Step away from the digital world and rediscover the forgotten art of handwritten letterforms. Whether you have little or no experience in calligraphy, after some time spent practicing and perfecting the basics, you'll soon see elegant letters flowing from your pen. All the instruction you need is inside this book, from which tools and materials to buy to how to set up a comfortable workspace. You'll be introduced to basic pen strokes, the most frequently used scripts, and guidelines for writing each one. Containing 12 step-by-step projects, there are plenty of exciting techniques and materials (both traditional and modern) to explore! With useful tips on everything from ruling up to write, letter spacing, sharpening nibs, and essential design skills, you'll learn to push the boundaries by experimenting with unusual new tools and to create dramatic effects with resist techniques, textured backgrounds, and gilding. See the exciting possibilities of pen, paper, ink, and paint to create lettered gifts that will be uniquely yours.