Flourishing Calligraphy: Analyzing Principles and Examples

Flourishes are swirls, loops, waves, and curves that decorate and embellish existing letterforms. They can be connected to letters or free-standing. They can be used to add flair or whimsy, and if there’s too many of them, confusion. 

With the right eye for design and layout, they can enhance your piece and help with overall composition and beauty. You can use them to fill gaps, to make interesting connections, and to fill imaginary shapes. Most importantly, you can practice drawing them. 

In this class, we’re going to look at examples of flourishing and learn to analyze the principles of when and where to place them, how to build them, and why they may or may not work. This class is intended as a companion to my Introduction to Copperplate course, also available here on Skillshare, and you don’t need previous experience. 

• Welcome & Introduction
• Handout & Basic Shapes
• Historical Examples: Analysis & Principles
• Warm-Up Exercises
• Love
• Joy
• Flourishing a Longer Quote
• Troubleshooting & Thank You
• Bonus: Longer Quote Flourishing Process