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The Double Pencil Technique

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Calligraphy may seem like an awesome and daunting task to someone who has never ventured into the lettering arts, and indeed the traditional scripts such as Roman, Italic, Gothic and Uncials can be difficult to master if you want to replicate them. However, there is a very simple and inexpensive method to learning the basic principles of using calligraphy pens which you can practice before you decide whether you want to invest in more elaborate calligraphic tools.

What you want to do is sharpen two plain old, regular #2 pencils. Bind the two pencils together with masking tape so that the ends that are sharpened are together, and the eraser ends are bound together. This gives you a new marking implement made from the two pencils, one atop the other. Once you've created your lettering tool, experiment with a hold on the double pencil. It may seem awkward at first, but you should quickly adjust to a comfortable hold. Just make some random marks while you are adjusting to the feel of the bound pencils.

Next, hold the pencils at a comfortable angle while making sure that both leads touch the paper. Then, write out a basic alphabet from A to Z using large letters. You can also experiment by writing your name, or a familiar saying. Don't be afraid to write really large letters at the start; they will be easier to make than trying to write in your normal size everyday writing style. However, don't try to get fancy your first few times, just write like you normally would.

Using this double pencil technique will produce the same effect that you would get from using a broad-edged calligraphy nib. You will see how the two pencils create the outline of the letter. You can use this technique alone to create lettering styles which can then be colored in using colored pencils or inks or crayons, etc. It works great if you use watercolor pencils to create the outline and then blend those outlines inward to fill the letters with soft color. It's also a great way to help kids learn calligraphy without having to worry about sharp metal nibs, or the mess of inks.

The trick to the double pencil method is to hold the pencils at a consistent, constant angle. It is that consistency which creates the same markings as if you were holding and using a broad-edged nib on a calligraphy pen. You can vary the space between the lines by shaving some of the pencil wood on the sides of the pencils which will cause the lines to be closer together as you draw them. You can also do a version of this technique using crayons, oil or chalk pastels, or even markers. However, the finely sharpened double pencil will give you the best idea of what a calligraphy nib will look like and bolster your confidence to moving on to that particular form of lettering arts.