How to Write in Gothic Calligraphy

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Gothic script is over eight hundred years old. It is one of the most difficult and ornate calligraphic scripts existing today. Read on to learn how to do this impressive calligraphy.

  Steps

1.   Measure your pen's nib. Lowercase Gothic script is done at five pen widths, ascenders and decenders use an additional two pen widths and uppercase letters are done at six pen widths.
2.   Rule pencil lines across your page at the correct x height. This means that if your pen's nib is 3 millimeters wide, you'll need a line 15 millimeters wide for the lowercase letters. In the picture the lines are ruled in pen to make them show more clearly, but it is usually done in pencil to erase them later.
3.   Add an extra two pen widths at the top and bottom of your x height for the ascenders and descenders.
4.   Divide the extra two pen widths at the top in half again with another line for the six pen widths of the capitals.
5.   Hold your pen or quill at a 40° angle (see picture).
6.   Look at your example of Gothic Calligraphy. Familiarize yourself with the form of the letters and then make the letter on your ruled lines.
7.   Practice calligraphy regularly. At first your letters are going to look shaky and silly, but it will improve if you are dedicated to your new hobby.

  Tips

• Buy a good calligraphy book or visit calligraphy websites on the internet.
• A beginner should preferably start with a felt tip calligraphy pen, not a quill.
• A beginner should also use wider nibs at first - the smaller the nib, the more difficult it gets.
• Do not write everything in capitals when you are using Gothic script, for reasons of legibility.
• If you are using a quill, use a paintbrush to apply the ink to the nib - this looks neater.
• You have to be quite confident in your writing before you start adding flourishes to letters.

  Warnings

• Gothic script is one of the most difficult calligraphic scripts to learn. Be prepared!

  Things You'll Need

• Quill and ink (or calligraphic felt tip pen)
• Thick paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Brush (optional)
• Eraser
• An example of Gothic Calligraphy