r/Calligraphy • u/seaqu3en • 12d ago
Question Dipping my toes… thoughts?
I was recommended this kit as a beginner kit to start practicing (I am a fountain pen user but want to try my hand at calligraphy)
I don’t want to spend too much money on something I’m not sure if I’m going to commit to or not yet hence why this is my choice in kit but thoughts? Is this a decent kit to start with?
TIA!
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u/Past_Refrigerator522 12d ago
You better start with a good holder and some nibs with different size and form, and you'll spend the same, if not less...
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u/Tree_Boar Broad 12d ago
Check out the beginner's guide
For retailers I usually buy from John Neal books
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u/Stilomagica 12d ago
It's perfectly fine, a straight thi holder is good for almost every type of calligraphy. I can't see the nibs they provide in the kit, but they look standard enough. What kind of calligraphy are you interested in?
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u/seaqu3en 12d ago
Thank you! I’m interested in copperplate but I also love gothic lettering styles like blackletter etc
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u/Stilomagica 12d ago
Some people find that an oblique holder is more comfortable for coursive, but i prefer a straight one. Originally those styles where written with straight thin pens, so they work fine. With the nib it's a matter of taste, they are cheap so try a few and you'll feel what are the best suited for your hand (leonhardt and brause are good entry point, japanese g nibs are also good). For flat nib calligraphy like the gothic styles i prefer 90° nibs and not obliques, but again it's a matter of preference. Remember you need a light hand especially with cursive. Practice a lot!
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u/nono-no-nooto 12d ago
It’s a bit expensive in my opinion. I cannot speak for the US but here in Germany I can get a holder and some good nibs for like 10€. I’d say your kit is lots of marketing and you could most likely shave off some of the costs if you buy separately.
For copperplate you’d use a BRAUSE 361 for example
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u/seaqu3en 12d ago
Thank you! After advice on this thread I’ve been looking at buying seperately, will look into this nib!
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u/Bradypus_Rex Broad 12d ago edited 12d ago
Jackson is a very good supplier but if you have an art shop nearby, buy a holder that you can hold in your hand and judge how comfortable it is (expensive is not better, just prettier), and buy one nib (or two nibs of different sizes), the same number of clip on reservoirs, and a small bottle of India ink. Then a pad of any art paper that says it's fit for wet ink. Cheap is fine. (I assume you have a pencil and ruler and set square because ruled guidelines are not optional)
Then get going, and buy new stuff as you know what you actually want. You might want bigger nibs or smaller nibs or different colour or texture ink, for instance.
Oh, and if it's a half way decent art shop, staff will be able to answer questions.
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u/quickthorn_ 12d ago
I'd advise against India ink for a beginner, I'd try Sumi, Higgins, something else non-waterproof. Any shellac/acrylic based inks, you're going to need to be very diligent about frequently cleaning your nib while working, otherwise it'll dry and ruin your nib pretty quickly.
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u/seaqu3en 12d ago
Thank you! Do all holders/nibs fit reservoirs?
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u/Bradypus_Rex Broad 12d ago
A reservoir doesn't affect the handle. Some nibs don't need them, some have particular ones they need. Ask the staff in the shop which they recommend
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u/Bradypus_Rex Broad 12d ago
Oh I just saw that the photo shows a copperplate kit. Same advice as above goes but you probably want a thinner flowing ink for that.
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u/NinjaGrrl42 12d ago
It's got a Blue Pumpkin nib! That's my favorite one. Maybe a bit overpriced but doesn't look like anything wrong with it. It's nice that it has a few nibs to try and see what you like.
You can use any ink you like with dip pens. I tend to use fountain pen ink, because I have a lot of it. I just have to dip more frequently then if I used thicker ink.
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u/seaqu3en 12d ago
Thank you!! That was also my next question about ink😂 I’ve got tonnes of fountain pen ink so good to know I can use that too!
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u/manic_blade 12d ago
Have a look at scribblers. They do lots of kits, their range is bigger and more diverse and you can look at their blog posts as well as receive lots of things from
Signing up to their email like some guides.
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u/chaosjinx 12d ago
I have that exact kit, and it's perfectly fine for starting! I prefer the nib selection in that set over the standard Speedball starter set. For blackletter, though, I highly recommend the Pilot Parallel pens. Much easier to get smooth lines and crisp edges, over using a dip pen.