How to Hand Engrave Calligraphy on Glass, Wine & Champagne Bottles - Full Process, Tools & Tips

Part of my calligraphy services includes engraving for corporate and personal customisation orders. And I've been asked several times on socials about my process.

So I decided to take this opportunity to film a process video on hand-engraving on glass.

And also to show you the difference between 2 engravers:

1. Dremel Stylo + (which was what I used before upgrading to...)

2. Brushless Engraver

Tools

• Stabilo All Pencil

• Rub ‘N Buff

• Dremel Stylo +

• Brushless Engraver

Step 1: Safety’s first!

Always make sure that you prioritize safety first - always have a mask on because the glass dust particles are really bad for health and always have some form of eye goggles or protection on as well.

Step 2: Draft out your calligraphy design

I’m using the Stabilo All Pencil and this has a soft and waxy lead which helps you write on the glass surface. It is water-soluble so if you have not decided on your final design, you can edit it in a certain way. If you do not have the Stabilo All Pencil, you can definitely go with any other water-soluble markers e.g. Posca Markers, Micron, or a Pentel Brush Pen because after you engrave your design, you can use a damp cloth to wipe away any of the marks.

Step 3: Engrave using a thicker bur e.g. 1.2mm

Here I’m using a Brushless Engraver. This engraver is very quiet and easy to use. It also turns on really fast and goes up all the way to 35,000 rpm. Not to mention, it’s cordless too, which is great for live calligraphy events.

Alternatively, you can also go for the Dremel Stylo +. This is a more budget-friendly option which is what I started out with and I think if you're just starting out, this is a really good option regardless, compared to the other Dremel tools which are chunkier in size. The Dremel Stylo+ is so much easier to hold, kinda like holding a thicker pen.

But definitely, if you're in the market for something better, then the brushless engraver is the way to go! Previously when I was using the Dremel Stylo +, it kind of bounces off the glass. And if you really want to fine-tune the shade or swell for a stroke ie. how thick it is and whether or not you can do like a smooth stroke for the thick downstrokes - It's so much easier with the brushless engraver. The difference is really considerably noticeable.

Anyway, regardless of any engraver that you're using, you just want to make sure that you are letting the tool work for you so don't do not apply a heavy amount of pressure, lightweight pressure will do. That is what the rotation of the rotary tool itself does by kind of like chipping into the glass in a very controlled way.

Here I’m using the 1.2mm bur, tracing over my draft design to create a monoline script first.

Step 4: Engrave using a thinner bur e.g. 0.5mm to create a faux calligraphy look

Next, switch out to a thinner bur e.g. 0.5mm to have more control while creating a faux calligraphy look. What you want to do, is to add a shade / swell to all downstrokes of your script and keeping all upstrokes thin (monoline). This creates visual contrast, which makes your script look really pretty and elegant!

While you’re on step 3 and 4 engraving as you go, do wipe off the glass dust particles occasionally using a brush or your hand (optional: with gloves on).

P.S. If you're wondering on how to do the calligraphy side of things, I have a blog article linked here that goes into the details of how to keep like the calligraphy straight, centered, balanced - things like that and some hot tips and tricks where you know maybe if you have written the word a little bit too far out on the left-hand side, how do you fix that and make it centered again!

Step 5: Apply Amaco Rub ‘N Buff

Next, you want to apply the gold filling or any other color that you prefer so here I'm using the Amaco Rub ‘N Buff (gold leaf colour) to do the gold fill. Just use a q-tip and apply it all over your engraved design. Make sure to have an even coverage all over but at the same time, there's no need to put like a huge amount. A little bit goes a long way so just smear it all around and try your best to avoid the wine label in case it stains it.

Step 6: Buff out the residue to achieve an even polished surface

And here comes the most dreaded part that I hate the most! And that is buffing out the residue so that you have an even polished surface. Get that arm workout in!

Step 7: Wipe down and it’s ready to be delivered!

But it's okay it's all worth it in the end, just make sure you take your time so here's the final result of the wine bottle and it's ready to be shipped out and delivered. I hope you enjoyed learning about my process and if you have any questions just leave them down below and I'll be happy to answer them!

P.S. If you’re looking to start your calligraphy journey or improve your current skills, feel free to check out my online calligraphy course here!

Create calligraphy art that stands out. Here's how.

If you were to ask 10 different calligraphers to write 1 word in a traditional calligraphy style such as Copperplate, you'll most likely get 10 script work that looks exactly the same.

Why?

That's because traditional scripts often adhere to a strict set of rules.

Letter form and structure, and corresponding basic strokes and letters are the done the same way.

Copperplate Calligraphy (Base)

Here's how to stand out:

And that's by...

Incorporating new techniques such as creative flourishing and ligatures:

Copperplate Calligraphy (with flourishes and ligatures)

Here's a quick breakdown:

There are SO many different ways to flourish a single letter to create an elegant, ornamental look to your letters.

Take the lowercase letter y for example... here are 7 simple ways to flourish it! But trust me, we can definitely create 10 - 20 more variations, ranging from simple to moderate to super complex ;) Yep, I’m not joking!

