What Is Faux Calligraphy? The New Trend In Lettering

Faux calligraphy - Image by  Ensign Insights

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Have you heard of faux calligraphy? You might have seen it without even knowing it! Faux calligraphy is a fun and easy way to add an extra flair to your hand lettering. But what exactly is it? This blog post will discuss faux calligraphy and everything you need to know about it!

Faux Calligraphy Defined

The word calligraphy may seem deep, but it simply means "beautiful writing," while faux means "not real or genuine." So faux calligraphy is basically "fake beautiful writing" or “fake calligraphy.” 

But calling it fake is a bit harsh so let's define it as a straightforward way to make your handwriting look nicer without learning real calligraphy!

Faux calligraphy is a form of modern calligraphy and is the easier way to learn this handwriting. It uses simple techniques to create the illusion of calligraphy. It's perfect for those who want to add a touch of elegance to their writing without learning complex techniques.

It imitates the look of calligraphy without using a traditional calligraphy pen. You can do it by using a pen, chalk, or marker.

How Calligraphy Changed Over the Years

As the world evolves, so does calligraphy! It started in ancient times as a way for people to communicate. 

In the middle ages, it became more ornate and embellished, and by the 18th century, it was seen as an art form. And now, in the 21st-century faux calligraphy has become a trend! You can now see it often on Instagram, Pinterest, and other social media platforms.

Where to Use Faux Calligraphy

Did you know that you can use faux calligraphy for many things? Here are some examples:

• Notes or journal
• Address labels
• Decorate envelopes
• Make a sign or banner
• Write a quote

The possibilities are endless! You can even use it for invitations like weddings, birthdays, and baby showers. With this gorgeous handwriting, your invitations will surely stand out. 

Invitation cards are expensive, especially when you order them from a professional. But with faux calligraphy, you can make your own, and it will look just as good without spending a lot of money! 

Do you know what's best when you know how to do faux calligraphy? You can build a business around it! You can start making personalized gifts and take on custom projects. So if you're looking for a new hobby or business venture, why not give it a chance?

Who Can Try Faux Calligraphy

Many people start their calligraphy journey with faux calligraphy because it's a great way to learn the basics without investing in supplies. And since faux calligraphy is essentially just fancy lettering, anyone can try it!

You dont need any special skills or supplies. All you need is a pen and some paper. But, if you want to get more creative, there are plenty of other things you can use, like paintbrushes, colored pencils, and even markers.

How Faux Calligraphy Compares to Other Lettering Forms

Traditional Calligraphy

Traditional Calligraphy - Image by Clarissa Joy Lontod

When compared to traditional calligraphy, Faux calligraphy is much easier. You can use any pen or pencil to create this penmanship, whereas traditional calligraphy requires a special pen.

Faux calligraphy is also less time-consuming than traditional calligraphy. It's an excellent way to add a personal touch to your writing without investing a lot of time in learning a new skill.

Hand Lettering

Hand-Lettering - Image by How to Hand Letter

Faux calligraphy is similar to hand-lettering in that it is a way to add personality to your writing. However, faux calligraphy is more focused on imitating the look of calligraphy, while hand-lettering is more about creating unique lettering designs.

The Rules of Faux Calligraphy

In faux calligraphy, it is not just about the look of the important letters but also the spacing between them. This is what gives faux calligraphy its characteristic look. There are three rules that you need to follow to create faux calligraphy that looks like the real thing:

• Basic strokes
• Consistency
• Space

Learn the Basic Strokes

Although faux calligraphy is the easiest to learn, you still need to know the different lettering strokes before you can start doing it. The basic strokes in faux calligraphy are upstrokes and downstrokes. 

Upstrokes are when you write from top to bottom, while downstrokes are from bottom to top. To create faux calligraphy that looks like the real thing, you must ensure that your upstrokes and downstrokes are consistent.

If you want to see faux calligraphy strokes in action, you may check out this video:

Maintain Consistency

The second rule of faux calligraphy is consistency. If you want your handwriting to look like the real thing, you need to be consistent with your strokes and the width of your letters. Always ensure that all letters are the same width and written in the same style. 

Also, make sure that your downstrokes have the same thickness as your upstrokes to keep things looking even. By following this rule of thumb, you'll be on your way to creating some gorgeous faux calligraphy in no time!

