For our first tutorial in "Mastering Calligraphy", we're going to start with an

easy alphabet that uses the two basic strokes we learned in the easy introductio
n. Just those two strokes make up a majority of the letters in the Roundhand Scr
ipt alphabet. We'll be breaking the letters into similar groups and mastering bo
th the lowercase and uppercase letters.
Need Help?
In this tutorial series, you'll learn to master calligraphy yourself. But if you
just want a high-quality piece of customized calligraphy to use in your designs
or invitations, you can order affordable lettering and calligraphy services to
your own specifications on Envato Studio. Here are a few options:
1. Copperplate Calligraphy, High Quality
This provider offers beautiful copperplate calligraphy, and can vary the style t
o suit your specific order and needs for example, the amount of flourishing done,
etc.
Projects are usually done within a day. After your order, you will get a high-re
solution file, JPG, that has been manipulated in Photoshop to your needs, e.g. h
igher contrast, inverse colours, and cropped to a 4:3 ratio.
2. Custom Calligraphy With Graphic Elements
Custom Calligraphy With Graphic Elements
This designer will design/write your logo or a message (up to 5 words) in a mode
rn calligraphy style.
You'll get:
3 versions of your message in a popular calligraphy style
all 3 versions as hi-res .PNG files (black writing on a transparent background)
all 3 versions as vectors
including a graphic element to complement your message/logo
3. Script Lettering Logo, Watermark or Saying
Script Lettering Logo Watermark or Saying
Order some custom script lettering for your business name to be used as logo, ta
ttoo, t-shirt design, etc. You'll get the output as ai (Adobe Illustrator), eps
and PSD (Photoshop - if required).
It will be lettering in classic copperplate/spencerian calligraphy with ornament
al flourishes (if you wish). You'll get three variants, different in stroke weig
ht, letter variations and flourishing for you to choose from.
If none of those are what you need, here are the instructions on how to do it yo
urself.
What You'll Need
roundhand script - supplies
Pencil
Eraser
Black Ink (preferably Speedball or Higgins waterproof ink)
Practice sheet
Pen holder (the black part of the pen above)
Flat tipped pen nib (the shiny gold part of the pen above)
1. Review the Introduction Lesson
Before we dive into Roundhand Script, let's warm up our hands. We're going to go
back to the introduction lesson and do a line or two of the basic strokes again
 to make sure we're ready to go.
Step 1
Print out four or five of the practice sheets on a nice card stock or Bristol pa
per.
Step 2
Practice the basic downward stroke for one or two lines to warm up.
roundhand script- basic downstroke line
Step 3
Practice the basic curve stroke for one or two lines to warm up.
roundhand script - basic curve line
Okay! Now we're ready to start. In this lesson on mastering calligraphy, we're g
oing to learn a very simple-to-write alphabet called Roundhand Script.
2. Roundhand Script Lowercase Alphabet
Let's take a look at the Roundhand Script alphabet. As you can see, it's a nice
blend of print and cursive lettering. This means that you can either join your l
etters when you write words or leave them separate. It's up to you. The blue arr
ows above show the directions of the pen strokes and the numbers below tell you
how many strokes make up each letter. We're going to start with the lowercase al
phabet and break it up into two sections: downward stroke letters and curve stro
ke letters. So let's start with the downward stroke letters!
roundhand script - lowercase letters
Step 1
Print out a copy of the alphabet above so that you have it handy for reference.
3. Downward Stroke Lowercase Letters
Step 1
The letters b, f, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, x, and z all begin with the d
ownward stroke. Some have strokes that fill up the entire height of the line and
others only reach to the dashed line. Some, like the 'f' even reach below the b
ottom line. To start, I'm going to show you broken apart letter so you can see h
ow many stokes make up each letter.
However, since it's much harder to ink broken apart letters, we're going to make
the real ones. You can always sketch out the letters using your pencil first to
feel more comfortable. Then you can simply follow the pencil lines with your pe
n.
roundhand script - downward stroke lowercase letters
Step 2
Let's start with the 'h' since it's easiest. Place your pen tip on the top line.
Make a downward stroke all the way to the bottom line. Lift your pen and place
it just below where the dashed line and downward stroke you just made intersect.
Then arc up, over to the right, and down to the bottom line, ending in a small
curl up. Voila! You have a Roundhand Script 'h'. Not too hard, was it?
roundhand script - letter h
Step 3
Repeat making the letter 'h' two or three times so that you get the feel of it.
Many letters, such as the d, f, and k are very similar to the 'h'. Once you have
the 'h' down, it's easy to see how other letters are made.
roundhand script - letter h multiples
Step 4
Let's try a harder letter: k. The 'k' starts the same as the 'h' with the downwa
rd stroke. You then put your pen tip in the same spot, just below the intersecti
on of the dashed line and the downward stroke you just made.
This time, instead of arcing all the way down to the bottom line, you'll curve b
ack into the downward stroke about halfway between the dashed line and the botto
m line. Then do a diagonal downward stroke to the right, ending in a little curl
. Not too hard, right?
roundhand script - letter k
Step 5
Repeat making the letter 'k' two or three times so that you get the feel of it.
roundhand script - letter k multiples
Step 6
Slowly make your way through the rest of the curved stroke lowercase letters, us
ing the guide of the strokes as reference.
