Exploring Unconventional Tools for Calligraphy: Beyond the Brushes & Pens

Calligraphy, which is the art of beautiful writing, is a timeless and versatile form of artistic expression that has captured the hearts of artists and enthusiasts for centuries. Traditionally, calligraphy is practiced using brushes, pens, and nibs. One joy of this art form is that you can apply its fundamentals to many other mediums. In this article, I experiment with unconventional tools for calligraphy. I demonstrate how everyday objects can become unique instruments for creating letterforms and compositions. Read on!

1. Feathers

It’s time to channel your inner medieval scribe with a feather quill! Before metal nibs, feathers have been used for centuries in traditional pointed pen calligraphy. You can trim your pen nib to be thin enough for pointed pen calligraphy or a flatter thick nib for blackletter calligraphy.

Here’s a link on how to make your own feather quill pen: How to make a Calligraphy Pen

2. Rake

Beach-Calligraphy — Beach Calligraphy from a Drone View – (Full Video)

This one might be tricky if you do not have access to the ocean, but who knew you could use a rake for calligraphy? By using a rake on freshly wet sand, you can make beach calligraphy. Check out the full YouTube video in my blogpost all about it here: How to Do Beach Calligraphy.

3. Bamboo Reed

Calligraphy with a Reed pen or qalam — Calligraphy with a Reed Pen

Similar to the feather, a small and slender bamboo branch can also be whittled into a calligraphy pen. For details on how, check out this post: How to Make a Calligraphy Pen

4. Fork

Calligraphy with a fork — Calligraphy with a Fork

The tines of a fork or a comb can provide a cool blackletter stroke that is very unique. The issue is that the tines of the fork and comb do not hold a lot of ink. Fortunately, there are nibs for dip pens that mimic these kinds of strokes, like the Brause No. 68 Calligraphy nib. Very similar to the rake (aka beach calligraphy) we learned about in #2 of this list.

5. Eye Dropper

The effect in the short video above was completed with a water brush, on watercolour paper, then an ink (in this case Ecoline Liquid Watercolour) was dropped onto the water. With an eye dropper, you can drop ink onto your paper and manipulate it while it’s still wet to create unique effects. It’s a great way to introduce controlled chaos into your calligraphy. If you would like to see more videos, check out my Calligraphy Composition Post here.

6. Power Washer

Any dirty surface, from sidewalks, to decks, pavement, or concrete walls, powerwashers can blast away the dirty layer leaving a clean spot. Therefore, with the right washer tip (broad edge) we can create blackletter calligraphy. Oh, and just in case you didn’t know, power washers are well… powerful, so be careful out there.

7. Credit Card

Use an old expired credit card or in the above old gym access card

The edge of a credit card can be used to scrape or drag ink across the paper for a broad edge calligraphy tool for blackletter calligraphy. Snip out a hole or holes in the edge to have greater stroke variation.

8. Ice Scraper/Shovel

Up in Canada, our cars and driveways are often filled with frost and snow. Removing the frost and snow with an ice scraper, shovel or finger can leave some cool calligraphy!

9. Woodburning Tools

Wood burning calligraphy / pyrography of the words: "wood burning"

Writing with a red hot piece of metal is rather unconventional, wouldn’t you say? I have a full post on how to get started with woodburning calligraphy aka pyrography over on that blogpost here: The Art of Pyrography

Conclusion

In the world of calligraphy, once you have the basics down there are SO MANY WAYS to apply it in so many mediums. So, if you don’t know yet the basics on how to write calligraphy here are some posts to help get you started: