Introduction to Italic Calligraphy

You will start the course knowing more about Belén. She will explain how her career started with typography and how it influenced her work as a designer. It will also show you her influences and everything that inspires her to create.

You will briefly review the history of italics, making an introduction to the calligraphic terms that you will use throughout the course. You will also discover each of the materials and tools you will use.

You will see the structure of the letters of the alphabet (lowercase and uppercase), then play with variations. Belén will show you a series of exercises so that you gradually feel more comfortable when using them.

You will start by delving into the lower case letters, then go with the capital letters, which follow a different logic, being grouped by shapes. You will see those that have vertical, diagonal and those that have curved strokes.

Next, you will see 3 variables in the lowercase italics for you to explore and find your style. As for the capital letters, Belén will give you the keys to experiment with them, and that they look perfect in the few occasions to be applied in the texts.

You will see some examples made with the pen, of how the variables help to emphasize certain emotional narratives in concrete phrases.

Then, you will start creating your own composition with a phrase. To do this, you will make a sketch, cutting and pasting words on a poster. Belén will give you the keys to the diagram and compose your composition.

When you have your sketch, you will see how to prepare the grid on the final paper. You will write your final calligraphic piece, welcoming spontaneous details, either in the stroke or with the ink, play and have fun!

Once you have your calligraphic poster, you will learn to prepare it for framing or for gifts. Also, you will see how to digitize and retouch your piece to be able to realize its full potential.