Chinese Grand Opening Calligraphy: Banners & Gift Guide
Plan Chinese grand-opening calligraphy the right way: which phrases to use, how horizontal banners and gift-basket ribbons are laid out, and how to avoid common character mistakes.
English & Learning guides
Beginner practice plans, alphabets, left-handed drills, brush lettering, Spencerian, and tools.
Back to blog13–24 of 213 guides
Cai Xiang: The Song Dynasty's Most Disciplined Brush
Meet Cai Xiang, the Song dynasty statesman, bridge builder, and tea scholar whose classically disciplined brushwork earned him a place among China's revered Four Masters.
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.
Zheng Banqiao: The Eccentric Master of Qing Calligraphy
Zheng Banqiao invented his own "six-and-a-half-part" script, painted bamboo for a living, and openly priced his calligraphy for sale — a Qing dynasty career unlike any other master's.
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.
Platt Rogers Spencer: The Man Behind Spencerian Script
How an Ohio farm boy turned bank cashier built America's first national handwriting system from the curves of pebbles and leaves, and why Coca-Cola still writes in his hand.
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.
Chinese Calligraphy Candle Labels: Layout & Packaging Guide
Learn how to lay out Chinese calligraphy characters on candle labels for gifts, weddings, and small-batch brands, from character choice to print-ready sizing.
Chinese Tattoo Mistakes: How Mistranslations Happen
Chinese character tattoos go wrong more often than people realize. Here's why mistranslations and gibberish characters happen, and how to verify a design before you commit to ink.