Blackletter Gothic Calligraphy
Blackletter Gothic Calligraphy
Blackletter Gothic Calligraphy
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Welcome back lettering lovers!
Today we finally have the honor to present you a tutorial that we have been planning for quite some
time now.
Blackletter calligraphy is one of many scripts created using a flat nib, and our friend Edgar is going
to share the very fundamentals and how to get started step-by-step.
On top of that, Edgar has also prepared FREE practice sheets including both capitals and lower
case letters – you can find them at the end of the article!
Before we jump right into it, we just wanted to thank Edgar for taking the time to sharing his
knowledge and contributing to the community!
Hello everybody,
my name is Edgar Villa. A few of you may know me by my social media handle ‘Made by Edgar’
and I am a Mexican calligrapher/artist from Jersey City. I composed this article to help any
beginners interested in learning ‘Blackletter’ calligraphy.hy
Object 1
Pin me!
Origins of Blackletter
Blackletter also known as ‘Gothic’ was created during the 12th-century at a time when more and
more people began to read and write. The demand for books where increasing and they had to be
written fast to meet that demand.
Blackletter’s condensed written style made it so more words fit in a single page and thus less
vellum was used which lowered production costs.
In short Blackletter made producing a large amount of books easier and more affordable.
Blackletter has many variations Fraktur, Rotunda and Schwabacher to name a few. Since Blackletter
has a wide family of scripts I will narrow it down and help you grasp the basics of a script known as
‘Textura Quadrata’.
Tools needed
1.Broad edge nib
• Pilot parallel pens are my favorite because they are ready to use out of the box
• Any broad edge nib
2.Straight holder
• Speedball has an inexpensive straight holder that I use ‘till this day
3.Paper that doesn’t bleed
• I found that paper 70lb and over work fine
• My favorite is ‘Strathmore Mixed Media 90lb Paper’
4.Calligraphy Ink
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s India Inks
• Moon Palace Sumi Ink
• Winsor & Newton Gouache
• Or any ink meant for calligraphy purposes
5.Water and paper towel to clean nibs
• You can also use a cloth/rag, preferably a non-fibrous cloth
6.Ruler
• I use a ‘rolling ruler’ because it helps me make even horizontal and vertical lines with ease
• A regular ruler will work just as fine
7.Pencils
• 4H-HB pencils are recommended because any heavier graphite will make it hard to erase
8.Eraser
• A kneaded eraser is perfect but any eraser will do
The paper you choose for your calligraphy matters!
The paper you choose for your calligraphy matters!
From day one I used Rhodia paper, here are two big reasons why you should too;
• Ink doesn’t bleed
• You have the option of getting the paper lined or dotted which makes it easier to create
straight lines that are required for Blackletter
For any piece that I will hang on my wall I will use the best paper I can get my hands on
But for practice any low quality paper works.
You can also remove the reservoir to give the nib a deeper clean. *remove the reservoir
CAREFULLY because it’s VERY FRAGILE, also to avoid breaking the reservoir you can get in hard
to reach places with a toothbrush*
After you learn to construct letters you can start manipulating your letters and extending your
flourishes. In time you will create perfect letters and balanced flourishes.
When I am done and the ink is 100% dry I will carefully erase the guidelines. I found that using a
kneaded eraser will erase the guidelines with ease.
Always remember when using an eraser that you be very careful around any ink even if looks
completely dry.
Remember to clean up when your are done. You don’t want to come back to a nib with dried up ink,
so clean it after every use.