How to Write Calligraphy on Marble
I’ve written on marble coasters for gifts, for a wedding, and just for myself and I have to say it’s one of my favourite projects because they’re simple and they look quite special when personalized.
Read on for the process that I usually follow and I hope you pick up some useful tips!
Wipe the marble surface with a glass cleaner before starting. This makes sure that the ink doesn’t go all over the place when you start writing.
To achieve thicker strokes, use a flexible nib like the Hunt 22B, Hunt 101, or Brause Blue Pumpkin. Take note, if you are not used to a flexible nib, the ink might be harder to control and the thickness can get out of hand.
If you don’t mind having less contrast between the thick and thin strokes, stiff nibs like the Nikko G and Zebra G are sturdy and work well with marble too. You might have to retouch the upstrokes to achieve more visible lines at times.
Not all marbles are smooth. If you visibly see pores on its surface, it’s better to use thick inks like Dr PH Martins Iridescent Ink. Added bonus: this ink is waterproof. If the surface is smooth enough, it can take thinner inks like sumi ink.
If you make a mistake and the ink is still wet, wipe it down with a paper towel dipped in clean water. If the ink has dried a bit, rubbing alcohol works great. Use a Q-tip for spot correction or paper towel for wiping the whole thing away. Just make sure that the surface is dry before writing on it again.
Let the ink dry for 24 hours. Spray a fixative (I use Krylon) as many times as you desire to make sure that the ink stays longer.
Watch the following video to see how I wrote on these marble coasters using a jade calligraphy ink from Dr. PH Martins Iridescent collection.
Hope this helps!