‘Modern’ 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 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

ASCENDER LINE

WAIST LINE

BASE LINE

DESCENDER LINE

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! TOOLS YOU NEED

Clockwise from le�t top corner: 1. Workbook — this workbook will guide you through the challenge! Print it out on smooth like PaperOne 100gsm Digital, Rhodia, 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 — for brush lettering, of course. Beginner friendly pens include Fudenosuke Hard, Touch Sign, Artline Stix and Sakura Koi Coloring Pen 4. 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! UPSTROKE & DOWNSTROKE

ASCENDER LINE

steady constant pressure WAIST LINE steady over skinny! BASE LINE UPSTROKE & DOWNSTROKE (CONT'D) UNDERTURN

WAIST LINE

skinny all turn + li�t the way up BASE LINE OVERTURN

WAIST LINE press down + turn

BASE LINE COMPOUND CURVE 1

press + turn WAIST LINE

full pressure

skinny all turn + li�t the way up! BASE LINE COMPOUND CURVE 2

WAIST LINE press + turn

turn + li�t BASE LINE OVAL

press + turn WAIST LINE full pressure perpen. to slant

li�t + turn skinny join up! BASE LINE ASCENDING LOOP

ASCENDER LINE turn + press

skinny up! WAIST LINE

*keep inside mostly straight! BASE LINE ASCENDING LOOP (CONT'D) DESCENDING LOOP

WAIST LINE

BASE LINE

li�t + turn *keep inside mostly straight! DESCENDER LINE DESCENDING LOOP (CONT'D) PRACTICE SHEET (BLANK)