Today, I want to show you how Procreate has transformed my calligraphy drafting process. For those who already have an iPad—or are considering one—this digital tool provides a quicker, more efficient way to create and refine your calligraphy designs.
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When I was working on The Calligraphy Book, drafts were a way of life. It was important to send concepts to my editor for approval before inking them, and it quickly became obvious that analog pencil drafts wouldn’t be efficient enough. That was when I began to create calligraphy and illustration drafts using the Procreate app on the iPad. Procreate made it easy to explore and communicate ideas without investing a ton of time.
Today, I worked on a calligraphy quote for a friend who is job hunting and could use a little encouragement. I saved time by sketching the draft in Procreate, and I want to share a glimpse of that process. If you have an iPad, the Procreate app can be a real game-changer for quickly planning layouts and nailing down flourish placement!
You’ll begin by opening the Procreate draft on your iPad. Create a document that reflects the size of the pointed pen calligraphy quote you want to write. Then, use the “Script” brush to put together a draft.
While the draft above looks effortless, it required a lot of tinkering. I exported a timelapse video to show you exactly what went into creating it. (Notice that I initially forgot to write “%”, and I spelled “succeed” wrong. That’s what I get for watching a show while I write!)
Once you’re happy with your Procreate draft, transfer it to your computer. Then, use Photoshop or a similar photo editing program to add a black border to the draft.
Next, print the draft out on a white piece of paper.
Once you’ve printed the Procreate draft, you can put your tablet away. Then, go ahead and place a piece of watercolor paper (or a different high-quality paper) over the draft. Choose your favorite pen, nib, and ink combination, and begin to write.
Since your draft is set, you can relax and enjoy the process. Grab a hot tea and put on a series, podcast, or audiobook that you love. Then, immerse yourself in the rhythm of pulling the pen down and pushing it up.
Continue to create calligraphy using the Procreate draft as a guide. Once you’re finished, you’ll have a cleanly calligraphed quote with no pencil guidelines to erase!
Once the quote is written, you’re free to stop there—but if you want to add a bit of sparkle, consider some gold embellishments. Try reinforcing your downstrokes with parallel gold strokes or add small gold circles to your finer lines.
Then, if it feels right to take it a step further, you can add some gold flakes to random edges of the quote. (If you don’t know how to do that, see this tutorial.)
Once the quote feels finished, pass it along to someone special! Inspirational quotes like this often arrive when they’re most needed. I’m sending this one to a friend who is embarking on a job search, and I suspect she’ll be grateful for the reminder.
If you can whip up a nice envelope for the quote to arrive in, all the better! I used the centering techniques from this tutorial to make an envelope that’s both quirky and formal.
I realize that not everyone has an iPad or the Procreate app, but hopefully this process offers some inspiration to those of you who do—or for anyone considering making the investment. Digital drafting can save a lot of time, especially when you’re refining layouts or flourishes. But remember, you don’t need fancy tools to create something meaningful. Whether you use an iPad or a traditional pencil and paper, the most important part is the thought and care behind your creation. I hope this gives you some helpful insights, no matter how you choose to approach your calligraphy projects!
Thanks so much for reading,
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