Often, when people who are just starting out with calligraphy ask for tips from pros. They are told that they should practice as much as they can to become an expert calligrapher. While this is true, what this advice lacks is to teach the newbies the right way to practice.
Indeed, practice makes a man perfect, but it is only the right practice that makes a man perfect most efficiently. If you are just starting out in calligraphy or hiring a service to do it for you, make sure that you or they avoid the mistakes that brutally kill the splendour of a great calligraphy.
Following are some common mistakes that must be avoided when designing calligraphy:
Presuming Calligraphy like an Extension of Writing
Calligraphy, in no way, is an extension of hand writing. It is a discipline in itself that requires proper training and deserves the same consideration and respect you would give to other art forms. Just like you can’t learn drums or guitar overnight, there is a learning curve when it comes to calligraphy too.
Using Finger to Write, Instead of the Arm
It’s a common mistake people make when learning calligraphy. They are so used to of writing using their finger (which is the wrong way and leaves marks on two to three pages beneath) instead of the arm.
Not Learning How to Space Well
The space part of the letter is as much important as the actual black of its shape. With each line drawn, a positive shape appears on the paper in the form of the ink and a negative shape in the form of blank space. Emphasizing on the inked part and ignoring the blank space doesn’t do anyone any good. So never ignore the space while learning calligraphy. The best way to do this would be to practice in sentences and words, instead of letters.
Following Alphabetical Order
Many calligraphers start learning calligraphy in alphabetical order. While there is nothing wrong with this approach, learning it like this is wastage of time and energy. Instead, one should group the letters of the alphabet in different ways more relevant to calligraphy like shape, size, and proportion.
Practice without Exemplar
Beginners often make the mistake of trying to write from their memory or the previous work they did just seconds ago instead of the exemplar. This problem is more prevalent when you try to practise a letter instead of a whole sentence. You keep looking at the letter you just did or try to reproduce it off your memory. This contributes a lot in hindering your practise and slowing down your learning curve.