And one type I would stay away from!

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You know how you have your favorite pen because you feel like it makes your writing look better? Whether it is a ball point, a gel pen, or even one of those cute pens from the Dollar store?

I’m not sure why that is, but we all have one favorite item that helps us get better results. Calligraphy has that too. We talk about our favorite nibs all the time: if you’re light handed (hello HUNT101) or heavy handed, and some other nibs that we love or hate.

What we almost don’t talk about is paper. Did you know that paper can actually make a big difference on how you write? Some are very textured and some are super smooth, and when you are more advanced, you know how to navigate different surfaces even though you still might be a little frustrated. 

When I started to practice calligraphy for my wedding back in 2014, I tried a lot of things. That’s when I noticed that the results were different, because they react differently not only with the ink, but with the nib. And nibs can be a little temperamental. 

If you’re starting to practice your calligraphy, this post will help you with maybe finding just the right paper for you. I have written on a LOT of things, so I have my favorites. Here are 5 suggested types of paper to practice or even letter your favorite quote, and one paper I’d stay away from after your first class.

1. Rhodia Paper Pads

This is a popular one, which was the talk of the town when I first started. Every calligrapher I followed was writing on this pad. You can buy blank, dotted (my favorite), lined, or even graphed. It’s great to keep all of your practices in one place so you can revisit later. The down side: they are not the cheapest, but you can find good deals on Amazon. Another thing I wasn’t a fan of is that paper is fairly thin so the ink could bleed on the other side. 

Get RHODIA paper HERE

2. Bristol Paper

I had no idea there was a paper with that name, but here we are. It’s smooth and I use it sometimes for calligraphy practice, and definitely for brush lettering (NOT watercolor). It’s thicker without turning into cardstock, so I’d say it’s similar to a laser jet printing paper.  Which brings me to the next item.

Get Bristol paper HERE

3. Laser jet Printing Paper

The cheapest of them all by comparison. You buy a pack from Amazon, or places like Staples. You print your guides right at home and write on them. Super smooth and the paper holds up ink very well. So if you have a printer at home, this is an inexpensive and convenient option for sure. The only downside is that you will have pages everywhere and it might get disorganized, so staple them or put them in a case. 

Ink Jet Laser paper HERE

4. Marker Paper

Great for alcohol or oil based ink, so you’d be safe using calligraphy here. A bit thicker than laser jet, but thinner than watercolor paper. Look for one that says “bleed proof” so the ink stays on one page without going to the other side, so you can use that page later. 

Get marker paper HERE

5. Vellum Paper

A lot of you are introduced to tracing paper when you take my class. Tracing is not bad, it’s actually a great way to start because it helps grow that muscle memory. It’s especially helpful for those who have never tried calligraphy before. It’s less intimidating and scary. Velum is just like tracing paper, but a little friendlier. It’s tad thicker, and you can even print on them, but you don’t need any of that. Downside: it’s more expensive than tracing paper and also a bit more expensive.

Get Vellum paper HERE

Types of paper I would not use as a beginner

Coated paper

Sometimes you get that glossy greeting card that is a dream to write on with a ball pen. It feels almost like you’re embossing it, the paper even feels a little spongy. That is until you use a dip pen.

Because of the coating, or glossy surface, some inks won’t stick to the paper. 

Handmade Paper

I’m sure you have seen those beautiful deckled edge invitation sets that make everything look so light, breezy and ethereal. This has been the new look for bridal everything in recent years, because it’s casual, but still very elegant. 

However, there’s a big catch when it comes with those papers. The handmade type is very temperamental and it can make for a VERY infuriating calligraphy experience. Why? Because the surface is very soft and somewhat loose. This means as you write, fibers of that paper will get caught in your nib, dragging the ink around, ruining your work. 

So what if you HAVE to use handmade paper?

Let’s say you’re just starting consistently practicing and your good friend/cousin/sibling/aunt/insert any loved one here, has their mind set on having you do their wedding stationery.

I would never tell you to decline that offer, because this is a chance to see your work on professional pictures, especially if you’re getting paid (to which you absolutely should!).

So what do you do? Below are my set of rules (and one trick) to make sure it all works out.

1. Definitely accept the challenge. This is your chance to show off your work to everyone attending and also get some professional photos of your newly acquired skill. No matter how new you are to calligraphy, none of the people there will know anything about it. This means you know more and are better at your craft than anyone else. Everyone will be impressed. 

2. Limit to quick projects. I would stay miles away from writing whole invitation sets because they take forever. Unless the couple is printing an invitation with your calligraphy in it, then definitely do a set so they can digitize your work. Other than that, keep the work simple like place cards, escort cards, or food labels.

3. Prepare your paper. This is the most important part. Your handmade paper is very soft, delicate and absorbent. Ink might bleed, fibers will get caught, you might get overwhelmed. We will change all of that by adding a coat (or two) or HAIR SPRAY. That’s right. You will spray that paper before you do anything to it. That way, the fibers will set like hardened hair and you can write on it without worrying about dragging ink. You will still have texture, but the paper has a coat that makes it easier to write. 

Make sure to give ample time to dry and the paper will not absorb the ink as fast. But other than that, you are ready to write on all of your hand made paper your heart desires!