The Art of Experimentation: Qalam or Copperhead Nib?

In my pursuit of refining my calligraphy tools, I experimented with transforming a traditional Persian reed, or Qalam, into a makeshift nib pen. Though the process was intriguing, the results were far from ideal. The reed lacked the precision and consistency I desired, leading me to appreciate the superior craftsmanship of the copperhead nib. Its smooth ink flow and crisp strokes outshone my handmade attempt. To document this journey, I created a video showcasing the process, the challenges I faced, and the ultimate comparison between the two tools.

I also kept practising on my alphabet, of course with the copperhead nib pen. This time I found another useful online resource called Calligraphy Skills which contains a wide variety of sections for mastering skills.

The most challenging part of this week practice was the precision of the writing and making ovals and

curbs look neat and symmetrical. The quality of the paper and its properness for the distribution of ink on it was another challenge. For next week, I am planning on finding more suitable paper to allow the movement of ink and pen more smoothly in order to get a better final result.

 

Finally I tried to write the word calligraphy!

 

Hope to progress more next week!