Calligraphy and How to Make Your Own Quill Pen
To master the art of penmanship is a true art and very satisfying. For those who become very proficient in the technique can often make a satisfying profession using the skill.
Most craft shops sell pen sets dedicated to calligraphy, but it can be much more satisfying to make your own quill pen as scribes used to do. The flight feather of a goose is the most preferred one to use, though other large birds also provide suitable flight feathers. Before using it, the feather will need to be tempered to make it hard and springy. To do this, soak the end in water then dip it in hot sand. A sharp knife can then be used to cut a strip from the bottom half of the shaft. Next, cut a scallop shape from the side at end of the quill, to make it look something like a steel nib. Using a knitting needle, push it up the centre of the shaft until you hear the crack of the shaft splitting. This forms the vertical split that will allow the ink to flow .
Traditionally, ink sticks are used to make up small quantities of ink. These are made in china or japan from compressed soot and can be bought from art shops. However, you can also go as far as making your own ink, this can be done simply with black acrylic paint thinned with water and 2 or 3 drops of Gum Arabic per 30ml of mixture.
Calligraphy is a versatile and very rewarding art form and used in various media to bring the feeling of traditional style and importance whenever it's used. Wedding invitations, certificates and legal documents all have an added kudos if the text has been written with a skilled hand, even a pet portrait artist can make a great impact with a well penned pet name on their commissioned pet portraits.