Learning Uncial Calligraphy with a Pointed Pen: An Overlap of Styles

Uncial calligraphy originated in ancient Rome and was primarily used in early Latin and Greek manuscripts. It was prevalent during the late Roman Empire and the early Middle Ages. Uncial script, which pointed pen uncial is based off of, was widely employed in the British Isles, particularly in Ireland, from the 5th to the 8th centuries. It also gained popularity in other regions of Europe, such as Italy and Gaul.

While Uncial calligraphy was influential in these areas, it eventually evolved into other blackletter scripts as the Middle Ages progressed. The script detailed in this post has been adapted from Blackletter calligraphy into Pointed Pen calligraphy, since the original script is created with a broad edge pen and this is with a pointed pen.

Tools to Learn Pointed Pen Uncial Calligraphy

No matter where you stand in the calligraphy game, having the right gear is key when diving into pointed pen calligraphy. Been there, tried a bunch of tools—some rocked, some flopped. But here are my top picks that seriously make learning pointed pen uncial a breeze.

1. Oblique Pen Holder

The oblique pen holder available at PaperInkArts.com is a great tool. It makes letter formation easier of letters of all pointed pen scripts at different slants without putting unnecessary strain on the wrist or requiring an awkward paper angle.

• Oblique Pen: PaperInkArts.com

2. A Beginner Friendly Nib

The Zebra G Calligraphy Nib is a big deal. It’s the secret sauce for that beautiful thick-thin contrast in strokes. Great for beginners because it’s not crazy sensitive to pressure. You won’t need surgeon-level precision to get those letters down. It does sacrifice a bit on line contrast, but once you’ve got your groove, stepping up to a more sensitive nib’s a cool move. And hey, keep that nib in top shape! I’ve got the lowdown on that here

• Calligraphy Nib: Zebra G Nib

3. Calligraphy Ink

Most new inks will do just fine, but I’ve found India ink’s thickness vibes perfectly with the Zebra G. It’s like they’re made for each other.

• Calligraphy Ink: Speedball Super Black

4. Bleed Proof Paper

Getting the right paper for calligraphy’s a whole quest. It’s a jungle out there with paper choices. But here’s a clue: paper weight matters. Look for 32lb or 120gsm. Less chance of your ink throwing a party and bleeding all over the place. I’ve geeked out about calligraphy paper in another post if you’re curious.

• Bleed Proof Paper: HP Premium 32 Paper

Two Ways to Learn Pointed Pen Uncial

1. For the Motivated Self Learner –
Practice Sheets

If you are persistent on learning pointed pen uncial calligraphy, and you are a self learner, practice sheets are what you need. This isn’t any old copybook though. They have all the tips and tricks to fast track you to learning the skill you want:

• The Tools You’ll Need
• Basic Strokes & Letter Construction
• 3 Methods of Flat Tops and Bottoms
• The 5 Guidelines of Flourishing
• Celtic Knots Tutorial
• Common problems and Probable Solutions page (to help solve annoying blobbing/pointed pen problems)

You can find the practice sheets and all it’s details here:

• Master Pointed Pen Uncial Calligraphy Practice Sheets
• Or the bundle of Blackletter and Pointed Pen: Celtic Calligraphy Practice Sheets

2. For the Careful Spender – Instructional Tutorial Blogpost

As someone who did learn pointed pen calligraphy from online resources, I understand this selection. When you are first starting, you may not want to spend anything until you are sure you want to pursue this hobby. The only thing I can say is that it took me quite a while to get where I wanted to be with the pointed pen scripts. A lot of problems were from things I didn’t know about ink, paper and proper method. These hurdles could have been avoided if I attended a course or bought a guide. That said, I will try to outline it in this tutorial blogpost. I also have a full post on the Art of Celtic Calligraphy here.

Ultra Brief History of Uncial Pointed Pen

The original uncial script was a blackletter script which emerged in the 4th century during the Roman Empire. It is characterized by rounded, capital letters often used in religious manuscripts like the Bible. This script dominated for centuries, particularly through the Middle Ages, due to its readability and elegance. Recently, calligraphers have experimented with uncial using a pointed pen, despite its origins in broad-nib (blackletter) calligraphy. The pointed pen adaptation maintains the rounded, spacious letterforms of traditional uncial but incorporates the finer control and dynamic line variation that the pointed nib offers. While not a historically accurate method for uncial, it merges the old-world charm of the script with modern calligraphic tools, creating a unique script to practice.

What are the Basic Strokes of Pointed Pen Uncial Calligraphy?

Let’s quickly cover how a pointed pen works. A pointed pen can create thin strokes, [upstrokes (1)] and thick strokes [downstrokes (2)]. Basically, the greater the nib pressure, the thicker the line.

Upstrokes are typically made every time a new lowercase letter is started and are created by applying light nib pressure onto the page while swinging in an upward (away from you) motion. This will make a thin evenly-weighted line that will connect each letter.

Downstrokes are typically made every time you need to make the thick lines that create the identifiable part of each letter. Downstrokes are done by applying medium nib pressure onto the page while pulling the pen downwards (towards yourself). This will create a thicker strokes that contrast well with your upstrokes.

In the image above there are the 4 basic strokes: Left loop (1), Right loop (2), Comma (3) and Downstroke (4). Once you’ve gotten familiar with the basic strokes for Pointed Pen Uncial , try piecing together the practice strokes into letters!

Check out some other Combinations:

• (1) Left Loop + (4) Downstroke = “a”
• (4) Downstroke + (2) Right Loop = “d”
• (4) Downstroke + (2) Right Loop + (3) Comma = “n”

Flat Tops

There is another stroke that you definitely need to practice to complete alphabet: flat tops on many of the letters.

Above is 1 of 3 methods for flat tops from my Pointed Pen Uncial Calligraphy Master Class. Notice that in step one, you flex the nib to near max before starting the stroke.

Differences Between Modern, Uncial Spencerian and Copperplate Calligraphy

While both Copperplate and Spencerian have a strict 55 degree slant, Spencerian calligraphy can be identified easily by it being a more “light” script while Copperplate contains thick and bold downstrokes that are in each and every letter. Modern calligraphy is more of a flowy script and has no consistent size, spacing or connections. Uncial, since its origins are in Blackletter calligraphy, have 90 degree downstrokes. Below you can see the difference in style and tone between modern (congrats + salutations), uncial, Spencerian and Copperplate calligraphy.

Below is a comparison of individual letters to greater compare each script.

Learn Calligraphy Blogposts:

• How to Learn Modern Calligraphy
• How to Learn Spencerian Calligraphy
• How to Learn Copperplate Calligraphy

Conclusion:

Mastering Uncial calligraphy with a pointed pen is a journey that requires patience and dedication. By understanding the fundamentals, practicing diligently, and experimenting with different styles, you’ll be able to create stunning Uncial scripts that showcase your unique artistic expression. Now get practicing, so you can learn Pointed Pen Uncial calligraphy yourself! If I missed something in this post please leave a comment and let me know! Happy writing!

-Rich