tines for thick downstrokes and the light touch that keeps upstrokes hairline-thin, and how to diagnose the railroading, snagging, skipping, and blobs that trip up every beginner.

Pointed Pen

9 guides
Pointed Pen

Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills for Beginners

Learn pointed pen calligraphy drills step by step. Practice straight downstrokes, overturns, underturns, ovals, and loops to build consistent letterforms.

July 4, 2026
Pointed Pen

Why Your Nib Catches and Splatters (and How to Fix It)

Calligraphy nib catching paper is the most common beginner frustration. Here's why it happens and how to fix it in a few simple steps.

June 30, 2026
Pointed Pen

How to Assemble a Dip Pen and Insert a Nib

Learn how to assemble a dip pen and insert a nib safely and correctly — a beginner's step-by-step guide to dip pen setup.

June 27, 2026
Pointed Pen

How to Fix Railroading in Calligraphy

Railroading leaves two thin parallel ink lines instead of a filled downstroke. Learn the causes and step-by-step fixes to get smooth, filled strokes again.

June 23, 2026
Pointed Pen

What Is Copperplate Calligraphy? A Beginner's Introduction

Learn what copperplate calligraphy is, how it works, and what tools a beginner needs to start practicing this elegant pointed-pen script.

June 21, 2026
Pointed Pen

How to Write Italic Calligraphy for Beginners

Learn italic calligraphy from scratch: oval foundations, 5-degree slant, guidelines, and a letter-grouping drill sequence to build the full alphabet.

June 19, 2026
Pointed Pen

How Much Pressure to Use in Pointed Pen Calligraphy

Learn exactly how much pressure to use in pointed pen calligraphy, from feather-light upstrokes to controlled downstroke flex. A beginner's practical guide.

June 14, 2026
Pointed Pen

Thin Upstrokes and Thick Downstrokes Explained

Learn why pointed pen calligraphy uses thin upstrokes and thick downstrokes, how pressure controls line weight, and drills to build consistent strokes.

June 10, 2026
Pointed Pen

How to Load Ink Onto a Calligraphy Nib

Learn how to load ink onto a calligraphy nib correctly — how much to use, how to dip, and how to avoid blobs, skipping, and flooding.

June 5, 2026

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