To me, autumn means cozy focus, warm colors, and a sense of simple joy. Today’s tutorial is one I savored from start to finish, and I hope you’ll enjoy it, too. In it, you’ll create a hand-painted pumpkin filled with leaves and flourishes that you can turn into a greeting card, mail art, or a lovely autumn display for your home. 1. Gather Your Supplies Unlock Unlimited Creativity, Connection, and Support Become a TPK Premium Member to access every blog tutorial, article, and worksheet...| The Postman’s Knock
This is my favorite spread from Sam’s new book, Draw Your Adventures. I love that dress and the cozy coffee mug!Samantha has a gift for blending the ordinary and the artful. She’s the illustrator and author behind several beloved books, including, most recently, Draw Your Adventures (affiliate link). Last Friday, Sam joined Jess and me to talk about her sketchbook practice, which emphasizes joy in the moment. You can watch our conversation below, then keep reading to find a written overvi...| The Postman’s Knock
My love for mail art is no secret. Embellished envelopes abound on the TPK blog, and they have their own section in The Calligraphy Book. TPK envelopes have even crept into The Graceful Envelope Contest and Scripsit Magazine. I return to this type of project again and again because it gives me so much joy! I loved every second of making my Edward Gorey House envelope, and I hope that you make one, too. Below, you’ll find the process that I used — but please feel free to use the techniques...| The Postman’s Knock
Photo credit: Jess GreenleafWhen Jess Greenleaf and I get together, you can always expect to learn something new. Our September coffee date didn’t disappoint! We covered everything from testing inks on tricky handmade papers to the ins and outs of color theory. Along the way, we talked about building confidence as an artist, favorite pigments, watercolor techniques, and even the future of cursive writing. Then, Jess threw a giveaway curveball! The coffee date is absolutely worth a watch or ...| The Postman’s Knock
Here’s what I love about a chalkboard: it’s easy to reset. You can use it in an interactive design, like a chalkboard; or you can do something a little more static, like mapping out recommendations for houseguests. For 15 years, I’ve had a fairly large chalkboard that has fulfilled both roles at different times. From 2010-2017, I used this chalkboard as a calendar. From 2017 onward, it imparted recommendations for houseguests.Unlock Unlimited Creativity, Connection, and Support Become a...| The Postman’s Knock
When it comes to calligraphy, sometimes it’s nice to let go of perfect slants and precise strokes. Crayon calligraphy is all about play: layering colors, adding flourishes, and watching your letters come alive in unexpected ways. It’s a playful, no-pressure way to practice calligraphy … and a lovely excuse to slow down and enjoy the season. 1. Gather Your Supplies Unlock Unlimited Creativity, Connection, and Support Become a TPK Premium Member to access every blog tutorial, article, and...| The Postman’s Knock
I’ve continued to feel inspired by Phyllis Macaluso, who created these drop-dead gorgeous envelopes, for over a decade. In Lesson 1 of The Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, I encourage you to seek out examples of calligraphy that spark your creativity. In that same spirit, I’m rewinding 10+ years to share the pieces that helped me fall in love with the pointed pen. These are some examples that made me think, “I have to learn how to do that”! Today, I’m highlighting eigh...| The Postman’s Knock
An athletic shoe might seem like a silly thing to flourish, but I made one on a whim back in 2017 and popped it on Instagram. People seemed to really like it, and since then, I’ve received several requests for instructions on how to make one. Today, I’m happy to introduce the Flourished Athletic Shoe Calligraphy Drill Worksheet, created to walk you through each step of making this flourished shoe. The original flourished athletic shoe was a doodle that was created on the spot. If you comp...| The Postman’s Knock
Few things carry more nostalgia than family recipes. With the holidays approaching, consider turning one into a handmade gift. Pick a recipe that means something to you, and transform it into art with illustrations and handwritten instructions. You can start by working through this recipe alongside me, or use the tutorial to create your own right away. Unlock Unlimited Creativity, Connection, and Support Become a TPK Premium Member to access every blog tutorial, article, and worksheet—plus ...| The Postman’s Knock
This month's coffee date with Jess Greenleaf looked a little different than past sessions. Instead of focusing on one topic, we hosted a Q&A session! The questions led to a discussion that covered everything from the technical details of pigments to the age-old question of whether tracing is "cheating."| The Postman’s Knock
The Postman's Knock is a blog focused on teaching creative techniques and selling guides to learning modern calligraphy and illustration.| The Postman’s Knock
Faux calligraphy -- calligraphy created with any standard writing instrument -- offers a fantastic introduction to dip pen calligraphy!| The Postman’s Knock
Comprehensive course that will give you the tools to change your handwriting for the better -- forever. Improve your print and your cursive -- this course covers techniques for improving both styles of writing. Includes 27 videos + an accompanying 18-page worksheet with drills and exemplars to practice. The worksheet comes in both a printable and a Procreate (iPad) version. See the Welcome to Procreate FAQs for Procreate download support. Designed for both right- and left-handed learners - ...| The Postman's Knock
I developed these premium calligraphy worksheets in the Kaitlin style to be more of a program than just a set of worksheets. Download, print, and go!| The Postman's Knock
