I’ll walk you through some of my favorite calligraphy supplies from the paper to nibs to pen holders to inks that I reach for first!

Quick disclaimer! I do have some affiliate links for any Amazon purchase which means I will get a small percentage of the purchase if you buy through my link, with no extra cost to you. If you like what I do, please consider using my links to support me!

Paper

My go-to paper from practice to drills to finished pieces is the HP laserjet premium 32 lb weight. It’s nice and smooth and holds ink very well with little to no bleeding. You can find these in your local stores or order through Amazon here.

This paper is one I’ve only just recently attempted but now that I’ve found it, I want to write everything on it! That miracle paper is vellum, just like those soft transparent additions in wedding stationery that give that touch of elegance. It’s softer than butter and oh-so-smooth to write on. With vellum, you may want to use a clipboard or some lightly applied washi tape from a couple of edges of vellum to your writing surface to prevent it from sliding around. Click here to purchase vellum!

Nibs

The Nikko G is a great all-around nib, perfect for beginners, due to its stiffness quality. It’s not too stiff that it feels impossible to get a contrasting thick-to-thin stroke. It’s also more on the dull side as far as pointed nibs go. It allows thin hairlines with minimal catching of paper fibers. You can get these in packs of 10 on Amazon or individually at John Neal Bookseller. I typically reach for my Nikko G nibs when I want to try out a different style of calligraphy or try something new! If you’re looking for an ultrafine hairline nib, this is not the nib to achieve this look.

The Leonardt Principle EF is perfect for Copperplate calligraphy and getting those ultrafine hairlines! This nib is also much more flexible than the Nikko G so if you’re a light-handed writer this nib is a perfect choice as it does not require a lot of pressure in order to get those thick downstrokes. Because of the ultrafine point, this nib can hurt your finger if you insert it incorrectly into your pen holder so be careful when changing out the nib!

The Brause Steno, also known as the “Blue Pumpkin” due to its blue hue is the newest contribution to my favorite nib list. It’s more flexible than the Nikko G and less than the Leonardt Principle EF. It also has a slightly flatter point than the Nikko G while still being considered a pointed nib. It has a very large ink well underneath allowing the ink to go farther as you write. If you are heavy-handed, this may use more ink on your downstrokes but provide a really nice contrast of your hairlines to thick. I’ve found this to be one of the best nibs for a high-contrast look. John Neal sells these as well here.

Pen Holders

Ah, my favorite section of the favorites! I have two favorite holders, both from Tom’s Studio and both in an oblique style. The Flourish Oblique in Rose Gold & the Carrot in one of his original limited edition launch colors! These are my current favorite holders I own. They’re both made from high-quality aluminum which is heavier than both my wooden and plastic holders, but I have found it provides a good balance when writing. The carrot’s wide stem provides comfort in long writing sessions preventing cramps. Both of these beauties have an adjustable flange that can be rotated to a custom angle fit for your hand. It’s truly my favorite feature! It takes some playing around to find that angle for how you write and it may even depend on the type of calligraphy or nib you are using, but it’s such a great feature! Plus, you also have the ability to adjust the width required to hold your nib. This is great because not all nibs have the same width or curvature and will not fit a standard pre-fixed flange or straight holder. This holds any nib of any size with ease!

Don’t forget the Ink!

For practice ink, Sumi Ink or Walnut ink are great options! Sumi ink is the standard in terms of thickness and opacity and is very affordable. Walnut ink is a bit more on the transparent side and tends to run a little thinner. I purchased Walnut ink crystals from John Ne a l Bookseller that you can mix with water and some gum arabic to thicken the ink. It produces a lovely gradient of brown tones light on the hairlines and a deep brown where the down strokes are. It’s stunning!

For colored ink, I have to go with custom-made gouache ink that you can mix using any gouache ink you can find at your local craft store and one in your budget. When I didn’t know what to do or try first on a budget, I got Arteza’s starter pack gouache with 24 colors, which has served me well for the last 2 years. I have run through the white tube the most as I lean towards lighter and less saturated inks when I am mixing my own. You can purchase the starter 24-pack here!

As for metallics, Colorio watercolors all the way! You may also find them under Fintec, Pearlcolors, etc. This palette was a birthday gift because I was too stingy to purchase it myself as it is the most costly of the inks on here, and for a very good reason. These are handmade in Germany using mica pigments and gum arabic, so there’s no need to add any additional gum arabic as an adherence agent! There are a few colors in my palette that change color with the angle of light that hits them. Some may look blue then turn to silver or look white and turn green, it’s a magical experience! If you are a calligrapher or know someone who is, these make a perfect gift!