Even though italic calligraphy doesn't seem as popular as brush lettering and modern calligraphy these days, the italic hand is fun and beautiful, easy to read, and has an old world feel. (Just search #italic or #italiccalligraphy on Instagram, and you'll see what I mean!)
So, as you read on, know that this is
not a post about the modern pointed pen script calligraphy and brush lettering that is very popular right now. (Although I love those, too!)
Italic actually refers to a family of styles, so it can take different forms. This post speaks to the more bold, old-school broad edge italic calligraphy and will give you some tips if you would like to achieve this classic style.
Knowing the differences in the styles will help you choose the right tools for your projects. For instance, if you try to do modern, script calligraphy with the tools below, you will be disappointed!
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What is Italic Calligraphy and How Does it Differ from Modern Calligraphy?
The italic calligraphy hand uses a broad edge nib, as opposed to the pointed brush tip used for brush lettering or the pointed nib for modern script lettering and pointed pen calligraphy
In italic calligraphy, the thick/thin variation in the letters comes from the angle of the pen,
not from pressure. This differs from pointed pen calligraphy and brush lettering which both rely on pressure to get the thick/thin line variation in the letters. Although angle of the pen is important in all of these styles for various reasons, the italic hand achieves line variation
only from the angle of the pen.
How I've Used Italic Calligraphy
I've used italic calligraphy for embellishing greeting cards, for titles and headers on journals and scrapbook pages, for making gift embellishments, and I've earned a few dollars lettering some wedding vows, wedding books, and addressing invitations for a few weddings.
The classic, old world feel of italic calligraphy can be applied to so many different types of applications - for both formal events and craft projects alike.
I wrote this verse years ago, with a fountain pen that had a broad edge nib. This is some very basic italic that I've used for addressing wedding invitations, quotes, etc. A dip pen or the Pilot Parallel pen would have given more thick/thin line variation.
Christmas gift tags and little book covers are fun to personalize with casual italic lettering. Italic is also very readable for journals, planners, and scrapbook headers and titles.
