Where to Start with Younghae Chung
Younghae Chung is a classically trained left-handed calligrapher, teacher, and creative entrepreneur who runs Logos Calligraphy & Design. Growing up in Queens, New York, she studied in Boston before working at a New York City advertising agency and a nonprofit organization. In 2014, during a difficult season of her life, she returned to calligraphy and rediscovered the meditative joy she had first experienced in college. That personal turning point became a professional one: she launched Logos Calligraphy & Design in 2016 and quickly established herself as one of the most respected teachers of classical pointed pen calligraphy. Her debut book, “Classic Calligraphy for Beginners” (2022), distills her teaching approach into a clear, project-driven guide to Copperplate and Spencerian scripts. She also teaches widely through online classes and workshops, covering everything from foundational strokes to fearless flourishing. As a left-handed calligrapher working in a field that traditionally favors right-handed technique, she brings a unique perspective on adapting classical methods to different needs.
Start here
Classic Calligraphy for Beginners
Younghae Chung · 144 pages · 2022 · Easy
Themes: Copperplate script, Spencerian script, pointed pen technique, flourishing, brush lettering
The clearest path into classical pointed pen calligraphy available today. Younghae Chung breaks down both Copperplate and Spencerian scripts into manageable steps, with warm-up exercises, letter exemplars, and 25+ modern projects that give you real reasons to practice.
Why Start Here
Most calligraphy books focus on either modern freeform styles or a single classical script. Chung covers two of the most important classical traditions, Copperplate and Spencerian, in one compact volume. This dual approach lets you understand how the scripts relate to each other and choose the style that fits your hand and personality.
The book opens with an introduction to tools, supplies, and terminology, then moves through basic warm-ups and nib exercises before teaching the essential principles and strokes of each script. Chung provides lowercase and uppercase letter exemplars for both hands, giving you a thorough reference to return to as you practice. The progression is logical and patient: you build from individual strokes to full letters to words and phrases.
What sets this guide apart is Chung’s perspective as a left-handed calligrapher. She understands the frustrations of adapting techniques that were designed for right-handed writers, and her teaching reflects that awareness. The later chapters introduce flourishing, brush pens, and faux calligraphy, expanding your range beyond the pointed nib. The 25+ projects, from addressing envelopes to lettering on wood and glass, keep the learning practical and rewarding.
What to Expect
A focused 144-page guide that values clarity over decoration. You will need a pen holder, pointed nibs, ink, and smooth paper to get started. The difficulty level is genuinely beginner-friendly, but the classical focus means you are building skills that will serve you for years. Readers who want modern, freeform lettering may prefer Molly Suber Thorpe’s “Modern Calligraphy” instead. But if you are drawn to the elegance of Copperplate or the flowing grace of Spencerian, this is the book to start with.