Blotchy ink made me rethink my entire calligraphy setup

When I got into calligraphy, my letters always bled into ugly blobs. I was using cheap printer paper (it just doesn't work). After some looking around, I found out that paper weight and finish are big deals. Now I use marker paper or smooth bristol, and no more mess. Trust me, don't cut corners on paper like I did.

4 comments

4 Comments

the_laura4mo ago

Back in my first calligraphy class, the teacher said paper quality was key but I brushed it off. I figured any smooth paper would do... so I used cheap sketchbook sheets for months. Your post about blotchy ink finally made it click for me why my work always looked fuzzy. Those blobs drove me nuts and I blamed my pens instead. Now I only use smooth bristol and the lines are so crisp it's like night and day. Honestly, I wish I had listened sooner but your experience really spelled it out.

the_hannah4mo ago

Took me ages to realize my "bad ink" was just me using printer paper like a fool.

milesbailey1mo ago

Yeah I don't know, I've used cheap printer paper for years and my lines came out fine. @sean457 makes it sound like a life or death thing with the nib talk but it's really not that deep. Maybe if you're doing fancy lettering it matters but for everyday writing who cares.

sean4574mo ago

Watching people blame their pens for cheap paper problems is always funny. I used to get so mad at my nib, calling it a traitor when my ink spread like a spilled drink. Then you switch to one decent sheet and suddenly you're a calligraphy genius. It's hilarious how the fix is so simple but we all have to fight with blobby ink for months first.