The Ultimate Calligraphy Course

A step-by-step course to help you master calligraphy with clarity so that you can create the work you envision with ease, confidence and success.

 
The Ultimate Calligraphy Course - Central Singapore - Calligraphy Workshops.png
 

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through images of beautiful calligraphy art on Instagram and buying all the nice cards for your loved ones, thinking “I wish I could create beautiful things with my own hands too!” … but don’t know how to get started?


Maybe you’ve already tried doing it on your own, watched a bunch of Youtube tutorials, but gave up halfway because it was too “tough”? Or your gut is screaming at you that something is just off in your work, but you can’t quite put your finger on it?


Or perhaps you’re already creating calligraphy work of your own or for your friends; you absolutely love how satisfying and creatively fulfilling it is but …

  • you’re seeing the same mistakes and have no idea how to correct them 

  • you can’t get past a limiting belief of “oh, but my handwriting is terrible!”

  • you’ve been practising for the longest time and see little to no improvements

  • you’re unsure of how to upgrade your skills to a whole new level

  • you don’t feel confident in your work and 

  • you don’t feel proud to share the work you produce


If you found yourself agreeing to the above, you’re not alone! I’ve been there before and I totally feel you. 

Learning calligraphy shouldn't be a painful and difficult process. 

I’m here to help. 

Back in mid-2015, I too discovered the art of calligraphy and I was absolutely hooked. I found myself drawing til 4 am in the morning, totally loosing track of time, making mistakes (unknowingly then), creating piece after piece on random scraps of paper I could find, from meeting notes to cafe napkins to Starbucks takeaway cups. Anything could be a canvas! 

I love calligraphy and letters, and began to learn anything I could about it from online articles, YouTube videos and books. Looking back, I could see all the mistakes I made back then. 

Nevertheless, I practised religiously for the love of it, made mistakes, unlearned my bad habits and relearned the right ones through trial and error. My work improved over the years, and more importantly, so did my creative confidence in design decision-making and art direction. 

 

Here’s my work mid-2015:

2015+%28IG%29.jpg

Fast forward to my work years later, 2017 - 2024

I’ve since left my day job (fund accountant at a bank) to pursue my passion and craft full-time and am proud to say that I’ve have had the pleasure to work with amazing brands and businesses such as Google, Lamborghini and The Washington Post!

 
 
Brush+Lettering+Workshop+Singapore.jpg


Today, I’m excited to impart everything I know to you.

I've shared my expertise with many students over the past years and had helped them learn and grow their calligraphy journey - from locals to visiting tourists, beginners to seasoned practitioners (calligraphy teachers included!), casual hobbyists to business owners from other fields (e.g. florists, bakers, illustrators), designers from brand agencies, MOE school art teachers, motion designers etc., the list goes on. And now, I am excited in helping you succeed in yours!

 
 

Accelerate your learning

If you're scrambling around the Internet trying to put a bunch of freebies together, thinking that this will provide a cohesive and seamless education for you, I wholeheartedly would like to say, "Don't do yourself a disservice!".

Truth is, you can easily google for answers with a snap of your fingers. But it's a noisy abundance of information. You can get various answers altogether and sometimes if you’re unlucky, contradicting ones. Now, you’re right back where you started and have wasted much of your valuable time.

This is why I recommend my course to you.

I have curated together a well-thought-out and cohesive education, and strategically crafted it to guide you step-by-step along the way in a systematic manner. 

I’ll teach you how to engage in purposeful observation: being able to tell what is right and wrong, so that you can train your eyes to study form and structure critically with clear understanding. This ensures that your practice is deliberate and intentional. It takes a lot of effort to make your script look effortless, and I’ll teach you the why before the how, so that each stroke you make is a deliberate act of decision, instead of “winging it”. Without purposeful observation, it possibly means practising a stroke 1,000 times incorrectly and reinforcing bad habits and we certainly don’t want that! 

