Thank you for purchasing or considering the Paper Tree × Maki Shimano collaboration calligraphy starter kit.
We'd like to introduce you to how to use the kit!
Set Contents
This kit includes all the necessary items for practicing calligraphy, recommended for those who want to start calligraphy or who don't have the tools yet.
・Book "Modern Calligraphy & Hand Lettering" (by Maki Shimano)
・Paper Tree original guide sheet
・Tomoe River A4 White Plain
・Ink (Higgins Eternal Ink Permanent Black)
・Pen holder (Manuscript straight/oblique dual-purpose holder)
・3 types of pen nibs (Hunt101/ Brause361 / Nikko G)
Holder and Nib
The Manuscript dual-purpose holder in the calligraphy starter kit is a versatile holder that can be used for both straight and oblique styles!
In modern calligraphy, you primarily use an oblique holder, holding the holder straight and positioning the nib at an angle, to draw slanted letters.
A straight holder requires you to adjust your hand angle to create the slant.
Please choose whichever you find easier to draw with.
Many people use an oblique holder for modern calligraphy, but a straight holder is also useful when intentionally writing non-slanted script.
Left-handed individuals might also find a straight holder easier to use at first.
Remove the brass metal part (flange) and insert the nib directly into the pen shaft.
Remove the flange once, then place the nib between the flange and reattach the flange to the holder.
(The photo below shows how to reattach the flange; insert it into the shaft until the metal part is no longer visible)
Ink
The set includes Higgins Black ink, perfect for practice.
This ink can be used by simply dipping the nib, without diluting it with water.
While you can use the Higgins ink bottle as is, transferring it to a smaller case makes it easier to dip the pen and helps prevent evaporation and deterioration.
→Click here for recommended replacement ink cases
After use, wash the nib with water (a small glass of water is convenient) and wipe off any ink and moisture from the nib with a paper towel. To prevent rust, always remove the nib from the pen shaft before storing it.
It is recommended to store the nib in the nib case included in the set!
Practice Method
We recommend starting with basic strokes, then moving on to lowercase and uppercase alphabets, connecting letters, and finally practicing phrases.
The modern calligraphy introduced in this book uses a 55-degree slant, so please use the guide sheet (Practice Paper) with 55-degree guidelines for practice.
*The clipboard is not included in the set
In addition to practicing by placing an example next to your work, tracing over examples is also a shortcut to improvement!
The "Tomoe River A4 White Plain" included in the set is a thin paper that doesn't bleed ink, and can be used for tracing practice by placing it over the book.
The practice methods introduced here are just examples, so we hope you can use them at your own pace and with your own creativity.
To enjoy it even more...
Although this kit includes a complete set of basic calligraphy tools, we also introduce recommended items to enhance your calligraphy life in this blog post.
→"Introduction to +α items for calligraphy"
Furthermore, in the Workshop space next to the Paper Tree store, we hold monthly 1-Day Modern Calligraphy lessons!
Even beginners who are touching tools for the first time can participate, and we will teach everything from how to use the tools to lowercase and uppercase letters, and how to write phrases.
This lesson is highly recommended for those who want to try it out, or who have bought the tools but want to learn directly from an instructor.
→Click here for beginner-level modern calligraphy lessons
We've packed this kit with Paper Tree's recommended items for those starting calligraphy.
May your calligraphy life be rich and fulfilling.