What is modern calligraphy?
Modern calligraphy has swiftly become the go-to script for brides looking for a unique finishing touch for their wedding, or for learners looking to ease themselves into dealing with calligraphic scripts and paraphernalia.
When I started teaching myself calligraphy in 2014, I didn't start with modern calligraphy. I didn't even know that was a thing. I instead found a style that I like the most, and seemed the most practical out of them: Copperplate.
What I quickly found was that Copperplate script, with its distinctive thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes, has now taken on a contemporary twist into what's termed "modern calligraphy". Although this style may be considered disdainfully by some traditionalists, I have seen it executed with breathtaking beauty by some of my favourite calligraphers.
The difference between Copperplate script and modern calligraphy
Modern calligraphy has its grounding in Copperplate script, which is why many teachers recommend getting Copperplate under your belt first. Copperplate calligraphy:
is structured with specific, individual strokes used to form the letters
requires varying pressure on up and down strokes to create thick down lines, and thin — hairline — upstrokes.
Therefore, mastering these techniques not only give you an excellent foundation, but also confidence, for doing modern calligraphy. The only difficulty I've been having is loosening up and being free outside of the Copperplate constraints. Beautiful constraints.
Modern calligraphy is a fresh, new style that brings a flexibility and uniqueness that is both appealing and accessible. Where Copperplate dictates form and function, modern calligraphy lends itself to a more fluid, closer-to-your-handwriting approach. With some practice, dedication, and inspiration, anyone can define their own modern calligraphic style.
My top resources for learning traditional and modern calligraphy:
Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy by Eleanor Winters
Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe
Modern calligraphers to follow
Time to send some modern calligraphy birthday cards
This year, I'm sending modern calligraphy birthday cards to as many friends and loved ones as possible. They're so much nicer to receive than bills! Hand designed and calligraphed, I'll be mixing up the designs and card stock each month to keep it interesting. January features white ink calligraphy on 'cognac' pearlescent cards that read "Have a magical birthday". Full disclosure: I did attempt so send hand written birthday cards last year, but my organisation let me down and it all petered out around May. And this was using printed birthday cards I'd designed, not individually written modern calligraphy birthday cards! So, to try and do better, this year, I plan to calligraph all of the cards for the upcoming month (and beyond -- as many as I can manage at a time), and then write and address the next month's cards by mid month. I do need to make sure I remember to actually post them, so I might need to stick some kind of list to the wall so I can be cross checking daily.
If you'd like to receive a birthday card from me, please email me your date of birth and address, and I'll do my very best to get one to you.
January modern birthday cards
My January babies received golden sparkly cards with white ink modern calligraphy, wax sealed in smoke grey envelopes with a gold seal.
February modern birthday cards
Not that I want to spoil their surprise, but I have a bunch of Aquarians and Pisceans to send birthday cards to this year. Ryan, Leigh, Ruth, Caroline, Christina, Verity, and Fiona are all in line for a little letterbox love in February. There’s just one glitch. About a third of these birthday babes live in Australia, where, I’ve only just found out, that my envelopes don’t meet the minimum size requirement. At 81mm x 114mm, these pocket size parcels of love don’t quite hit the 88mm minimum width specified by Australia Post (PDF).
What’s a girl to do. Well, I’m a plough-ahead-and-hope-for-the-best-kind of optimist. Of my January birthday babes, I sent only one tiny envelope to Australia and they received it, so, I’m pinning 100% of my hopes on the fact that these modern calligraphy birthday cards for February hit their mark, too.
Buy these modern calligraphy birthday cards
If you'd like to order your own modern calligraphy birthday cards to send, please email me to discuss what you'd like.
Nib & Ink — A modern calligraphy book
I always love finding out about modern calligraphy books to add to my growing collection of calligraphy reference material. I saw on Lamplighter London's Instagram account that Chiara is publishing a new handbook: Nib & Ink: The New Art of Modern Calligraphy.
I love Chiara's way with romance and whimsy when creating her personal style of calligraphy, so this modern calligraphy book is definitely one I've pre-ordered via Amazon.co.uk. I'll get a review posted for the summer. Who's with me?
A photo posted by Lamplighter • Creative • Type (@lamplighterlondon) on Jan 19, 2016 at 10:50am PST