Saturday 31 December 2016

What is Calligraphy?

Calligraphy is an ancient art form, practiced in many cultures around the world.Even the word is ancient, originating in the Greek words kallos(beautiful) and graphe (writing).There is vast history behind the word calligraphy from all over the countries around the globe.Roman,arabic, chinese, devnagari are some of the famous calligraphy cultures in the world today.Interestingly, it was the invention of the printing press that truly launched calligraphy as an art form that is still in use today. 

Many people simply view it as a method of writing, but calligraphy is really so much more.Calligraphy is beyond art,hobby or job. I believe that calligraphy is a form of meditation where you get to know yourself while working with your own imagination powers along with basic forms in letters.According to me calligraphy is an art and science where the calligraphers main objective is to make handwriting looks beautiful while following all basic rules.Like other art forms, a lot of calligraphy will take on your own personal style.Even copying a set of fonts will still let you introduce your own personality through the boldness of your stroke or the flourish of your ends.Therefore no two people will ever have quiet the same writing style,even when using the same type of script.


Calligraphy is one of the most fluid forms of art today.Once you start looking at the way words are made up, you will begin to see many ways that you can change them to have a bigger effect on the viewer.Calligraphy is one of the oldest writing styles around.And yet at the same time,its one of the most constantly changing and innovative art forms in use today.There are hundreds of different calligraphic fonts out there to explore.Some are fairly simple whereas some are extremely complex ,with each letter having multiple flourishes that help give it greater impact.A document written in calligraphy will be viewed very differently than a document saying the same thing but printed or using a plain text.This is why calligraphy is used to so frequently for important documents like diplomas,wedding invitations,logos and signs.There are countless different calligraphy styles, with more being created everyday.Broadly,however,they can be broken down into 2 categories: Traditional and non-traditional.


Compared to most of other artistic pursuits, calligraphy is also very inexpensive.You will only need to buy a few things you are not likely to have at home : The nibs,the nib holder,the ink and the right paper.Within each of these categories,of course,you will find a lot of excellent options at various prices which you can explore as you will go ahead with practicing more.


Its common for beginners to start with very basic script,then to begin working on different letter-forms once the first set has been mastered.The basic method of drawing each letter remains same,once you have learned one style its easy to adjust and move on to other styles and methods over time.Many people think you need to have perfect penmanship to create these beautiful letters,but the truth is calligraphy uses an entirely different technique than writing with standard ballpoint pen and anyone can learn it-regardless of how good or bad your handwriting is.Learning to write in calligraphic style is all about training the muscle memory of you hand and arm.Traditionally, calligraphy is produced using pen and ink.A lot of learning calligraphy is going to be learning how to control your pen,and how to get the right amount of pressure on it to produce the kind of line you are looking for.


Unfortunately for many people, all of that practice can quickly begin to feel a little tedious and dull after a while.And when this happens , you are more likely to quit before you ever end up mastering it.But the person keen to enjoy the beauty of letters should believe that Its incredibly easy to learn calligraphy if there is continuous hard work,a good patience level, and complete devotion towards the process of learning this art form.Like any other skill, consistent practice is the main ingredient to success.Learning calligraphy can be a wonderful way to enhance many areas of your life.Adding this little decorative touch to everything from home decor to table settings can allow you to deepen your satisfaction in any area.Also don't be afraid to experiment with new techniques and styles as you learn.Calligraphy doesn't have to be just about letters.As you grow more comfortable with up-strokes,down-strokes and flourishes, you can add them around to create truly unique works of art...designs of your own imagination.Regardless of what stage you are in with your calligraphy journey, don't forget that practice is a key.Slow practice is a best practice where calligraphy is concerned.View it as a process of meditation on the strokes, and don't try to rush the process or churn out flourishes as fast as possible.So,Start practicing your calligraphy and letter forms today to begin to enhance your words and their impact tomorrow.



- Rupali Thombare.

2 comments:

  1. Got to know something new....All.the best.

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  2. I can not find the perfect words to express for u.All i can say is Thank u for everything..

    ReplyDelete