Mastering Modern Calligraphy Book

Beyond the Basics: 2,700+ Pointed Pen Exemplars and Exercises for Developing Your Style

Cover and interior spread from the spiral bound book Mastering Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe

This book is for calligraphers who have a bit of pointed pen practice already—whether on paper or on a screen. I wrote it to bring the depth and intricacy of traditional calligraphy guides into the world of modern styles. Where older manuals tend to emphasize uniformity, Mastering Modern Calligraphy leans into experimentation and play.

Close-up of modern calligraphy writing in purple gouache ink with turquoise pointed calligraphy pen and matching ink well

Think of it as part reference, part practice companion, and part invitation. The goal is not to teach you how to write like me, but to help you understand how calligraphic letters work well enough to develop a style all your own—to explore what modern calligraphy can become in your hands.

Modern style of monoline calligraphy in black ink on white paper with a purple calligraphy pen

Inside, you’ll find thousands of letterforms and ligatures to copy freehand or trace, along with stroke drills, flourishing exercises, layout studies, and calligraphy guide sheets.

The lessons progress gradually, beginning with pencil warm-ups and foundational strokes, then moving into script letter structure, connections, and stylistic exploration.

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An array of pages showing what’s inside Mastering Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe, including thousands of letter examples and full-color photos

Spiral-bound
with 240
full-color pages

A quote by Robert Bringhurst in white ink modern calligraphy on black paper, with the calligraphy supplies used appearing next to the paper

Targeted exercises will help you break bad habits and create new styles.

A spread of flourished ligatures in the spiral-bound Mastering Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe

The extensive flourishing practice and exemplars are for beginner through advanced levels.

Calligraphy warm-up exercises written in black ink on white paper, showing a pointed calligraphy pen and messy inkwell, as featured in Mastering Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe

Warm-up exercises will make the time you spend practicing more effective.

A modern calligraphy alphabet written in gray gouache ink on white paper, with two wooden calligraphy pens and a pink ceramic pen rest

Learn how to critique your work productively, to hone your skillset like a pro.

A side view of the book Mastering Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe, showing that it’s a very thick book

240 full-color pages to return to again and again as your skills grow.

Tracing paper with handwritten flourished capital letters and pencil lying on top of an open book page from Mastering Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe

The lay-flat spiral binding means you can practice letters freehand or trace them with ease.

Mastering Modern Calligraphy cover with Kindle version shown on a tablet

Available as a spiral-bound paperback and an eBook—so you can have it instantly. Buy them here.

Want a closer look? This video is a complete tour of what’s inside:

Praise for Mastering Modern Calligraphy

“Thorpe gives readers the tools they need to begin breaking habits and implementing changes that will result in a unique calligraphic style that’s entirely their own.”
― Paper & Ink Arts

“Perfect for intermediate calligraphers!”
— Oh So Beautiful Paper

“A wonderfully thoughtful, in-depth guide on honing your own calligraphic style and giving it a modern twist. It’s filled to the brim with so much helpful information that everyone would benefit from adding this to their personal library.”
― Joanna Muñoz, author, The Art of Hand Lettering for Beginners

“A comprehensive, full-color guide for experienced beginners and intermediate students interested in mastering contemporary styles. With her signature pointed pen and digital hand lettering-styles, whimsical approaches, and bold color palettes, Molly brings a freshness and excitement to this classically beautiful writing style.”
— John Neal Bookseller

“A solid source of information for calligraphy enthusiasts, echoing the kind and encouraging tone of Molly’s previous two books.”
— Lindsay Bugbee, The Postman’s Knock

“Mastering Modern Calligraphy is the only book I keep at my desk full time. Molly’s user-friendly, spiral-bound book includes information that has taken me years of reading blogs, Instagram posts, and books – and taking classes – to glean.”
— Jennifer L. Wayne, JW Calligraphy

“This is a masterclass and complete visual (and tactile) feast. Ms. Thorpe has provided the reader of this book with the keys to the kingdom, offering tremendous insight into her professional strategies for layout, envelope addressing, monograms, and a dozen other things I’d never dared dream of trying before.”
— Shoshana R.

“Molly has not left any details uncovered, including a complete and well-illustrated description of the materials to be used in this art.”
— Ana Figueroa Ramos