Want to Learn Calligraphy? Try This First!
If you have been following along, you know I am hosting the 20 Minutes of Cray account on Instagram for the month of August.
Below, you can see my very first post for the page in my favorite color, orange. 🥰
This account is a monthly challenge overseen by the folks at Crayligraphy. Crayligraphy is a mashup of the words “cray”, which is slang for crazy, and “calligraphy”. Crayligraphy is typically made with broad tip markers such as those you’d find in most art classrooms. You may even have a few hanging out at your home already. According to the folks at Crayligraphy, the brand doesn’t matter as long as you enjoy using them.
The challenge itself involves a host practicing crayligraphy every day for a month to display on the @20MinutesOfCray account using self-selected, daily prompts. Followers of the account are welcome to also join in and post their crayligraphy of the current prompt. As the host, I repost some of them to the account’s Stories on IG and FB.
A bit of backstory….I joined the Craymunity group early on at the start of the pandemic. I admired a lot of the work being created with every day markers and I really wanted some new skills to take back to my students (you know, way back when…when we thought we’d be going back sooner). I had previously taught many of my middle school students how to do calligraphy with the markers we have in school. But, at the time, all I knew was up/thin, down/thick. That actually took us pretty far. The kids started making signs and writing their teachers names with style! It was nice to see the engagement for an interest I also held. While calligraphy and cursive are technically not the same thing, it was even nicer to see students attempting to write letters that were joined…letters that looked more like cursive or script, a form of writing that someone apparently thought it was a good idea to get rid of in the schools years ago. It wasn’t me, I’m still new. But, I figure this challenge is my opportunity to go deeper and see what other things we can do.
Coincidentally, this is also….my first takeover (gulp). But, while I’m not the most skilled IG’er in the world, those who are inexperienced at the platform and even the art form of calligraphy itself are welcome to host the account. In fact, the challenge was created to help those who are new to the craft…a good reason why you may want to try it for yourself if you want to learn calligraphy. With this challenge, there’s no pressure to be the next Colin Tierney or David Milan (although what they can do with simple markers is #goals 😍). All it takes is some markers and a sketchbook or some loose paper (even some copy paper will do)…and a little effort.
Another good reason to start your calligraphy journey with crayligraphy is because the commitment is only 20 minutes a day for a month. You can, of course, drop in and out of the challenge. Life happens. But, 20 minutes a day really isn’t that bad, if you think about it.
At this point, I’m not new to challenges…My first lettering challenge was a month long challenge hosted by Calligraphy Masters (a personal fave) and Lettering Daily. I quickly learned that to complete the daily challenge for the amount of time I had to work with, handlettering-not calligraphy-was going to be my best bet. For this challenge, it’s just the opposite!
If you’ve been around the lettering community long enough, you know there’s a difference between handlettering and calligraphy. While most learning resources will also add typography into the mix, I won’t because it’s not my native language and there are so many resources that will do it greater justice in explaining (like this one). But suffice it to say that, in my experience, handlettering is more like drawing your letters while calligraphy is more like writing your letters (or, penmanship). Neither are typography, even though many times you will run across terms like “handtype” and similar names for them….but, I digress. For my skill set (being raised as a fine artist/painter), handlettering comes a little easier to me and it’s a bit more forgiving, in my opinion. But, that doesn’t mean calligraphy isn’t a skill that can’t be picked up with consistent practice and some basic info to get started like what you see here below.
I got this hefty 69-page packet as part of my takeover. The packet describes the differences between calligraphy, lettering, typography, and even logo types. It also includes information on terminology, fragmented versus fluid methods, basic strokes with a second part here, an alphabet and practice sheets, etc. It’s almost an online course in a packet. In fact, if you head over to The Happy Ever Crafter you can find a video with a great tutorial and demo of the process.
For my process, I start my 20 minutes warming up my hands with basic strokes, phrases, and nonsense words. Sometimes, if my partner and I are talking, I’ll use words I pick out from the conversation (I keep this to myself).
Then, I try to the prompt a few times and see what I get. At some point, I’d like to get more expression in my strokes. But, I’m sure that will come with time. These are my rejects for today.
The August prompts are This or That choices. I’ve already seen a few participants using crayligraphy to show their preferred response. I typically letter both choices and use my marker to show which one I have chosen. I’m also using this week to learn the ropes of the takeover overall. So far, so good!
So, what’ve we learned?
Getting started with crayligraphy is cheap.
You don’t have to be an expert.
It only takes 20 minutes a day for a month.
BONUS: You don’t even have to figure out words to try because they are prompts (unless your the host lol)!
My lineup for this week is here and my next post goes up a little later this evening. If you give it a try, be sure to tag @20MinutesOfCray, @Crayligraphy and me @staceyscribbling so I can cheer you on and for a chance to be featured!
