Here I just want to share what I used to practice calligraphy.

The list might be changed in the future, I will go back and update it if I remembered.

my equipment

Pen

I started learning calligraphy by buying my first Pilot Parallel pen (3.8mm). I have also tried dip pen, and sold it after giving it a try, only found that not suitable for myself as a lefty. Until now, my main pen are all Pilot Parallel pens. Other pens are not mainly used for calligraphy, they are used as auxiliary purpose.

Here’s my pen list:

  • Pilot Parallel pen 3.8mm: mainly used
  • Pilot Parallel pen 3.8mm: mainly used
  • Pilot Parallel pen 5.0mm
  • Pilot Parallel pen 1.2mm
  • Pilot Shaker Mechanical pencil 0.5mm: for drawing guidelines
  • Pilot Super Knock 0.7mm (BPK-P-WFBA): for drawing guidelines
  • Pilot Super Grip G 1.6mm (BPS-GG): for drawing guidelines

“Why all pens are Pilot?”, you might ask. I realized it when I made the list, it was just coincident. 🤣 I just bought pens that suitable for my writing habits. By the way, if you really want to know, my favorite brand of pen is Zebra when I was a student. But that was for hand writing, not calligraphy.

Ink

For ink now, I don’t have too much right now.

Blue inks are suitable for practicing and learning in my opinion.

I am not a ink collectors like many people do on Reddit r/calligraphy. But willing to join them if necessary. 😆 Only when I get huge improvement of my calligraphy skill and would like to write some cards to friends, it’s better to expand the color options to make more fun. The inks Pilot Iroshizuku (色彩雫) series from Japan have many choices and they looks beautiful. (from color and naming aspect) Inks with great sheen like Diamine from UK looks beautiful, too. I really want to give them a try in the future.

Paper

Paper is another important equipment for calligraphy.

  • MIDORI Paperpad A5 size: MIDORI is a famous brand from Japan in stationary fiel, no need to explain more here.
  • Xiangqiu (象球牌) paper for fountain pen: It’s the paper produced by a brand in Taiwan. It seems pretty famous at local writing community for great writing experience with fountain pen. Further more, the price is very cheap, suitable for daily practice.

Other

Some tools worth to mention:

  • LED light table: china brand, with color temperature control, brightness control, magnetic pin supported
  • COX plastic ruler 40cm
  • Writing pads: brand from Tylee Pen Shop (famous stationary shop, mainly focus on fountain pens & inks)
  • Pen tray: preventing pens from rolling around at desk
  • Ink injector (refiller)

That’s all! Thanks for reading!

Happy writing! ✍️