Faux Calligraphy, drawing letters, fancy letters, pencil lettering, meraki
Blog,  Lettering Ideas

Faux Calligraphy

July 2, 2019 /

Faux calligraphy is the art of drawing calligraphy letters in a way that shows thick and thin variations without using a dip pen, paint brush, brush pen or other lettering tool. In fact, faux calligraphy can be done with almost any tool, even a regular pencil.

It might sound complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. And it’s not just for calligraphy or hand lettering beginners.

I use faux calligraphy when I design letters. You can do calligraphy with a pencil (see Easy Calligraphy with a Pencil), but sometimes I what a thicker contrast between the upstrokes and downstrokes as I try different designs for words or quotes. And sometimes I want designs that my usual tools won’t make.

Faux calligraphy lets me try many options before I choose my final design without needing tools I don’t have and without needing to switch between tools.

Sometimes, I even use faux calligraphy with a calligraphy tool to double the thickness of the downstroke, adding extra emphasis to the letters.

Let’s give it a try!

For learning purposes, we’ll stick with basic calligraphy styles.

I want to write a fun word and definition. You can choose whatever word or words that you want to write. Use the same steps to make your word with faux calligraphy.

Meraki: to do something with soul, creativity, or love; to put something of yourself into your work

Steps

  • Choose a word or words and a letter style, start simple. It can be any style, script or print. It doesn’t matter. Don’t get stuck on style. It’s fine if you just write it the word in your regular handwriting. If you want some style ideas, check out my Alphabet Style Study.
  • Write the first letter. Try to make it a little wider than usual to allow room for thicker strokes later. No need to make it fancy yet, unless that makes you happy.
Letter M in pencil, Faux calligraphy tutorial, hand lettering, pencil lettering
Write the first letter of your word in a recognizable style.
  • Now, stop a minute and think about how you made that letter. Think about when you pushed your pencil up the page (upstroke) and when you pulled your pencil down the page (downstroke).
  • Add a parallel line to the downstrokes only.
parallel line, learning faux calligraphy, lettering with a pencil
Draw a parallel line beside each downstroke in your letter.
  • Fill in the area between the parallel lines
Calligraphy with a pencil, faux calligraphy, hand lettering
Fill in the area between the parallel lines to create a thick downstroke.
  • Viola! Faux Calligraphy. Now sit back and look at how the letter has changed. From normal to amazing!
Meraki, put yourself into your work, hand lettered word
Meraki in pencil faux calligraphy.

Try a word or several words in several styles.

word collage, faux calligraphy words, creativity, meraki, soul, put yourself in your work
Try other words and styles to challenge yourself creatively. I used a pointed pen for meraki at the bottom to compare it with the faux calligraphy.

Now … practice, practice, practice!

And Happy Creating!

Joanne, Your Style in Letters - Name

Just a brainy creative with a fascination about how people think and understand. I use watercolor and letter design to encourage connection ... with self, the environment, and especially the people who live there.