Breaking Down: Brush Calligraphy Styles

Brush calligraphy, with its sweeping strokes and expressive lines, has emerged as a captivating art form that blends tradition with contemporary creativity. This blog post takes you on a journey through four distinct brush calligraphy styles: Modern, Casual Signpainting, Copperplate, and Fuego, each showcasing a unique fusion of technique, personality, and visual appeal.

P.S – Just so you are aware, in the broader calligraphy space there are 5 main kinds that you can learn: (Blackletter, Pointed Pen, Brush, Ruling Pen and Handwriting/Handlettering) more about all of them on my Calligraphy Roadmap.

Modern Brush Calligraphy

In recent decades, a resurgence of interest in calligraphy has led to the emergence of modern calligraphy. While rooted in traditional brush techniques, modern calligraphy often deviates from strict rules, allowing for greater creative expression. Artists experiment with different tools, pen angles, and styles, infusing a fresh and personalized touch into their work. Below are my two styles of modern calligraphy, Congrats and Salutations:

Modern calligraphy is a great place to start, as there are less rules to follow and each calligrapher can have their own style once they get the hang of writing. Beginners can focus on letter formation and spacing to then, if they are interested in honing their skills, they can work towards a more difficult script like Copperplate or Fuego.

• Learn Modern Calligraphy Blogpost
• Master Modern Calligraphy Practice Sheets (Both Congrats & Salutations)

Casual Brush Calligraphy

Casual Brush can be traced back to the rich tradition of hand-painted signage that flourished in the early to mid-20th century. As demand for custom and eye-catching signs grew, sign painters sought tools that could offer versatility and fluidity in their work. The script brush casual emerged as a favored instrument due to its unique combination of a pointed tip for precise lettering and a broad belly for expressive strokes. This brush type became integral in creating the distinctive flowing and dynamic letterforms seen in vintage signs, shopfronts, advertisements and more recently, in online video content as the font for Mr. Beast’s captions.

• Master Casual Brush Calligraphy Practice Sheets
• Basic “Casual” Brush letter sheets

Copperplate Brush Calligraphy

Copperplate script, traditionally completed with a pointed pen, gained popularity in 18th century England. Characterized by its flowing, ornate lines and looped flourishes, Copperplate became synonymous with elegance and refinement. This script is often used for formal invitations, deluxe logos and documents due to its intricate beauty and legibility. Since pointed pens and brushes operate with the same mechanisms (more pressure=thicker lines), all pointed pen scripts can be completed with a brush pen or brush tool.

• Learn Copperplate Brush Calligraphy (In development)
• Master Copperplate Brush Calligraphy Practice Sheets (In development)

Fuego Brush Calligraphy

Fuego, meaning “fire” in Spanish, is a brush calligraphy style that lives up to its name with its fiery and energetic aesthetic. Characterized by bold, and dynamic strokes, Fuego is a culmination of tattoo brush scripts with Chicano lettering inspirations. This style is a difficult multi-stroke script that has a rough and expressive style.

• Learn Fuego Brush Calligraphy (in development)
• Master Pointed Pen Uncial Calligraphy Calligraphy Practice Sheets (in development)

As we explore the diverse world of brush calligraphy, from the modern and free-spirited to the refined elegance of Copperplate and the fiery energy of Fuego, it becomes clear that each style carries its own unique charm and purpose. Whether you’re drawn to the contemporary vibes of modern brush calligraphy, the relaxed charm of casual signpainting, the timeless elegance of Copperplate, or the passionate energy of Fuego, the world of brush calligraphy invites artists to experiment, express, and ignite their creativity in captivating ways.

Other Posts Like This:

If you are interested in this post you might like my other “Breaking Down” Posts for other styles.

• Breaking Down Blackletter Calligraphy
• Breaking Down: Pointed Pen Calligraphy
• Breaking Down: Hand Lettering & Handwriting

Another script that I missed? Let me know in the comments.

-Richard