Beneventan Script: Southern Italy's Angular Medieval Hand
Explore the Beneventan script, the dense angular bookhand of medieval southern Italy that outlasted most other regional hands, plus a practice plan for borrowing its discipline.
English & Learning guides
Beginner practice plans, alphabets, left-handed drills, brush lettering, Spencerian, and tools.
Back to blog1–12 of 46 guides
Roman Square Capitals: The Alphabet Behind Every Serif
Learn Roman Square Capitals, the monumental Trajan's Column alphabet behind modern serif type, with a beginner practice plan and pen-angle guide.
Zaner-Bloser Method: History and Practice Guide
Discover the Zaner-Bloser Method, the ball-and-stick manuscript and cursive system still taught in American classrooms, and learn how to practice its letterforms today.
English Roundhand Calligraphy: History, Alphabet & Practice
Learn English Roundhand calligraphy, the 1660s pointed-pen script behind Copperplate and Spencerian, with its history, alphabet basics, tools, and a 5-day beginner practice plan.
Ambigram Calligraphy: A Beginner's Guide to Symmetry
Learn how ambigram calligraphy works, the letterform tricks behind rotational and mirror designs, and a beginner practice plan for lettering a name that reads two ways.
Palmer Method Calligraphy: History and Practice Guide
Discover the Palmer Method, the muscular-movement handwriting system that replaced ornate Spencerian script in American classrooms, and learn how to practice its push-pull drills today.
Engrosser's Script Calligraphy: History and Practice Guide
Learn Engrosser's Script, the formal pointed-pen alphabet behind diplomas and certificates, with beginner tools, basic strokes, and a practice plan.
Fraktur Calligraphy: German Blackletter History and Practice Guide
Learn the history of Fraktur calligraphy, the ornate German blackletter hand born under Emperor Maximilian I, plus a practical beginner drill plan for its diamond serifs and broken curves.
Secretary Hand Calligraphy: History & Alphabet Guide
Secretary hand was the everyday cursive script of Tudor and Stuart England, from Shakespeare's signature to parish records. Learn its history, tricky letterforms, and how to practice it.
Insular & Celtic Calligraphy: The Book of Kells History Guide
Explore Insular script, the decorated hand behind the Book of Kells and Lindisfarne Gospels, and learn how to bring its interlace and initials into modern calligraphy.
Rustic Capitals: Practicing Ancient Rome's Pen Alphabet
Learn Rustic Capitals, the narrow pen-drawn alphabet Roman scribes used for centuries, with pen-angle drills and a beginner practice plan.
Carolingian Minuscule: The Alphabet Behind Lowercase Letters
Learn Carolingian minuscule, the 8th-century script that standardized European handwriting and shaped the lowercase alphabet we still use, with a practical beginner drill plan.