Name: Speedball C Calligraphy Nibs
SKU: N09
Price: 2.41 USD
Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)

Luca Barcellona - Advanced Italic - Jan 16, 23, & 30, 2026

Description

Description

Italic is one of the most widely used flat-nib writing styles by calligraphers around the world. Formally, through the study of its Cancelleresca variant made famous by Ludovico Degli Arrighi in his La Operina, a 16th-century manual that is still a rich source of inspiration and study for this wonderful style of writing, which first became established among Florentine humanists in the 1400s. But Italic is above all a style of writing that lends itself to an infinite number of variations, depending on the type of deformation you wish to apply (wide, very narrow, very slanted or deconstructed letters) and the instrument with which you write them. We will work on variations of the basics italic letters first, and then on a short text, designing a simple but strong composition, to which we will then apply as many variations as possible. This is an opportunity to experiment with new creative possibilities, starting from a solid classical model.

This is an advanced course, particularly suitable for those who have already studied Italic script.

Advanced Italic
Luca Barcellona, Hosted By The Gentle Penman

Live (Also recorded for later viewing)

16, 23 & 30 January 2026 (Friday)
00:30 am – 02:30 am (Hong Kong Time)

Class Cost : HKD 1,000.00 or USD 130.00
Registration Link : https://www.thegentlepenman.com/advanced-italic

Supply List:

Paper

1 block of A3 layout paper (Canson XL purple cover) or similar, or good quality calligraphy paper, no more than 120g thick, as the paper should be transparent enough to see the guidelines. The paper should not be too shiny/patinated nor too rough or absorbent. You need to get crisp letters. Give it a try first! (P2012)
Short and long texts for exercises

Pens
1 Parallel pen Pilot (blue cap/green cap) and black/ dark ink cartridges (FP67, FP69)
Broad-edge tip nib minimum 3mm wide (and other widths as you prefer to use). I recommend C1, C2 or

C3 size Speedball nibs (N09)

Ink
1 bottle of black ink (Parker Quink, Pelikan 4001 or Higgins Eternal), avoid cheap inks or "calligraphy inks" (I04, I08)

Optional materials
Some sheets of good quality paper if you want to work with nibs (PA101)
Automatic pen / other broad edge point tool (N27, N170)

NB: it is not necessary to buy ALL the materials recommended here. All you need to do it obtain the list of recommended materials. If you intend to practice extensively and experiment, you may also purchase the optional materials at your discretion.

If you think you just want to practice on the shapes, the Parallel you have, and the layout paper will be fine. If, on the other hand, you want to try the nib or the Automatic Pen, and a higher quality paper to start working on a final, get these too. The use of these tools will also be covered during the course.