Faux Calligraphy – or how to easily write on any surface, with any tool, in any size
You may be excused for thinking calligraphy can only be done on paper and with very specific tools. Most of the examples we see are indeed written on a page and there are lots of articles discussing the ideal paper for calligraphy.
But what if I told you that you can write on almost any surface, including glass, metal, wood, fabric, even brick walls or cakes and cookies? Exciting, right?
This is partly possible due to the abundance of modern calligraphy tools and inks. With expert knowledge of their properties, professional calligraphers can fluently move between different surfaces and create at different sizes.
But you don’t need to be an expert to write calligraphy and experiment with different surfaces. There is a secret weapon that can help you do that even if you are a beginner and don’t have specialist tools at your disposal – it is Faux Calligraphy.
What is Faux Calligraphy?
Derived from the french word for ‘fake’, this is a way of simulating the thick and thin lines of calligraphy by simply drawing and filling in the thicker strokes.
In traditional calligraphy the thick and thin lines are created with a special tool (like pointed metal nib or a brush pen) by changing the amount of pressure the calligrapher applies as he or she writes. This is a precise skill that requires a lot of practice.
The difference with Faux Calligraphy is that the thickness is added on gradually and requires a lot less skill to get attractive results.
How is Faux Calligraphy done?
Simply follow these three easy steps:
Start by writing the ‘skeleton’ of your letters.
Add the downstrokes (where your pen is moving downwards).
Fill in the gaps. That’s it!
What are the benefits of Faux Calligraphy?
Faux Calligraphy is easy! Anyone, including children, can have fun creating beautiful letters and get excited about calligraphy – or simply use it as an addition to their other creative endeavours, such as journalling, card making or even cake decoration.
Faux Calligraphy can be created with almost any tool. There is no need to buy anything special, you can just try it with whatever you have available at home – pencils, pens, your kids’ Crayolas… anything!
Write big, really big! Leaving the constraints of the page is exhilarating. While a nib or a brush marker can only work at certain size, writing in monoline first and then filling in the thick strokes gives you complete control of the size. Posters, wedding venue signage or even wall murals are can be created with Faux Calligraphy!
You can write on almost any surface. As a creative person I’m sure this will tickle your imagination. With faux calligraphy and the right type of pen (that’s easy to find in any craft store or even many supermarkets) you can write on plant pots, leather, mirrors or wood; or even use piping sugar to calligraph your cakes and cookies.
What tools do I need for Faux Calligraphy?
You don’t need anything special to get started, but if you want to experiment with different surfaces I recommend considering some of these tools:
POSCA pens - my absolute favourite markers that can work on almost any surface. They are water based but once dry they, the ink is very durable even for outdoor projects.
Oil based markers – I love Sharpie or UNI Paint markers in different colours, including metallics
Molotow Liquid Chrome is an alcohol based marker with gorgeous mirror effect.
Chalk markers (or even kids chalk) are great to use on blackboards.
Some of the many pens you can use for faux calligraphy
You can use almost any tool for faux calligraphy, however to write on surfaces other than paper you will need a special pen.
What projects can I use Faux Calligraphy for?
The possibilities for using Faux Calligraphy are endless but here are just five ideas:
Card making;
Journalling spreads;
Wedding signage;
Posters and wall art;
Pumpkin decoration as alternative to carving (but more on this in a moment!)
Decorating pumpkins and bunting at the Halloween lettering workshop.
Faux Calligraphy Workshops
Once a year in October I run a small Halloween lettering workshop that encapsulates all the fun possibilities of Faux Calligraphy.
We get in the cosy autumnal spirit by lettering on pumpkins and boo-tiful black bunting. Not only is it fun but it stimulates us to see calligraphy in a totally new light and to experiment even more after the class.
You can find out more about the Halloween Lettering Workshop here.
How the pumpkin calligraphy class came to life
My two kids LOVE Halloween so pumpkin carving and spooky decorations is a autumn staple in our house.
The problem was that the kids didn’t just want to watch the carving, they were keen to get involved. Now, blades and little fingers was a combination too spooky for me, so one year I thought let’s just draw on the pumpkins instead. The kids loved adding their own art on the pumpkins, and I couldn’t help but doodle some lettering. It was stress-free and fun and so it became our little tradition ever since.
FREE Faux Calligraphy Worksheets
If you can’t make it to the class but want to try Faux Calligraphy I have prepared some FREE worksheets for you. They make the process even easier with step by step instructions and traceable letters.
You can follow the steps on paper with any pen or marker first and then apply your new skills to other surfaces. You can download the Free worksheets after subscribing to my newsletter (you’ll find other calligraphy freebies there too).
I hope you are excited to try Faux Calligraphy for yourself and I’d love to see what you create. If you share your images on Instagram tag me with @ellieshopova.calligraphy – I love to see and appreciate your work!
Stay inspired!
Hey, I’m Ellie,
I am a calligrapher and lettering artist based in Halifax, West Yorkshire where I live with my husband and two amazing kids.
I own more pens then I can count (don’t tell my husband!) and I’m passionate about calligraphy, lettering and all things creative.
I believe that creativity nurtures happiness, self-discovery and connects us in a colourful community, and so I love sharing my passion for calligraphy through classes, workbooks and here on my blog.