Likewise, ligatures (like the double l-l in “Calligraphy”) can really help your work stand out. Not everyone's able to identify harmonious letter relationships between different letters!

But once you understand key calligraphy concepts and most importantly, understand form and structure - you'll definitely be able to train your eyes to...

1. Identify letter relationships and

2. Create creative interactions between your letters: this could mean double ligatures, triple ligatures, quadruple ligatures etc.

3. Or even: combining flourishing with ligatures to produce undeniably mesmerizing results.

Flourishing and ligatures are SO much fun, and it's one of my favourite things about calligraphy. After mastering these, these new skills will help in creating effective compositions and layouts as well.

Last but not least... another way to create unique work that stands out is modern calligraphy!

After learning traditional script, we can now break the rules and play with modern calligraphy.

If you were to ask 10 different calligraphers to write 1 word in a modern calligraphy style, you'll most likely get 10 script work that looks fundamentally different and unique.

And that's because there are sooooo many ways to break the rules! The above is just one sample style, but know that you can create so much more.

Let me know if this is helpful. I'd love to know... which do you prefer: traditional or modern calligraphy, and why? Feel free to comment below to share your thoughts with me!

Pssst. Interested to learn more about calligraphy? Check out my online course: The Ultimate Calligraphy Course and watch a free preview lesson today!

Why your calligraphy letters don't look good... and how you can fix it!

Have you ever found yourself saying or thinking these things while writing?

🖋 "Why do my letters look so clumsy and ugly?"

🖋 "How is it so difficult to move my hand to where I want it to?"

🖋 "Can't my upstrokes be thinner?!"

🖋 "Why does calligraphy look easy for other people but not for me?"

🖋 "I don't know what is wrong!"

If so, I say this with so much love but...

You don't need to practise your letters 1,000 times to get it right.

Sometimes the solution isn't "more practice", it's *clarity before execution*.

Remember, train your eyes before you train your hands!

Let me share on one of the most common mistakes that beginners often face: Pressure control.

Rule #1

Calligraphy looks elegant because of *visual contrast* ie. we've thin strokes and we also have thick strokes.

The next natural question you may ask is: "How do I know when to write a thin stroke and when to write a thick stroke?"

Rule #2

Easy!

If you're writing a downstroke, where you're bringing the pen towards you: apply pressure.

If you're writing an upstroke, where you're bringing the pen away from you: release pressure.

If you're saying... "Hold on, Leah, I know this already but my letters still look bad!"

Gotcha!

Rule #3

Should you try a brush pen and not be able to control the upstrokes and downstrokes well, I highly highly highly recommend scaling back to something even more basic: the pencil!

Remember: form always come first. Once your form is good and ready, you can tackle the brush pen next.

Especially if you're someone who's pretty heavy-handed in nature (aka when you write on paper with a pencil, and the pencil marks can be seen on the other side of the paper), then pressure control and grip are things you want to take note of.

So today's action step: try applying heavy and light pressure on the pencil instead of the brush pen.

If you're not sure what this means, feel free to check out this video below. It's only 1 minute so it won't take too much of your time.

Let me know if this is helpful. Feel free to comment below if you've questions!

Pssst. Interested to learn more about calligraphy? Check out my online course: The Ultimate Calligraphy Course and watch a free preview lesson today!

"What calligraphy pen should I buy?!" - Covering *all* the Calligraphy Tools!

Have you ever stood at the stationery aisle and don't know which pen to buy?! Either that or... do you wish you could buy alllll of em?

Now let's take a step back to understand our tools first so we're more clear on what we're actually buying and what these tools can do for us.

Commonly, there are 5 categories of tools you may use for calligraphy:

1. Brush pens

2. Water brush or aqua brush

3. Round brush

4. Fountain pens

5. Dip pens or pointed pens

You may have heard of some or all of these before, and while they all can achieve similar results, these tools are not the same! When done right, you can also produce really creative results with each different tool as well.

1. Brush Pens

These are my ABSOLUTE FAVS! If you've ever watched any of my calligraphy videos before on socials, you'd know that 90% of my videos are done using brush pens.

Why?

Simply because these are the easiest tool to use. It's fuss-free because I don't have to deal with any ink dipping or spillage. It's beginner-friendly, durable and very, very forgivable. The only time I've seen it being broken was... one time, I was teaching a private class for super duper young kids and one of em stab the nib right at the table forcefully.

Gone. Nib disappeared. Vanished. Went incognito.

Yep that was the only time.

Other than that, brush pens are nearly perfect for every and any use. You're also able to write fairly quickly with these!

If you're someone who likes to write fast and have no patience to watch ink dry for hours (aka me), this is perfect for you.

2. Water Brush

Water brushes or aqua brushes are the next level up. I often advise my students to try these after they're really comfortable with brush pens.

Why?

That's because water brushes are a lot softer in nature. You'd find these trickier to control. One stroke with tiny pressure can give you a fairly thick stroke on the paper itself.

Pressure control and mastery's key for this tool!

The plus? Colours!

If you're someone who's looking for a specific colour, it's less likely to be found in brush pens. For example, even a gold colour can have various shades: yellow gold, a more bronzy copper shade gold or even a rose gold.

