Calligraphy is the art of decorative handwriting using pens or brushes. The word comes from the Greek kallos, meaning beauty, and graphein, meaning to write. Calligraphy is not just writing. It is art. The calligrapher shapes each letter. The calligrapher controls the ink. The calligrapher creates rhythm. The calligraphy is the same.

Calligraphy comes in many traditions. Western calligraphy uses the Latin alphabet. Chinese calligraphy uses brushes and ink. Arabic calligraphy uses the Arabic script. Japanese calligraphy uses brushes and ink. Each tradition has its own tools and its own style. The tools are the pen, the brush, the ink, and the paper. The style is the script. The script is the tradition. The tradition is the same.

Calligraphy requires practice. The calligrapher must learn the strokes. The calligrapher must learn the proportions. The calligrapher must learn the spacing. The calligrapher must learn the rhythm. The calligrapher practices for years. The calligrapher studies the masters. The calligrapher develops a hand. The hand is the signature. The signature is the calligrapher. The calligrapher is the same. The same is the art. The art is the calligraphy. The calligraphy is the same.