With this course, you will save time, gain valuable insights and be able to apply what you had learnt from pen to paper. You can't practice what you don't know either. Stop second-guessing and know exactly what and how to practice.

 

Who this course is for

Brush Calligraphy using Pentel Touch - The Ultimate Calligraphy Course.gif
 
 

Students will be equipped with a solid theoretical understanding of the anatomy of type and by the end of the course, be able to successfully and confidently apply techniques learnt, assess and make similar creative decisions on their own in the work they produce.

This course is excellent for both beginners and practitioners alike who seek to utilize a new skill set for custom calligraphy and design projects - from simple hand-written greeting cards, envelope addressing and quotes to more advanced applications such as wedding invites, stationery design, script-based logo design and branding, calligraphy hand-engraving and more.

 

What you can expect to learn


Week 1: Basics, Theory & Copperplate Minuscules (3.5 Hours)

Fundamentals & Theory
  • Introduction and history to calligraphy, lettering, custom typography and typography
  • Various practiced calligraphy styles + how to engage in purposeful observation
  • Applications: What can I do with Calligraphy as a skill?
  • Supplies and materials walk through + recommended progression for exploring your tools
  • Theory and guidelines explanation, how to hold the brush pen and the principle skills of calligraphy
  • Body posture, pen and paper placement (Left + Right-handed)

Copperplate Minuscules: Basic Strokes
  • Basic strokes + demonstration of common mistakes, why they’re mistakes and how to rectify them
  • How to get square cut offs with a brush pen
  • Drills

Copperplate Minuscules: Lowercase a-z rundown in family groups
  • Why the need to practice in family groups?
  • a - z rundown
  • Step-by-step letter connection: basic rules, why and how
  • Understanding oval widths
  • Breaking down the word "minimum" + Recommended practice words & common words for greeting cards and weddings
  • Letter proportions & ratios + when to use which ratio and why, connecting a-z + explanation of rule-breaking exceptions
  • Optional: 26^26 letter practice

Week 2: Copperplate Majuscules (3.5 Hours)

Basic Strokes & Uppercase A-Z rundown in family groups
  • Basic strokes
  • A - Z rundown
  • Letter connection, proportions & ratios
  • Taking inspiration from Spencerian Capitals

Week 3: Flourishing - Lowercase Variations (3.5 Hours)

Flourishing Fundamentals & Theory: The why behind effortless looking flourishes
  • 10 Rules of flourishing
  • How to create infinite possibilities of flourishes without any memorisation: 3 key concepts & breakdown

Lowercase Flourishing & Variations
  • Rundown a-z

Week 4: Flourishing - Uppercase Variations (3.5 Hours)

Uppercase Flourishing & Variations
  • Learn how to create infinite variations of flourishes possible from A-Z
  • Combining lowercase and uppercase flourishing

Week 5: Ligatures, Numerals & Symbols (3.5 Hours)

Ligatures
  • What are ligatures and how to spot an opportunity for adding a ligature to your work
  • When to use ligatures vs flourishing?
  • Common ligatures
  • Creative out of the box ligatures
  • Double ligatures, triple ligatures, quadruple ligatures & more
  • Ligatures across words: horizontal and vertical stacking
  • Ligature word practice
  • Combining ligatures + flourishing

Numerals & Symbols
  • 0 to 9 rundown + flourishing options on how to dress it up more
  • Alternative baseline; oldstyle vs lining numbers
  • Common symbols rundown + alternatives

Week 6: Composition and Layout (3.5 Hours)

Composition & Layout
  • How to achieve elegant and effective calligraphy with a composition that is clean, intentional and easy on the eyes
  • Exploring various layout scenarios
  • Exploring shapes and alternate paths

Week 7: Modern Calligraphy (3.5 Hours)

Modern Calligraphy
  • Difference between traditional vs modern script + what rules can be broken?
  • Letter variations for a modern script
  • Step-by-step breakdown and rundown of how to achieve a modern script
  • Train your eye: spot the mistakes!
  • Modern Calligraphy (Lowercase)
  • Modern Calligraphy (Uppercase)