If that's the case for you, I'd recommend opting for a water brush where you can tailor your colour preferences and custom blend your own ink down to the minute details.

Another plus: with the ink enclosed, there's no need to constantly re-dip ink again and again.

P.S. I use water brushes to create coffee ink calligraphy for a live calligraphy event! Click here for the full case study.

3. Round Brush

Next, round brush! This is similar to water brushes. The only difference here is - for water brushes, it's fairly limited to water-based inks. Trying other types of ink may risk clogging.

If you're in the market for brushes to use with acrylic inks, india inks etc., go for the round brush!

Con: you need to constantly dip the brush in ink whenever ink runs out.

4. Fountain Pens

Moving quickly along, we've fountain pens! These can go way luxe and costs up to the thousands (I know!). But essentially, fountain pens each have a metal nib that allows the ink to flow through, and depending on the pressure applied, you're able to create a variation of stroke widths ie. thin strokes and thick strokes.

Plus: no need for constant re-dipping of ink! All's in the cartridge. Fuss-free!

5. Dip Pens / Pointed Pens

Ah, dip pens. Have you tried this before? Was it frustrating?

If you did, you probably know that dip pens or pointed pens require so. much. patience.

And that's because 1. not only is the tool trickier to control, but 2. after writing a few letters or words, you have to re-dip your pen into ink again.

Sometimes, you may even write a quote, and just when you're about to finish writing, the nib catches on the tooth of the paper...

Boom.

Ink splatter everywhere. Artwork is on its way to heaven.

That's why I often recommend students to try brush pen first, followed by water brushes, then round brushes, and lastly, dip pens. Exactly in this email's order! Because there's a whole set of problems to tackle when it comes to dip pens.

🖋 What if the ink doesn't flow out?

🖋 What if the ink splatters all over my paper?

🖋 What if the ink bleeds through the paper?

🖋 How do I prep my nibs?

This is not to discourage you, but the truth is, you can totally master dip pen calligraphy. It just requires 2 things!

1. Mastering the skill of calligraphy first

2. And then, mastering the tool itself.

This provides a gentler learning curve and a happier experience.

If you're tearing your hair out, you're probably doing it wrong!

Bonus: Apple Pencil

A quick lil bonus for funsies: Apple pencil.

Well, this tool's probably the most expensive "brush" I've ever bought, but it's well worth it! I've done so many projects with this, not just for calligraphy but also lettering and illustration work.

It also streamlined my process and I feel more productive too!

Personally, I started out learning calligraphy first, then lettering, then illustration. At first, all my work's done pretty much analogue: pen to paper, straightforward and done by hand.

Somewhere in between, I picked up the Apple pencil and don't get me wrong - it's still done by hand. But now I no longer need to scan my paper sketches > digitise them via Photoshop & Illustrator. I can now draw directly on the iPad and skip the intermediary steps.

Here's some of the work I made on the iPad with the Apple pencil:

Case in point: calligraphy is a skill, but the applications are limitless! You can calligraph pen to paper like writing cards for friends or calligraphing your own wedding invites or even explore other avenues such as drawing letters digitally and even animating them. How fun, right?!

Let me know if this is helpful. Feel free to comment below if you've questions!

Pssst. Interested to learn more about calligraphy? Check out my online course: The Ultimate Calligraphy Course and watch a free preview lesson today!

[NEW] Calligraphy Kits! - The Ultimate Calligraphy Course

I'm excited to share that Calligraphy Kits are now available! 🎉❤️🙌🏻

With Singapore's recent tightened covid measures, I've since cancelled upcoming in-person classes, and those occurring in the later months are on pause until further notice.

It's kinda like a semi-lockdown right now. I hope you're keeping safe wherever you are, and staying sane! 

Coincidentally, my urge to bake is resurfacing again…

*Update: we made brownies and coffee! & nope it isn't dalgona coffee 😂

Anyway, because of this semi-lockdown situation, I've been getting more enquires about my online course recently and some of y'all mentioned that you don't have access to a printer to print out the course worksheets.

So I've decided to put a calligraphy kit together! 🥳️

Essentially, this workbook contains all 200+ pages of worksheets for the entire 6-week course, covering everything from Copperplate basics, minuscules and majuscules, flourishing, modern calligraphy, ligatures, composition and layout, digitization and more. Double-sided print and ring-bounded.

Together with the workbook, this kit will also include:

• 1 Writing Pad or Tracing Pad (depending on stock)

• 1 Pentel Touch Brush Pen (Black), 1 Koi Brush Pen (Colour)

• Several heavy-weight paper in various sizes for you to create your very own calligraphy art masterpieces with

• Custom place card of your name flourished by myself!

Of course, the online course will have the worksheets downloadable when you sign up. But if you'd like me to prepare all the materials for you on my end and mail em' to your doorstep (worldwide shipping), this is a supplementary optional add-on without the hassle. 

And you can get started on learning a new skill straight away! :-)

Sign up for the course here! And for the calligraphy kit, you may purchase it as an add-on here.

I hope that you'll find this addition helpful. If you've any Q's, reach out to me at hello@leahdesign.sg and I'll be there to help!