My All-Time Favorite Calligraphy Supplies

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If you’ve recently gotten into calligraphy, you may be interested in trying out some new supplies! There is a whole world of fun art supplies out there, and there are no limits when it comes to your creativity. These calligraphy supplies are all beginner-friendly! Here are a few of my tried and true, all-time favorite calligraphy supplies that I use regularly!

In this post, you’ll find the following. Click the link to jump to the category!

Nibs

My personal favorite is the Nikko G! It’s flexible, but not too flexible, so it creates nice thin upstrokes and thick downstrokes, and is not difficult to control. This is the nib that I reach for most often!

I also love the Brause Blue Pumpkin. Not only is it a pretty blue color, but it holds a lot of ink and makes thick, juicy downstrokes!

Inks

As far as inks go, I love pretty much everything by Dr. PH Martin’s 😍They make the best white ink: Bleedproof White. I really like to use white ink on dark or colorful papers so it really pops, so this is a must-have for me!

 
 

They make the most beautiful iridescent inks! A couple of my favorite colors are Copperplate Gold (a gorgeous true gold metallic color), Nickel (a more champagne-y metallic), and Iridescent Orchid (a shimmery purple that looks SO GOOD on black paper).

 
 

I used Copperplate Gold on these place cards!

If you like colorful ink, gouache is the way to go! Gouache is an acrylic paint that you can dilute with water to use for calligraphy. You can take a small squeeze of gouache and add 5-10 drops of water to it, mix, and you have a vibrant ink to use with your pointed pen! The tubes look small but a little goes a long way, so they will last you for quite a while!

I used Holbein Acryla pink gouache in the video above!

Pens / Holders

There are so many pretty holders out there! I prefer an oblique holder over a straight holder, and I have two favorites that I use for nearly all of my projects.

My pink pen from Feather Park Lettering! This is pink resin with gold details and I love it so much! It’s beautiful and eye catching, and it’s really comfortable to hold. My exact one is not available, but you can order a bespoke pen or check out the beauties in her elemental collection!

 
 

in the photo above, the ink that I’m using is Dr. PH Martin’s Copplerplate Gold!

My custom ergonomic pen from My Beloved Calligraphy! This was custom-made to MY HAND MEASUREMENTS. How cool is that?! It’s really comfortable to write with, and I really like how sleek it is! This is the Ergo in glossy purple!

Using the Ergo pen, Blue Pumpkin nib and Iridescent Orchid ink in the video above!

Other Calligraphy Must-Haves

Nibs, inks and holders are the basics; there are a lot of other supplies I find myself using frequently!

  • A good ruler: there is a surprising amount of measuring in calligraphy when you’re laying out and formatting a project, and you know the saying - measure twice, cut once! (except instead of cutting, we’re writing 😊)

  • Laser level: to help you write straight lines on any surface. I use this for envelope addressing, place cards, and sometimes signs, too! This is perfect for when you can’t have the ruler on the page, or don’t want to draw a guideline. Just use the laser level to keep things straight!

  • Good practice paper: I like Rhodia notepads! The paper is really smooth, which makes it so nice to write on with a pointed pen!

  • An eraser: Typically, you can’t really erase ink on paper like you could pencil writing. But, there is a special eraser called a sand eraser that can help you fix small mistakes! Use this gently to remove an ink splatter or another small mistake. It works because it has a rough texture that wears down the paper - so always test it in an inconspicuous area first!

Where to Shop

When you want to get something quick, Amazon is always great! The main place I get supplies from is Paper & Ink Arts. Use my link to create an account and you’ll earn points for every dollar spent, for writing reviews and for inviting friends, which you can redeem to get money off your orders!

Happy supply shopping!

Looking for more calligraphy supplies? You might like these posts!

Please note: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you!