Practice Makes Perfect

The third rule is to keep practicing. It means that you need to spend some time mastering this penmanship before you try to write it in a real letter. By practicing, you will be more familiar with basic strokes. 

You can find faux calligraphy tutorials online or rely on the guide we will provide you later at the bottom of this post. 

Whichever approach you choose, make sure to set aside some time for practice. The more you practice, the better your faux calligraphy will be. And who knows, you might even discover a hidden talent with enough practice!

Consider Spacing

And finally, the fourth faux calligraphy rule is spacing. Make sure that your letters are evenly spaced apart as needed when adding thickness to your strokes. However, don't add too much space between your letters, making them look disconnected.

So there you have it, the four faux calligraphy rules. If you follow these tips, you should be well on your way to creating some beautiful handwriting. Let's now look at how to get started with faux calligraphy. 

How to Get Started with Faux Calligraphy

The best way to get started with faux calligraphy is by doing some research. Look up tutorials online or find a book on the subject. Once you understand the basic strokes and how to form letters, you can start practicing on your own.

You can practice faux calligraphy anytime. The more you do it, the better you'll become. And who knows, maybe faux calligraphy will be your gateway into the world of real calligraphy!

Tools Needed in Faux Calligraphy

A faux calligraphy technique is a form of lettering that uses normal handwriting to create the illusion of calligraphy. You don't need any fancy materials or equipment to get started with it, just a few supplies you have at home. Here are the common materials you will need:

• Pen or Pencil: Any old pen or pencil will do, but you may find that a felt tip pen or brush pen works best.
• Paper: Any paper is fine, but you may want to use something with a bit more texture so that the ink doesn't bleed too much.
• Ruler (optional): A ruler can be helpful if you want to create any straight lines or geometric shapes within your faux calligraphy piece.

How to Do Faux Calligraphy

Now that you know what materials you need, it's time to try faux calligraphy! Let's go over the basic steps. 

Draw the Guidelines

When we included the ruler in the list of faux calligraphy supplies, we weren't joking! One of the first steps to doing faux calligraphy is to draw some light guidelines. Start with a pencil and lightly draw two parallel lines running down your page. 

You can make these lines as close or as far apart as possible, but we recommend starting with a quarter-inch (0.64 cm) gap. If you're having trouble drawing parallel lines, try using a ruler or T-square!

These guidelines will help keep your faux calligraphy letters straight and evenly spaced on the page. You can erase these later, but for now, don't press too hard on the pencil so the lines are easy to erase.

Sketch Your Letters

Writing a letter “a” - Image by Japanese Calligrapher Takumi

Write out the word or phrase you want in big, bold letters. Remember to apply thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes. If you need some inspiration, check out our faux calligraphy alphabet below!

Start Identifying Your Downstrokes and Upstrokes

Letter “a” Image by - Japanese Calligrapher Takumi

Now that you have your letters written out, it's time to identify which strokes are downstrokes and which ones are upstrokes. The downstrokes are thicker lines, while the upstrokes are thinner. Take a look at the faux calligraphy alphabet and see if you can identify which strokes.

Fill in the Gaps

Filling the gaps - Image by Japanese Calligrapher Takumi

Once you have your downstrokes and upstrokes figured out, it's time to fill in the gaps! Start with your downstrokes first. Use a thicker pen or marker for these strokes. Then, fill in the thinner upstrokes. You can use a thinner pen or marker for these, or even a brush pen.

Connect the Letters

Connecting the letters - Image by Ensign Insights

This is where faux calligraphy starts to resemble actual calligraphy. Start at the top of your letter and connect it to the next letter. Do it by drawing a line from the top of one letter to the bottom of the next.

Clear the Pencil Marks

It is time to erase the pencil marks you've made so far. You should be left with a beautiful faux calligraphy piece! If you want to make it more artistic, try adding embellishments like flourishes or ornate borders.

Conclusion

So, faux calligraphy is just a fancier name for fake calligraphy (sort of). This penmanship is a great way to add some extra flair to your hand lettering skills without learning the more difficult techniques involved in traditional calligraphy.

What do you think of faux calligraphy? Let us know in the comments below!