Calligraphy and hand lettering basics

Modern calligraphy is cursive written slowly with thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes. Start with the basic strokes, then the alphabet, then whole words. Every page lets you trace on screen (an Apple Pencil or stylus reads your pressure) and has free practice sheets to print.

1. 1. Calligraphy basic strokesModern calligraphy is built from eight basic strokes: the upstroke, downstroke, overturn, underturn, compound curve, oval, ascending loop and descending loop.
2. 2. Lowercase calligraphy alphabetTo write the lowercase calligraphy alphabet, write each cursive letter slowly and change the pressure: heavy on every downstroke, light on every upstroke.
3. 3. Uppercase calligraphy alphabetCapital calligraphy letters use the same rule as lowercase: thick downstrokes, thin upstrokes.
4. 4. Faux calligraphy with any penFaux calligraphy is hand lettering with an ordinary pen.
5. 5. Pressure practice for brush pens and Apple PencilPressure control is the skill behind brush lettering: firm pressure on downstrokes for a thick line, a light touch on upstrokes for a thin line, and a smooth change between them.
6. 6. Calligraphy practice wordsOnce the basic strokes and single letters are even, practise short, common words.

Want everyday handwriting first? See the cursive alphabet.