Calligraphy is more like drawing than writing.
Practiced since ancient times, calligraphy is the fine art of creating beautiful penmanship. Calligraphy, like other fine arts, requires a wide range of specialized equipment, including pens, paper, brushes and ink. According to calligrapher David Harris, a major reason people struggle to get good results is usually because they've chosen the wrong equipment.
Nibs
The nib is the part of the pen that actually contacts the paper. Some pens have permanently attached nibs. A pen holder, on the other hand, is essentially a handle for holding a wide range of detachable steel nibs. Calligraphy is created with a broad nib that creates both thin and thick lines. The calligrapher controls thickness by changing the angle of the pen. Steel nibs should be periodically sharpened on a whetstone, like knives.
Pens
The reed pen and the quill have been used for calligraphy since ancient times. A reed pen consist of hollow garden reed with one end carved into the shape of a nib. However, they are also made from synthetic materials, such as hollow plastic tubes. Quills are made from the shaft of a swan, turkey, goose, duck or crow feather, with its point cut into the shape of a nib. Unlike pen holders, reeds and quills, a calligraphic fountain pen conveniently holds its own supply of ink, eliminating the need to repeatedly dip the pen in the inkwell. Felt-tip pens are are used for practicing letters rather than completed work.
Brushes
Some calligraphers load ink onto their pens with small paint brushes rather than dipping the pens directly into the ink well. Wide brushes are used for creating letters in the style of Imperial Capitals, the stately letters used on official monuments and signs in ancient Rome. The ideal brush for this style of letters is made from fine synthetic or sable hairs that allow the calligrapher to create a clean, sharp edge.
Ink
Ancient and medieval scribes made their own ink, but modern calligraphers can buy a wide variety of inks, such as India ink or Chinese ink, at an art supply store. India ink is liquid ink often used for drawing and writing. Chinese black ink consists of a stick or block rubbed against a stone to create fine powder that is then mixed with water. One of the advantages of Chinese ink is that even thin Chinese ink still appears opaque.
Paper
Layout paper, drawing paper and typing paper are used for practice. If the paper's surface is too hard, the ink won't flow from the pen effectively. If it is too soft, it will absorb too much ink and the letters will look unclear or uneven. Ancient scribes worked with vellum, made from goatskin or calfskin, and parchment, made from sheepskin. However, vellum and parchment can be expensive, so most calligraphers use acid free, close-grained paper, such as cotton paper, rag paper or smooth water color paper.
