BRUSH CALLIGRAPHY 101 PART 3: UNDERSTANDING CALLIGRAPHY GUIDELINES

In this post, we will discuss about what are guidelines, its anatomy and its importance in your journey to world of calligraphy.

“If you wish to fly to new heights begin by setting your sights on the destination you can reach and then create a fight plan, a map, that will be your guide.” – Debbie Ford

WHAT ARE GUIDELINES?


In drawing, guidelines is about using fundamental and basics geometrical shapes like rectangle, square, triangle, circle and a lot more. This helps the artists visualize the drawing before putting out the details.

Image Source: Mac First Grade Art

In calligraphy, guidelines are set of lines in writing similar to guidelines we used when we first start learning how to write during our elementary days. (Good old days).


Image Source: The MainStreeter


Since there many different forms, types, styles and sizes in calligraphy, guidelines may vary. Depending on what type of calligraphy you are practicing, there are FOUR BASIC HORIZONTAL LINES that compromise the Basic Guidelines – the Baseline, Waistine, Ascender Line and Descender Lines. 

The baseline is the line where the letters sit or rest. The waistline is the line that indicates the top of the lower case letter. The space between the baseline and the waistline is called the x-height which determines the height of the body for lower case letters. The ascender line are for strokes that extends above the waistline like for small letters like b, d, f, h, k, l, t. On the other hand, descender line are for strokes that extends below the baseline like for letter g, j, p, q, and y.
Ascender, Descender, Baseine, Waistline
Another line that is important in practicing calligraphy is the SLANT LINE. Slant line is used to determine the angle or how the letters leans.  Again depending on what type of calligraphy you are practicing, angle of letters may vary. 



Ascender, Descender, Baseine, Waistline


For Blackletter Calligraphy, slant angle is at 90 degrees,


Image Source: Wikipedia


for Italic Calligraphy, slant angle is at 79 degrees,


Image Source: Wikipedia



for Copperplate Calligraphy , slant angle is 55 degrees
Ascender, Descender, Baseline, Waistline
Image Source: Pinterest




Conclusion


For beginners, using guidelines is essential in learning either traditional or modern calligraphy. It will be useful to making sure that the all of your letter are all lines up properly and are at the exact height or width you want things to be.


PS: If you have questions or want to share something in addition, please leave a comment below. I will be glad to hear it from you!

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PPS: Are you too busy to write your own guidelines? Well, this is for you. I am giving it as a gift. Yo can download FREE Calligraphy Practice Sheets for supporting Callighobby. In return, kindly LIKE AND SHARE about this wonderful blog. Thanks.

Calligraphy Practice Sheet - Rule

Calligraphy Practice Sheet - Rule with Slant

Calligraphy Practice Sheet - Dotted

Calligraphy Practice Sheet - Graph



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