Understanding strokes and pen angles

Arabic calligraphy is built from strokes. Every letter is formed using one or more strokes made with the calligraphy pen.

A stroke is a single, continuous movement of the pen from start to finish without lifting it from the paper. Learning how to control these movements is the foundation of good calligraphy.

Some letters are written using:

• One stroke

• Three strokes

• Or several strokes

In Thuluth calligraphy, the pen is usually held at an angle of about 75 degrees. This angle is very important because it controls:

• The thickness of the line
• The smoothness of curves
• The overall shape and beauty of the letter

Keeping the pen at a consistent angle while writing helps produce clean, balanced, and harmonious letters.

Practice Before Writing Letters

Before starting to write full letters, practice the following:

• Straight lines

• Short curves

• Long curves

Try to maintain the same pen angle during each stroke. This simple practice will train your hand, improve control, and prepare you to write letters correctly in the upcoming lessons.