LEARN CALLIGRAPHY
Perfect your penmanship by learning the calming art of calligraphy
When she was starting out as an actress, Meghan Markle revealed that, in between auditions, she became a calligraphy workshop instructor to pay her bills – and even wrote Christmas cards on behalf of fashion giant Dolce & Gabbana. Learning calligraphy is a great way to practise mindfulness and give yourself a break from the news for a bit. It’s also a great way to rediscover the forgotten art of letter writing – a really personal way to keep in touch with loved ones while you are apart.
Mindful tactics
Calligraphy teacher Edlyl Asis (@by.edlyl) tells us that, not only will you pick up a new skill, calligraphy is also a great thing to do to just zone out. “Modern calligraphy can be very relaxing,” she says. “It’s a fresh take on the traditional art, where you can be more adventurous and add your own twist to make your lettering unique. People think that if they have bad handwriting, they can’t do it, but calligraphy is really different. Once you’ve learnt the techniques, you’ll be able to write letters and cards, and personalise gifts and homeware products such as prints.”
Get going
That being said, don’t go thinking calligraphy is something you can master overnight – there’s a lot more to lettering than you think. Edlyl says, “Patience is key to modern calligraphy, and getting used to holding the pen can take time. Start off with practising ‘drills’ first, these are special exercises that will help you form letters and connect your words. Once you’re confident, you can then move on to single letters, then forming your words. If you practise at least once a week, your writing will definitely improve.”
Classy techniques
While there are plenty of modern calligraphy books out there, Edlyl says that there’s nothing like learning from the pros themselves – and thanks to the internet, you can get all the top tips in your front room. “My best advice would be to take part in a workshop, as nothing beats learning from a teacher,” she says. “You’ll get knowledge on what the best materials are to use and how to hold the pen correctly. There are also many free online videos you can try if you don’t want to commit to a workshop. Following modern calligraphers on Instagram can help, too.”
Visit Edlyl.co.uk to purchase Edlyl’s Modern Calligraphy Workshops, priced from just £20
‘People think if they have bad handwriting, they can’t do it’