Description
Calligraphy is the art of decorative writing using pens and brushes. Focusing on composition and harmony within the piece, calligraphy oftentimes is not legible in the traditional sense.
Some of us might remember calligraphy from history class while learning about monks who made beautiful handmade religious texts or royal records, but today, most of us have seen calligraphy on things such as wedding invitations and decorative pieces in homes or businesses.
Possible Benefits
- May improve motor skills
- May reduce stress
- May reduce anxiety
- May reduce depression
- May improve memory
- May promote critical thinking skills
- May help build strong relationships
- May improve focus
Required Equipment
Pen, brush
Ink and/or paint
Paper
How to Do It
Grab your pen or brush and a piece of paper and make your words into art - it’s as simple as that.
There are many ways to do calligraphy, so if you feel stuck or lost, look up the various styles, choose one you like, and copy it. There are hundreds of thousands of images and videos online that can help you get started!
Why it works
- Putting pen to paper is one of the most therapeutic things humans can do. With the rise of technology, art forms such as calligraphy have become popular ways to destress.
- In addition to helping us relax, calligraphy, and writing with your hands in general, has been proven to help the human mind absorb information faster and even be more creative. And because calligraphy requires precise movement of the hand, it also can improve motor skills.
Time Commitment
20 minutes to 1 hour
Suggested Frequency
1-3 times per week.
Time of Day
Any time.
Possible Side Effects
None.
Tips
- If you’re just getting started, try tracing images of calligraphy to get a feel for it.
- For beginners, it may also be helpful to watch video tutorials online.
- There are many styles of calligraphy - try them all!
Supporting Studies and Articles
Expand Collapse- https://www.goboomerang.com/post/6-benefits-of-learning-calligraphy-and-handwriting
- https://www.britannica.com/art/calligraphy
- https://selecthealth.org/blog/2018/08/why-i-love-calligraphy?utm_source=social&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=caligraphy_why_I
- https://www.technogym.com/gb/newsroom/why-calligraphy-handwriting-make-us-feel-better/#:~:text=The%20rebirth%20of%20calligraphy%3A%20beautiful,and%20mind%20healthy%20and%20relaxed&text=Calligraphy%20stimulates%20neuronal%20activity%2C%20helping,texts%20that%20are%20more%20comprehensive.&text=Finally%2C%20the%20study%20of%20calligraphy,for%20our%20mind%20to%20unwind