Developing your own unique style that you'll love
  • Dissecting various modern calligraphy styles to understand individual characteristics + demonstration of various styles catered to various occasion(s)/vibe and feel
  • Developing your own unique style(s) - yes, you can create more than one! + faux calligraphy
  • Style practice and experimentation

Week 8: Dip Pen Calligraphy, Gradient Calligraphy, Ombre & Colour Blending, iPad Procreate Calligraphy, Digitisation using Adobe PS & AI, and Hand-engraving (3.5 Hours)

Dip Pen or Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Deep dive into nibs, flanges, pen holders, ink and paper
  • How to hold the pointed pen
  • Straight vs oblique holders (left and right handers)
  • How to prep the nib
  • Going through common mistakes and how to troubleshoot them
  • Sharing my ultimate cheatsheet and top recommendations

Gradient Calligraphy
  • How to create gradient calligraphy in 5 various ways
  • Tips to achieve a cohesive gradient
  • Ombre and colour blending
  • Stylistic embellishments

Analogue to Digital
  • Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator demonstration walkthrough
  • iPad Procreate demonstration walkthrough *bring your iPad & Apple Pencil if you own em!

Hand-engraving
  • Introduction and demonstration of hand-engraving
  • Hands on: you'll get to try engraving with one to one guidance from me!

 
 
 

Upcoming Schedule

< First Session only >

Date: TBC
Time: 2 PM - 530 PM
Location: The Adelphi, 2 mins walk from City Hall MRT
-
Workshop Fee: $168/pax, additional add-on sessions @ same rate

< full 8 week course >

Dates: 18 May, 25 May, 1 June, 8 June, 15 June, 22 June, 29 June, 6 July 2024 (Saturday)
Time: 9 AM - 1230 PM
Location: The Adelphi, 2 mins walk from City Hall MRT
-
Course Fee: $1098/pax for all 8 classes, bundle price

* Slots usually sell out fast so do book early to avoid disappointment! Should slots be sold out or you don’t see suitable dates, click here to join the waitlist to be the first to know when new dates are available.
* Given the current pandemic, I understand you may be unsure about last-minute class cancellation due to government safety measures/restrictions. Don’t worry, should this occur, your slot is still confirmed - classes will be postponed accordingly but will definitely resume when earliest allowed.
* I get a lot of questions on this but unfortunately, this course is
not Skillsfuture claimable, my apologies!

Online Course

If you’re someone who prefers to learn at your own pace to on-demand video lessons or prefers a more affordable option, check out my online course!

* Do note that attending the in-person course doesn’t include online course access and vice versa.

 
 
 

Course Pictures & Student Work

Featuring art pieces and practice work from our course participants, ranging from as young as 10 years old to 60+ years old!

 
 

Coyligraphy.jpg

“I attended Leah's Brush Lettering Course in Singapore in 2019. Her course exceeded my expectations. I am a 4-year calligraphy practitioner from the Philippines but still I learned a lot from her! Her class is loaded with topics. She is very detailed in terms of the explanations and demo. She was able to control the flow of the course, such that all topics were covered and we finished class on time. She is also keen on seeing our strong and weak points. With that, as a participant, I knew where I'm good at and which to work on more. I highly recommend Leah's classes if you want a strong foundation for Brush Calligraphy.”

– Coy Barredo, Professional Calligrapher & Workshop Instructor in Philippines | @COYLIGRAPHY


 
 
 

Master a new skill in 8 weeks

We’ll learn everything from the basics to advanced topics, taking you from clueless to confident! Structured practice sheets (printable and traceable) are provided weekly.

Worksheets GIF 16by9.gif

Create endless variations with ease

Feeling stuck with flourishing? I'll show exactly how to improvise and create flourishes without memorization, teaching you the skills aka how to fish and not spoonfeeding you with "answers". Beyond the basics, we'll also learn how to use flourishes and ligatures to create effective compositions and layouts.

