Now is a Great Time to Improve Your Handwriting

Lindsey Bugbee is a creative spirit. Her favorite things include art and calligraphy, wordsmithing on her blog, and traveling with a sketchbook in hand. So it only made sense to dedicate her career to her creative passion. “A passion for art and calligraphy prompted me to start The Postman’s Knock in 2012 as a custom illustration, calligraphy, and graphic design business,” she explains on her website. “I called my business ‘The Postman’s Knock’ because of my love for beautiful snail mail!”

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These are disconcerting times. Hernán, Remy, and I have been spending most of the day at home, and everything feels normal, but isn't. We're doing everyday things, but I'm second guessing them. Like — if we need to run to the store for something, I think, "Is it absolutely essential to go out?" Workouts are always done at home in front of the television because the gym is closed and it's cold outside. We're washing our hands until they're cracked and dry. And I can't help but worry about the older members of my family, some of whom have underlying health issues. ⠀ .⠀ I think we're all in that boat, and we're all in this together. The best we can do is, of course, try and take care of those in our communities who need us — and take care of our own physical and mental health. To me, a big part of that is taking time for creativity. If you find yourself with idle time and a racing mind, complete a tutorial. Work in your sketchbook. Fill out a calligraphy worksheet. The TPK blog is full of free project tutorials/printables to keep busy, and now through Thursday, digital products (like worksheets) are 25% off with the code KEEPINGBUSY. See the latest TPK newsletter (link in profile) for details. ⠀ .⠀ As always — stay healthy, stay safe, and I'm thinking of you. ❤️⠀ .⠀ #calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #pointedpen #dippen #calligraphyvideo #timelapse #pointedpencalligraphyvideo #writingcalligraphy #writingcalligraphyvideo #coronavirus #inittogether #together #community #creativity #keepingbusy #penmanship #calligraphersofinstagram #positiveattitude #art #artutorial #moderncalligraphyvideo #handwritten #handwriting #obliquepen #brauseef66nib #whitecalligraphy #hanginthere

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But as her brand grew, so has her desire shifted towards teaching others her skills, and passing her knowledge onwards. Defining herself as a teacher and a blogger, Bugbee now teaches calligraphy and watercolor painting and shares her tips and tricks on her blog. Noteworthy blogposts include 10 ‘Stuck at Home’ Project Suggestions and The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy.

“The best advice I can give about learning calligraphy is you have to enjoy your practice,” she writes. “Yes, use structured resources like an online course or a worksheet, but also let yourself have fun. As you start to get the hang of how to use a dip pen, take on engaging projects.” According to Bugbee, as long as your practice is enjoyable, you’ll continue to hone your skills.

Her blog is a great tool for aspiring calligraphers, but you can also enjoy Bugbee’s work without dipping your pen via Instagram:

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Just a bit of encouragement for you: when I started learning calligraphy, I didn't especially have a knack for it. The top two envelopes show my early (2012) attempts, when I was too terrified to use a dip pen! ✍️ It was only after months of practice and more trial and error than I care to admit that I started to see results. The bottom envelopes are from 2014, and I only continued to improve from there. 😊 .⠀ My hope in providing calligraphy courses and worksheets is to empower other people to progress quicker than I did. I want you to feel comfortable moving on past faux calligraphy, and I want you to benefit from my mistakes (including using the wrong paper/ink combinations, gripping the pen wrong, the list goes on …)! Take the Beginner's Modern Calligraphy Online Course (link in profile), and in about a month, you'll learn what took me two years to understand. Or, just peruse the articles on the TPK blog for tips and information! Keep a notebook at hand, and write down anything you want to remind yourself later. 📝 .⠀ #throwback #improvement #learningcalligraphy #learncalligraphy #onlinecalligraphycourse #learncalligraphyonline #calligraphyworkshops #beginnercalligraphy #beforeandafter #beginnercalligraphy #snailmail #envelopes #snailmailrevolution #penpals #envelopecalligraphy #decoratedenvelopes #calligraphyimprovement #calligraphyenvelopes #fauxcalligraphy #earlywork #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #calligraphyprogress #practicemakesprogress #calligraphypractice #coloradocalligraphyworkshop #calligraphyworkshop #beginnercalligraphyworkshop #practicecalligraphy #dippencalligraphy #fauxcalligraphy⠀

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