4. Curved Stroke Lowercase Letters
Step 1
The letters a, c, d, e, g, o, q, u, v, w, and y all begin with the curved stroke
. To start, I'm going to show you broken apart letter so you can see how many st
okes make up each letter. However, since it's much harder to ink broken apart le
tters, we're going to make the real ones. You can always sketch out the letters
using your pencil first to feel more comfortable. Then you can simply follow the
pencil lines with your pen.
roundhand script - curved stroke lowercase letters
Step 2
Let's start with the 'c' since it's easiest. Place your pen tip on the dashed li
ne. Arc down and around to the right, making the majority of the letter. Then li
ft up your pen and return it to the starting point. The second stroke for the 'c
' starts at the same place but arcs down just a tiny bit. Voila! You have a Roun
dhand Script 'c'. Not too hard, was it?
roundhand script - letter c
Step 3
Repeat making the letter 'c' two or three times so that you get the feel of it.
Many letters, such as the e and o are made up of two curved strokes that swing o
ut and meet at the bottom. Once you have the 'c' down, it's easy to see how othe
r letters are made.
roundhand script - letter c multiples
Step 4
Let's try a harder letter: q. Make the same start to the 'q' as you did the 'c'.
Now, put your pen back at the starting point and draw a straight line down. For
the little connecting flourish, place your pen where the curve and downward str
oke meet on the bottom line and make a slight curve upward.
roundhand script - letter q
Step 5
Repeat making the letter 'q' two or three times so that you get the feel of it.
The letter 'q' is very similar to the letters d, g, and p. So once you have this
one down, you can do the rest!
roundhand script - letter q multiples
Step 6
Slowly make your way through the rest of the curved stroke lowercase letters, us
ing the guide of the strokes as reference.
5. Write the Lowercase Alphabet
Now that you've written each letter multiple times, it's time to put it all toge
ther and write out the alphabet.
roundhand script - lowercase alphabet
6. Roundhand Script Uppercase Alphabet
The uppercase alphabet always plays by different rules and is generally much mor
e elaborate. The curved strokes are much bigger and the downward strokes have a
bit more flair. Besides that, the uppercase letters are just as simple to write
as the lowercase. You can always sketch out the letters using your pencil first
to feel more comfortable. Then you can simply follow the pencil lines with your
pen. When it comes to uppercase letters, I prefer to pencil mine out beforehand.
roundhand script - uppercase letters
Step 1
Since most of the letters begin with the curved stroke, I didn't divide the alph
abet into groups. Instead, we'll simply work our way through it, using the guide
above to see how many strokes each letter is made of and what direction the str
okes go. So let's start with an easy letter.
Again, we'll start with the letter 'c'. Place your pen tip on the top line. Arc
down and around to the right, making sure to curl back up nicely at the end. The
n lift up your pen and return it to the starting point. The second stroke for th
e 'c' starts at the same place but arcs down into the 'c' with a nice flourish.
Voila! You have a Roundhand Script uppercase 'c'. Not too hard, was it?
roundhand script - uppercase c
Step 2
Repeat making the letter 'c' two or three times so that you get the feel of it.
When it comes to uppercase letters, the more flourish, the better so don't be sc
ared to make some big curls and sweeping lines. As in the lowercase alphabet, ma
ny letters, such as the 'e' and 'o' are made up of two curved strokes that swing
out and meet at the bottom. Once you have the 'c' down, it's easy to see how ot
her uppercase letters are made.
roundhand script - uppercase c multiples
Step 3
Let's try a harder letter: k. Place your pen tip on the top line and curve out a
nd down toward the dashed line, curling up a tiny bit at the end. Go back up to
the start of the curve and draw a big downward stroke to the bottom line, curlin
g up on the end. Place your pen tip just shy of the top line. Curl up to the top
line and then down and to the left toward where the downward stroke meets the d
ashed line. Then, from that meeting point, arc down and to the right, ending wit
h a curl. A bit superfluous but not too hard, right?
roundhand script - uppercase k
Step 4
Repeat making the letter 'k' two or three times so that you get the feel of it.
The letter 'k' is very similar to the letters b, d, f, h, i, j, p, q, r, t, u, w
, x, and y. So once you have this one down, you can do the rest!
roundhand script - uppercase k multiples
Step 5
Slowly make your way through the rest of the uppercase letters, using the guide
of the strokes as reference.
7. Write the Uppercase Roundhand Script
Now that you've written each letter multiple times, it's time to put it all toge
ther and write out the alphabet.
roundhand script - uppercase alphabet
8. Putting it all together
Let's write something a bit more exciting! A good way to mix uppercase and lower
case letters is to write out your name. Now, since you've gotten so good at Roun
dhand Script, let's make you a pro!
roundhand script - putting it together
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You've Just Mastered the Roundhand Script!
Everyone likes to think that calligraphy is hard but if you just break every let
ter down into its basic strokes, you start to see the patterns. The more you pra
ctice, the easier it will be to ink the letters and the faster you'll be at writ
ing. In future tutorials, we'll learn some slightly more complicated scripts.
roundhand script - alphabet
Extra Resources
If you're interested in getting some help with your lettering or calligraphy, En
vato Studio has a great collection of Lettering and Calligraphy Services that yo
u might like to explore.
Or if you prefer a digital solution that lets you create elegant invitations wit
h that hand-written look, browse the selection of calligraphy fonts on Envato Ma
rket.

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Megan eckman square tuts
Megan Eckman
I'm the full-time illustrator and author behind Studio MME Illustrations. After
graduating from art school, I set out to make a living from my art. It took 5 ye
ars of hard work but I made it and now I'm sharing some of my knowledge with peo
ple like you. My recent collaborations include Google and Modcloth. When I'm not
drawing, I can be found exploring state parks.