Maricar Concepcion Ramos - Modern Calligraphy: Learn the beautiful art of brush lettering

And here is a more recent artwork!

My hope is that as you learn the basics of calligraphy, you will also develop an appreciation for lettering as a form of self-expression and creativity. Brush lettering has turned my unspoken misery into victory. It led me to finding my purpose and true calling: to be creative and to be an artist. As I share my passion with the world, I want to help others experience this too.

I encourage anyone reading this book to try something new and commit to learning calligraphy because you might well discover not just your passion but also a purpose that will bring joy and fulfillment to your life.

Even if you think you are not creative, this book will help you unleash the lettering artist within you.

As a self-taught lettering artist, I understand how time-consuming it is to research tools and techniques, and study how to do brush lettering properly. Learning on your own may seem complicatedbut it doesnt have to be. Ive designed this book in a way that makes learning a new skill fun, so you will find each lesson interesting, easy to understand, and actionable.

But I also know that along the way, you will encounter struggles and frustrations. Therefore, the first section of this book will focus on setting the right mindset. You will learn how to overcome any limiting beliefs you may have, manage the factors that can hinder your practice, and shift your thoughts when you feel like giving up.

The following sections will guide you on the recommended supplies for beginners, the fundamentals of brush calligraphy, how to find other lettering styles and techniques, and projects that will allow you to express your creativity.

Treat this book as a personal project that will transform your life and not just as an added chore to your daily tasks. Whether you want to learn a skill or develop a new hobby, this books success depends on your willingness to work hard and practice the skills that you will learn here. Dont hesitate to write on the pages, draw, and color. Make the most out of this book!

Allow yourself to experiment, try new techniques, and enjoy the process without worrying about the results or making mistakes. Let go of perfection and focus on your progress.

Now youre ready! Lets do this.

When I started learning calligraphy back in 2017, I wasnt prepared for the frustrations and the negative feelings that I faced upon deciding to buy my first set of brush pens and take the path toward creativity. After all, I was just doing it as a hobby. But along the way, I realized that there are challenges.

Mindset can often be the reason that we get stuck when learning calligraphy. The right mindset will not only help set you up for success in calligraphy; it will also help you in other areas of your life. Here are some of the common limiting beliefs that may hold you back from learning calligraphy.

I cant letter because I have bad handwriting.

Many people think that to do brush calligraphy, you must have good handwriting. If you believe that you cant do lettering because you have bad writing, the truth is that doesnt matter if it is beautiful or terrible. Anyone can learn brush lettering.

Im not creative.

Would you believe that I didnt see myself as a creative person when I was starting out? I was working as an engineer when I discovered calligraphy, and while I have a background in drafting, I can only draw a person with a circle and sticks. I thought that I wouldnt be able to do lettering as Ive seen on social media.

The truth is, anyone can be creative if they just try. You may stumble on your road to creativity, but you will eventually reach your goals when you devote yourself to developing your creative abilities. Dont be afraid to make mistakes; they are part of the process.

I dont have time to practice.

I had a job that was physically and mentally demanding and required me to work beyond working hours. How did I manage to practice and get better at calligraphy?

This is what I did every night after dinner and every morning before going to the office: I would spend 30 minutes to one hour learning and improving my skills. Calligraphy is my way of relaxing and de-stressing, so spending time creating something is therapeutic to me.

Do not give up on your dreams of becoming a great calligrapher just because you are not good at drawing or have lousy handwriting. Recognize your limiting beliefs and work on overcoming them.

EXERCISE

To help you get started, Id like you to complete this simple mind-setting exercise. Clarify your goals in learning brush lettering and set your inspiration and motivation when you feel like giving up.

Why do you want to learn brush lettering? (E.g., you want a new hobby; you want to do it for your wedding; you want to learn a new skill, and so on.)

What is your No. 1 limiting belief when it comes to learning calligraphy?

How do you plan to overcome this limiting belief?

In this section, I will share some of my favorite art supplies that Ive used for years now. Just a friendly warning, though: When youre buying one brush pen, it can be tempting to buy and collect more. Thats normal because youre still exploring which brush pen will work for you as a beginner. However, you dont need all the materials mentioned here to make beautiful art. Start with what you have and focus on building your skills before buying more.