Crash Course Workbook English Calligraphy

INTRODUCTION TO
(FAUX)
why faux calligraphy?
The main difference between faux calligraphy and regular calligraphy is your tools.
Faux calligraphy is considered easier, and oftentimes it is taught to beginners,

because you aren’t having to use any new TOOLS. The techniques are virtually the
same, except that you can use an everyday writing utensil like a ballpoint pen or a
pencil and achieve the “look” of calligraphy, without learning how to use brush pens or
nibs.
The other reason faux calligraphy is popular for many calligraphers is that it can be
used on surfaces that brush pens aren’t useful for- such as glass/windows, chalkboards,
mirrors, etc. This makes it a very popular skill for wedding calligraphers who do signage
pieces, for example, or artists who work on large custom jobs like restaurant menus.
upstrokes & downstrokes

In calligraphy, the most important concept to understand is upstrokes & downtrokes.
This is basically just understanding that the thinner & thicker parts of your letters/
strokes correspond to where you are moving in a UPWARDS direction vs. a DOWN-
WARDS direction.
When your pen is moving in an upwards DN

DN
direction, the line should be THIN.
When your pen is moving in a downwards
UP
direction, the line should be THICK. UP
In modern calligraphy, using a brush or a nib, these thins and thicks are created by
changing the PRESSURE on the writing utensil- pressing harder gives you a thicker
line.
In faux calligraphy, however, we are manually thickening the parts of the stroke/letter
that are MEANT to be thick- so we are simply mimicking what would happen if we
were to use a brush or a nib. We’re “faking it”. Hence the name, faux calligraphy!
2 | Intro to Faux Calligraphy

© 2018 The Happy Ever Crafter Inc. | For personal use only. Do not replicate.
now for your first challenge...
Before we get to the lesson, let’s establish a starting point.
Grab your pen, and in the space below, write the following
word with your current “faux calligraphy” knowledge:
Then, save this space for later:

the basic strokes
This is the step that most people miss!
Cursive and calligraphy are not the same. Calligraphy is actually broken down into
basic strokes- the ones shown below. All of these individual strokes are what turn
into each and every letter of your alphabet- more on that later!
Once you’ve mastered creating each of the basic strokes, you’ll be all set to create a
consistent, pleasing alphabet.
THE UPSTROKE
THE DOWNSTROKE
THE OVERTURN STROKE
THE UNDERTURN STROKE
THE COMPOUND CURVE
THE OVAL
THE ASCENDING LOOP
THE DESCENDING LOOP

assembling letters
Once you’ve got the hang of the basic strokes, you can start assembling letters.
When you combine different combinations of your basic strokes together, they form
letters. Magic, right?!
Let’s take a peek at a few examples, then walk through the whole alphabet.
n + =
g + + + =
h + + =

adding weight
Once you’ve got the hang of the basic strokes, you can start assembling letters.
When you combine different combinations of your basic strokes together, they form
letters. Magic, right?!
Let’s take a peek at a few examples, then walk through the whole alphabet.
Try it on the basic strokes, first:

connecting letters into words
Generally speaking, the finishing stroke from your first letter will turn into the entrance
stroke for your next.
HERE’S WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE:
forego this use the underturn

upstroke of the “a” to connect
Always keep in mind what your next letter will be- that way you can adjust your
connector as needed!
shorten this forego this underturn connects

upstroke upstroke to oval
Sometimes, it’s not that simple, though- and you’ll end up with some modified
connections like the ones below.

R e me m b er at th e start w hen you w rote “ ma gic” a s well a s you
could?
Now , g o b ack an d s e e h ow muc h it improved in suc h little

time!
Sn a p a ph o to of you r b efore /af te r an d

pos t it o n I n s ta g ram u s i n g t h e h as h t ag
# Calli grap hyCra s hCo u rs e !
D o n ’ t fo rg e t to t ag m e
@thehap pyeve r c ra f te r !


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INTRODUCTION TO

Faux calligraphy is considered easier, and oftentimes it is taught to beginners,

upstrokes & downstrokes

When your pen is moving in an upwards DN

2 | Intro to Faux Calligraphy

Then, save this space for later:

3 | Intro to Faux Calligraphy

THE OVERTURN STROKE

THE UNDERTURN STROKE

THE COMPOUND CURVE

THE ASCENDING LOOP

THE DESCENDING LOOP

4 | Intro to Faux Calligraphy

6 | Intro to Faux Calligraphy

Try it on the basic strokes, first:

8 | Intro to Faux Calligraphy

HERE’S WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE:

forego this use the underturn

HERE’S WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE:

shorten this forego this underturn connects

HERE’S WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE:

10 | Intro to Faux Calligraphy

Now , g o b ack an d s e e h ow muc h it improved in suc h little

Sn a p a ph o to of you r b efore /af te r an d

11 | Intro to Faux Calligraphy

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