How to Get Rid of Messy Transitions in Calligraphy (easy fixes)

Getting frustrated with rough and messy calligraphy transitions but don’t know how to fix it?

This post spills the secrets on how to transition from thick to thin SMOOTHLY so your calligraphy will look more consistent and beautiful.

Hint: it’s not always you, sometimes it’s the pen.

Let’s get your calligraphy looking like that second example instead of the first!

If videos are more your thing, just hit play on the video below:

Calligraphy transition problems

So, first of all, what do “bad” calligraphy transitions look like?

There two main problems that come up and cause your calligraphy to look a little sloppy.

Abrupt transitions

The first problem is transitioning too abruptly.

You realize you need to have a thick or thin line right here, so maybe you add it too suddenly, or lift pressure abruptly.

The problem here is that there often isn’t even a transition between the line thickness – it’s way too abrupt.

Remember: our #1 goal is smooth transitions!

Dragging weight into upstrokes

The second problem (and the most difficult one), is dragging thickness into what are supposed to be thin upstrokes.

This is a tough one because it’s SO easy to do.

Sometimes our hand just doesn’t ease up on the heavy pressure in time, and we end up with these heavy areas at the bottom of the letter.

Or this can also happen when you start adding pressure too soon.

Causes for messy transitions

Before I get into the fixes for these problems, let me just get some of the easier, more obvious causes out of the way…

…because there are some simple things that can cause messy transitions to happen, besides the problem of just needing more practice with this new skill!

Going too fast

Be honest with yourself… are you going too fast?

Going too fast is probably the biggest enemy of neat calligraphy.

It’s especially easy (as I know from experience) to drag that weight into the upstrokes when you’re working too quickly.

Sometimes we even start flicking our pen tip upwards in our hurry… which also results in those heavy areas at the base of a letter.

The fix for this, of course, is to slow down.

Unless you’re seriously in a hurry to get something done, this isn’t a race.

You don’t even have to go extremely slow – just slow enough for you to make neat, intentional strokes.

Once you’ve gotten the possibility of going too fast out of the way, it’s time to look at the next potential cause.

Holding brush pen below writing

If you never learned there was a right or wrong way to hold your brush pen, go read this post right here for an explanation and examples.

But, in short, you should never hold a brush pen below your writing when you’re doing calligraphy.

Why?

Because the thickness will end up in all the wrong places, no matter what you try to do!

So if you’re frustrated with heavy areas at the bottom of your letters, make sure you’re holding your pen to the side of your writing.

Done that?

On to the next thing then…

A heavy hand

The last potential cause for frustration with calligraphy transitions is a heavy hand.

If you tend to be heavy handed with your pen, you’re probably going to struggle with releasing pressure to get a nice thin line.

That’s okay though – because it’s all relative.

As long as you make the thin lines thinner than the thick ones, you’re good. You don’t have to make them really thin if you don’t want to.

So, if you do have a heavy hand, what’s the solution?

Use a firmer brush pen.

Brush pens range from really soft, mushy tips to stiff, firm ones.

Look for brush pens that say “hard tip” or “fude.” Smaller ones will be easier to use than big ones.

If in doubt, my all-time favorite firm brush pen is the Tombow Fudenosuke hard tip, included in this set (affiliate link).

How to transition SMOOTHLY in calligraphy

Okay, so we’ve ruled out a few of the common causes for messy transitions, but that’s not enough.

Transitioning smoothly is hard for everyone at some point, regardless of how fast they’re going or how they’re holding the pen.

After all, this isn’t a skill we typically use for everyday writing. It has to be learned!

So let me share a few tricks for making those transitions smoother.

Tip #1: Start adjusting pressure earlier

I can’t fully take the credit for this trick because I learned it first from another lettering artist.

But it works!

When you start lifting (or adding) pressure sooner, your hand can get prepared ahead of time to make the necessary change.

Tell your brain you need to transition earlier, and further back.

Don’t wait until that very spot where the change needs to happen – because, very often, our hand won’t respond in time.

The truth is, smooth transitions are all about timing, but you won’t learn that timing unless you keep practicing.

Slowly and gradually add pressure, then slowly and gradually release pressure.

Tip #2: Try a different brush pen

This is where we can blame the pen and not ourselves.

Not all brush pens are easy to use for calligraphy (a lot of them aren’t), and they will make it harder for you.

The pen you use has a big effect on all of this.

Avoid pens that are really big, soft, and floppy.

Stick with pens that are firmer, smaller, and easier to control.

Don’t know what those are? I’ve got you.

Here’s a short list of my favorite brush pens that are easy to use (affiliate links):

• Tombow Fudenosuke brush pens (small)
• Stabilo Pen 68 Brush pens (medium)
• Edding 1340 brush pens (medium)

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t use different pens, but at least until you feel more confident, stick with pens that are easier to control and don’t make it more difficult for yourself.

Tip #3: Practice… a LOT!

I know you probably don’t want to hear this one.

But I can’t stress this enough:

The best thing you can do to get better at calligraphy is to build muscle memory in your hand through practice.

Because once you’ve built that muscle memory, and “trained” your hand how to make these pressure adjustments smoothly, something great happens.

It gets so much easier!

How do I know? Because it happened for me.

Of course, we all get rusty at times, but once you have that muscle memory, all of this will feel so much more natural to your hand.

Eventually you won’t even have to think about when and how to transition.

The best way to practice is with repetition.

I suggest spending your practice time (could be just 10 minutes a day) filling pages with each stroke or letter.

Write them over and over and over again. Maybe make note of where something worked for you.

That’s what builds muscle memory.

One day you’ll suddenly realize, “hey, this isn’t so hard!”

Don’t forget this

One last super important point:

Your calligraphy doesn’t to be perfect.

It’s okay if there are some jagged edges, imperfections, or not-very-smooth areas.

(Nobody said you can’t touch up the lines and clean them up a little bit!)

The important thing is that you’re having fun and enjoying doing calligraphy.

And if you’re reading this post, you have what it takes to be great at it!