 
 

Modern calligraphy styles demystified

After learning the rules, it's time to break em'! We'll cover an array of styles - dissecting each one so you understand how they’re made and how you can recreate them too if you’d like. But more importantly, I’m not here to teach you my own style. Instead, I'll show you how you can create your own distinct style that you'll love, unique to you and you only!

 
 

Level up to Dip Pen Calligraphy

We ain’t stopping at just brush pen. After mastering calligraphy, let’s look to other tools like the pointed pen. We’ll deep dive into nibs, paper, ink, straight holders vs oblique holders, cover common mistakes and so much more.

learn ombre calligraphy

I’ll show you techniques to create strikingly bold and vibrant calligraphy. Perfect for cards!

Experience Hand-engraving

Make a permanent mark with hand-engraving - you’ll have hands-on under my guidance in a safe environment.

Don't limit yourself to pen and paper; let's go digital!

Learn how to digitise your script. This is where you can put your artwork on any product medium you can think of and explore selling em'!

 
 
 

Create breathtaking designs with ease and clarity

If you're tired of buying cards or bullet journal stamps, now you can decorate and create your own from scratch!

 
Christmas Card.jpg
 
 
 
 

Certificate of Achievement

To celebrate course completion, you’ll be awarded a certificate, with your name calligraphed by me. Here’s to your life-long calligraphy journey!

 
 
 

“After months of trying to self-learn from PDFs and YouTube vids, I finally understood the basics of brush lettering and started to improve with only ONE class with Leah. Leah is patient, approachable and cheerful. She breaks the fundamentals down into FUN and clear exercises. She's got great notes too! As a teacher myself, I feel that the BEST thing about her is that she is honest and generous with her information and instruction. Others may withhold tips and ideas either to entice you to take more classes with them, or they may do so to suppress competition. But Leah has the heart of a true educator. I highly recommend her."

– Leach, Professional Watercolour Artist, Illustrator & Educator | @LICHINGHENG

Leach.jpg

 
 
 

If you want to…

  • stop copying and referencing artwork from Pinterest and Instagram, and finally, be able to create work that is uniquely yours and screams you

  • be *so* clear and fully understand how to do calligraphy the RIGHT way and save time with your improved creative workflow

  • be able to see your calligraphy journey with signposts, no longer feeling lost, discouraged or impatient

  • gain confidence and finally stop questioning your calibre, worth and skills on whether you're good enough to write for friends or clients

  • stop scouring the internet for flourishing examples and memorising them, but instead, be able to improvise and create YOUR OWN flourishes with ease

  • be able to now lean into a creative and therapeutic hobby to practice mindfulness, slow down and be present

  • reignite your creativity and embrace your inner child

And most importantly, if you want a tried and true method to confident calligraphy writing without ever second-guessing yourself again…

…then this course is for you!

 

Course highlights 

In this course, we dig deep to the nitty-gritty and shed light on the little details that often go unnoticed by others but as a matter of fact, are equally or more important as these little details could easily make or break your work.

  • Have a solid theoretical understanding on all the whys and the hows

  • Have me demonstrate each point the wrong *and* right way with detailed explanations so that you can fully understand the common mistakes

  • Learn to engage in deliberate practice and purposeful observation

  • With a visualiser + projector set-up, there’s no need to stand around, crowding over my shoulder. You’ll get full close-up view of all demonstrations from where you’re comfortably seated

  • Make friends in a cozy setting with our small group size of no more than 8 participants

  • One-to-one attention and guidance where I will troubleshoot your mistakes and provide you with clarity on the spot in class

  • Get detailed one-to-one feedback from me on your work, outside of class, anytime throughout the course period

  • Moving forward, you'll be able to spot and troubleshoot your own mistakes and create work that you’re proud of after the course ends

 
 
 

Materials you'll receive

  • Pre-course PDF resources + Pre-recorded Theory Introduction Video

  • Curated notes, structured exercise sheets, practice sheets, guide sheets (200+ pages!)

