Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.— Scott Adams, The Dilbert Principle

How To Build a Set of Art Supplies - from Basic to Advanced

Now that you're interested in the journey of art, you are probably asking where to begin. With so many creative art forms to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know the basics of what to buy and where to start. Everyone starts at the beginning and this post is dedicated to shedding light on basic supplies and building from there. Let us help you on your journey.

Enter the world of Kalli Camp Academy, a community to learn, flourish, and grow in the art of calligraphy. We aim to make it possible for artists at every skill level and culture to grow in their craft and connect with others on a deeper level through true friendships centered around shared passions. We also aim to support each other and help grow our small businesses as a result of...

Homework Hashtag: #kcadigitalwatercolor

Introduction

Have you admired beautiful watercolor designs from afar thinking that it would never be something you could do? Want to be able to create beautiful artwork from the comfort of your own couch? ;) Then this class is for you! I will take you through the creation of a watercolor wreath from sketch to final product. We will talk through some basic leaf shapes, ways to add variation to your artwork to more closely approximate the look of traditional watercolor, and how to prepare your design for print.

Topics Covered:

1. Setting up your canvas and a few Procreate tips and tricks
2. How to make basic botanical design elements
3. Easily creating a sketch for your artwork
4. Creating a beautiful watercolor artwork piece from your sketch
5. Exporting your artwork for print

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and available now for all Tier 2 students.  Some classes are also available to Tier 1 students. Click here...

"We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents." 

Bob Ross

New Class Offerings at Kalli Camp Academy!

Did you hear the news? We are launching new classes at KCA and couldn't be more excited! The first class is already inside the classroom, Monoline Italic with Sonia Pal.

In the coming months, you will be seeing new offerings added to your active Kalli Camp Academy membership. We are on track to add a new class every month moving forward.

Here are some of the new offerings you can expect to see:

• Monoline Italic and Methodology for Learning a Script

   with Sonia Pal @asquarewatermelon

• Flourished Butterflies 

   with Sabine @federverliebt

• Calligrams

   with Sabine @federverliebt

• Creating an Art Appreciation Journal 

   with Nana @thecreativekinds

• Intro to Italian Hand

   with Allison McClanahan @wildwoodcalligraphyandpost

• Creating an Illustrated Watercolor Map

   with Allison...

"Calligraphy is the most intimate, private, and spontaneous expressive means. Like a fingerprint or voice it is unique with every person." German Zapf

An Inspired Interview with Suzanne Cunningham

We could have chatted with Suzanne for hours, and it was indeed a delight to have her share a bit of her story as a calligrapher with us during our live Instagram Q&A session. After all, who wouldn't be elated with the chance just to sit and listen to her talk about the joys of calligraphy? 

Keep reading to learn about Suzanne's getting started story, how she landed her first wedding client, and what to do if you're technically challenged. 

Enter the world of Kalli Camp Academy, a community to learn, flourish, and grow in the art of calligraphy. We aim to make it possible for artists at every skill level and culture to grow in their craft and connect with others on a deeper level through true friendships centered...

Homework Hashtag: #kcamonolineitalic

Have you ever wondered which Calligraphy script is the easiest to learn without the overwhelm of calligraphy pen, inks and supplies? In this class you will learn:

• Writing monoline Italic script using a pencil or any regular pen!
• A brief history of origin of this script
• Basic strokes and lowercase and uppercase letters (minuscule and majuscule)
• Create a project at the end of this lesson

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and available now for all Tier 2 students.  Some classes are also available to Tier 1 students. Click here to see the Tier 1 Class Listing.  

How to Access Your Members-Only Class:

• Go to www.kallicampacademy.com
• Log in to your account
• Click on Classroom
• Click on Tier 2
• Scroll to Current Classes
• Click on Monoline Italic

Enroll

Materials Needed

• Graph Paper
• Pencil, any pencil like 2HB will do (I will use Blackwing Pencil Matte for class)
• Pen, any micron...

"Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on." Louis L'Amour

Advice for beginners, tips on flourishing, being a lefty calligrapher, and more...

We had the most enlightening conversation with an inspiring mama calligrapher, and couldn't fit everything into one post. Here is Part 2 of our Q & A session with Younghae Chung of Logos Calligraphy and Design. 

"It's important to think your way through calligraphy so that it all looks beautiful". Those are wise words spoken by Younghae Chung of Logos Calligraphy during our live Q&A session with her.  From the start of her journey to publishing her first book, Younghae chatted with Heather McKelvey and turned the pages of her journey from an anxious mama to becoming a fearless flourishing artist!

Enter the world of Kalli Camp Academy, a community to learn, flourish, and grow in the art of calligraphy...

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." William Woodsworth

Sharing the beauty of calligraphy...

We had the most inspiring conversation with a beautiful mama calligrapher a few days ago, and if you missed it, there are so many gold nuggets you'll be delighted to find sprinkled throughout. This is Part One, where we get to know Younghae. Stay tuned for Part Two, where we dive into what she does, tips for lefties, favorite nibs and why, flourishing, and more.

"Calligraphy is a gift you get to experience as well as pass on". Those are the exact words spoken by Younghae Chung of Logos Calligraphy during our live Q & A session with her on Friday, May 26th.  From the start of her journey to publishing her first book, Younghae chatted with Heather McKelvey and turned the pages of her journey from anxious mama to becoming a fearless flourishing artist!

Enter the world of Kalli Camp Academy, a community to learn, flourish, and...

Do you ever feel like you practice for hours and don't see any improvement? It could be that you aren't narrowing your focus enough. While it may seem counterintuitive, slowing down your practice and breaking it into smaller parts may help you speed your way to better calligraphy.

When I practice the foundational strokes, I don't practice them whole. I break them into the smallest parts possible and practice one piece at a time until I see improvement. 

Looking at the big picture of the whole alphabet or a long calligraphy piece can feel overwhelming. But that big picture is made up of many tiny pieces, and most of them are so similar that if you conquered just a few improvements, it would make a noticeable difference.

What is your weakest letter? Take that letter, break it down into strokes, and then break those strokes into smaller practiceable pieces and practice just those strokes for the next week. Then compare a before and after and see what you think.

We would...

Have you been looking for an opportunity to learn calligraphy and watercolor? Welcome to Kalli Camp Academy! We engage artists worldwide, empowering them to enhance their artistic skills, connect with likeminded creatives, and encourage the world through the power of beautifully written words.

We are a virtual learning platform offering you arts and calligraphy education at a modest price. Our classes are offered as part of a monthly subscription membership, and when you enroll as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 student, you also join our community forum of students from all over the world.

Club KCA + Giveaway

We are excited to tell you about something new called Club KCA and it's (insert drumroll) entirely FREE! Yes, you read that right. F-R-E-E! But first, let us give you the details about our giveaway that you do not want to miss.

To celebrate the launch of Club KCA, we are hosting an international giveaway! When you join Club KCA, you are eligible to participate in the...

Have you ever seen something written in calligraphy and became instantly smitten with the beauty and elegance of it all? Perhaps you were at a wedding or baby shower and beautiful place cards or signage caught your eye, to the point where you said to yourself "I wish I could do that".

Here's where we come in. Enter the world of Kalli Camp Academy, a community to learn, flourish, and grow in the art of calligraphy. We aim to make it possible for artists at every skill level and culture to grow in their craft and connect with others on a deeper level through true friendships centered around shared passions. We also aim to support each other and help grow our small businesses as a result of this collaborative endeavor.

If you're just starting out or planning to start, here are helpful tips we recommend for beginners. 

Choose the right pen holder

Jane Matsumoto, who teaches our Introduction to Copperplate Calligraphy course, recommends a pen holder that can...