ASCENDER LINE

DESCENDER LINE

BASE LINE

WAIST LINE

‘Modern’ calligraphy has been making the rounds lately and if you're here — that's probably what you want to learn! But before we get all into the details, here's one thing you need to remember: calligraphy is not cursive.

Cursive is joined up writing; you ideally write without li�ting your pen so you can write faster. While calligraphy can look similar, the key is to go slow and to break down each and every letter into its supporting strokes.

THE BASIC STROKES

Or as some people call them, the drills! As dull as it sounds, brush lettering is made up of 9 common strokes illustrated above. With these strokes alone, you can form 21 out of the 26 letters in the lowercase alphabet — and some of the capital letters too!

HOW THIS WORKS

In Brush Basics, we'll be building your foundation right by covering all 9 strokes over the course of 2 weeks! Here's the schedule:

On Day 1, you'll learn how to use your brush pen to form thin upstrokes and thick downstrokes. This is an easy lesson, so you have just one day to tackle it! Lesson 2 (delivered on Day 2) will cover underturn and overturn strokes. Lessons 3 and 4 (delivered on Days 4 and 6, respectively) will see you taking on the two di�ferent compound curves.

You'll learn all about ovals in Lesson 5 (delivered on Day 8) — and because this is a hard one, you'll have not two but three days to practice it. Finally, Lessons 6 and 7 (delivered on Days 11 and 13) will teach you all you need to know about the ascending and descending loops, before we wrap up with some graduation goodies!

Each video lesson will be delivered via email to you.

If you're a busy, busy person, this also gives you a bit of a bu�fer to catch up. If you're crazy busy and can't stick to the schedule though, don't worry! The videos and emails will always be there for you.

Before ‘class’ starts proper, watch the Welcome video that came with this email, and gather up the supplies you need — I have a supply list for you on the next page for your easy reference!

Clockwise from le�t top corner:1. Workbook — this workbook will guide you through the challenge! Print it out on smooth paper like PaperOne 100gsm Digital, Rhodia, Muji or Campus looseleaf.2. Tracing Paper — if you'd like to save on printing, tracing paper is great for practicing! Just lay it over your workbook!3. Brush Pens — for brush lettering, of course. Beginner friendly pens include Tombow Fudenosuke Hard, Pentel Touch Sign, Artline Stix and Sakura Koi Coloring Pen4. Brushes — An alternative to the brush pen is a real paintbrush (and paint, see #5). Brush lettering can be done with a regular round brush in size 0-2, but my personal favourites are the Sakura Koi Water Brush #2, and Daler Rowney Graduate Rigger #1.5. Watercolour Palette — any watercolours you can find would do!

TOOLS YOU NEED

UPSTROKE & DOWNSTROKE

ASCENDER LINE

BASE LINE

WAIST LINEsteady over skinny!

steady constant pressure

UPSTROKE & DOWNSTROKE (CONT'D)

BASE LINE

WAIST LINE

turn + li�tskinny allthe way up

UNDERTURN

press down + turn

BASE LINE

WAIST LINE

OVERTURN

BASE LINE

WAIST LINE

skinny all the way up!turn + li�t

press + turn

full pressure

COMPOUND CURVE 1

BASE LINE

WAIST LINE

turn + li�t

press + turn

COMPOUND CURVE 2

BASE LINE

WAIST LINEpress + turn

full pressureperpen. to slant

li�t + turn skinny join up!

OVAL

skinny up!

turn + press

*keep inside mostly straight!

ASCENDER LINE

BASE LINE

WAIST LINE

ASCENDING LOOP

ASCENDING LOOP (CONT'D)

*keep inside mostly straight!li�t + turn

WAIST LINE

DESCENDER LINE

BASE LINE

DESCENDING LOOP

DESCENDING LOOP (CONT'D)

PRA

CTIC

E SH

EET

(BLA

NK)