Paper Position and Nib Alignment
People usually just want to jump into writing when handed the tools (I’ve been guilty of this myself!) but I wanted to first share with you how I usually position my tools and myself relative to the table prior to actually doing calligraphy. The way I do this has changed over the years and I won’t be surprised if it will still change in the future, but I have some pointers that might be helpful for you to try and see if it benefits you in some way. I don’t think there is a right and wrong way to do this, but these steps hopefully will make you more comfortable while writing, because calligraphy is a slow art and body aches and hand cramps are not unheard of :)
What you’ll need:
Paper with 55 degree guidelines printed on them (free on the Resources page)
Pen holder with a pointed nib inserted to it
Clear table
Comfortable chair
Start with a clear table with your tools ready on the side. Take a seat and let’s do this!
Rest your writing arm comfortably on the table. Place your forearm in front of you with your elbow off of the table but near the edge.
Hold the pen in your writing hand as if you are about to write. Keep your wrist relaxed; don’t bend or twist your hand away from your forearm.
Note: How you would normally hold ANY pen is a good starting point. If you’re a beginner, I wouldn’t want you to worry about pen grip just yet :)
When you’ve more or less gotten to know how a nib behaves and if you find that you grip the pen too tight, resulting in hand cramps, I would advise you to gradually adjust your pen grip a little each time you practice, until you find a grip that doesn’t cramp your hand as much. While I believe there is no right or wrong way to hold a pen, if you want to adjust your death grip, try googling “dynamic tripod grasp” and aim for that pen hold.
While holding the pen and without any paper underneath it yet, imagine that you are writing a straight line. You’ll see your natural finger movement by moving the pointed nib in an up and down motion with just your fingers driving the pen.
This is one of the many things that I learned from Nina Tran. She’s a wonderful teacher and hosts a live Q&A every week on her Instagram page.
Now, while keeping an eye on the angle of your imaginary lines, place the paper under the nib in such a way that the slant lines are aligned with the movement of your nib.
The paper will most likely end up being aligned to your forearm and rotated quite a few degrees to the left if you are right handed (and to the right if you are a lefty).
This is important not just to make your hand comfortable but also to make your nib last longer. Twisting your wrist while writing cramps your hand much faster and dragging the nib in an unnatural angle puts uneven pressure on the tines, decreasing its life as well as producing jagged edges in your calligraphy.
Note: While you are doing calligraphy, you will find that there is a spot where your hand is able to write comfortably and your fingers and wrist don’t have to strain and reach too far. Take note of that ‘sweet spot’. Instead of moving your hand along the paper from the leftmost to the rightmost side of the paper, adjust the paper underneath your hand and keep writing on that sweet spot. This reduces hand cramping and also helps produce consistent letters.
Optional: If you find that your elbow gets tucked closer to your body while your writing and that the majority of your forearm is hanging off of the table, causing it to feel numb after a while, you can try twisting your seat so that your body is facing slightly to the left until your whole forearm rests comfortably on the table.
Now what do you do with your non-writing hand? Use it to hold down or pin the paper gently onto the table. This is because you might find your paper sliding down with the pressure you’ll be applying to the pen when you’re dragging it downwards.
Our hands have natural oils on them that could interfere with how the ink sticks to the paper. And I get sweaty hands as well! So it’s useful to have a separate guard sheet placed under your writing hand. Just be careful not to let it get in the way of your writing.
As for your posture, you will most likely lean forward towards the paper in order to see what you’re writing. Try to keep your back straight and try not to slouch. When you lean forward, bend from your hips and not from your back, neck, or shoulders.
Lastly, don’t forget to breathe! There’s a tendency to hold your breath while writing. Remind yourself to inhale (try this with each upstroke) and to exhale (try this with each downstroke).
For more tips on breathing and posture, look up Paul Antonio’s videos on Youtube. I’ve certainly taken some of his techniques (#s 5, 8, and 9) and adjusted them to my own comfort.
Hope this helps!