  • Brush pen, Oblique Holder, Straight Holder, Nibs x 2, Ink

  • Practice writing pad

Assignments will be given each week and I will review and provide personal feedback on your work in the following week. Even though these assignments are optional, frequent practice outside of class is highly recommended.

 

Are you ready to kickstart your journey in the art of writing? I hope that you’ll join me in this value-packed course. Hit enrol and I can't wait to see you in class! 

 
 
 

Stef.JPG

“Had a lot of fun learning brush lettering with Leah 😊 While being both systematic and organised, she also encourages us to play, explore and try out alternative lettering methods so we can find a style that we're comfortable with. Great class, would definitely recommend her lessons 😊"

– Stephanie Hew Nakatani, Australian Illustrator based in Singapore | @INKYCATSTUDIO


 
 
 

FAQs

Do I need to have prior experience to take this course?
    The course is made for absolute beginners with no prior knowledge at all as I’ll be covering everything from the ground up. Even though this course is beginner friendly, it doesn’t stop as just a basics class. The lessons are progressive ie. we’ll be acquiring more theoretical knowledge over the weeks and tackling increasingly advanced topics.

    Lessons are bite-sized and systematic, so as it gets harder, you’re in safe hands as I’ll guide you step by step along the way so that the learning curve for you is gradual (but never plateauing). Intermediate practitioners are welcomed to take this course as well; I’ve had calligraphy workshop teachers learn from my classes and they picked up a lot of new and valuable info too!

What if I can't make it to the available dates?
    If you're someone with a busy schedule, I'd recommend opting for the online course option for maximum flexibility, where you can watch the lessons whenever and wherever you'd like! And you can consider signing up for one-on-one coaching which is best similar to an in-person course experience. I'll look at your submitted work and provide individual in-depth feedback. If not, sign up for my newsletter: https://www.leahdesign.sg/waitlist or follow my socials to be the first to know whenever the next available course dates are confirmed!

What if I want to learn Pointed Pen Calligraphy and not Brush Lettering?
    This is a very valid question but to me, as calligraphy itself is a skill, whether you're using a dip pen or brush pen - it’s just a matter of the tools used. You can achieve formal script (e.g. copperplate) and freestyle writing (e.g. modern calligraphy) with either of the two mediums/ tools - dip pen or brush pen, though the former is more commonly associated with formal script and the latter with freestyle writing.

    I’ve no objections to learning dip pen calligraphy before brush calligraphy, as that was how I started as well. Given my experience, it’ll be a lot easier to make a transition from brush calligraphy to pointed pen calligraphy as the latter requires juggling 2 things at a time - learning the tools AND the writing itself. You’ll experience a steeper learning curve that way.

    Which is why we will use the brush pen for majority of the lessons, before transitioning to dip pen calligraphy in the last session. That said, in this course, you’ll be learning BOTH formal script and freestyle and all notes given in class can be used with BOTH dip pen and brush pen.

What if I have bad handwriting?
    Nice handwriting is a nice plus to have, but not a requirement at all. If you’re someone who is worried that bad handwriting = possibly bad calligraphy, this is a huge misconception! For me, I’ve terrible handwriting and can “switch” via muscle memory to execute a beautiful script regardless. Calligraphy is very systematic, and I break it all down to straightforward, easy to digest concepts for easy implementation. With clarity and practice, you'll get it in no time.

What if I am left-handed?
    Have no worries, there's some pointers that apply to left-handers only and that would be covered in class! I have taught several left-handed students before who have found success in rectifying past concerns after gaining clarity from the lessons, so you'll be in good hands!

How much time do I need to dedicate to be successful at Calligraphy? What if I'm lazy or unmotivated?
    I've always believed in working smart over working hard. By learning the why behind the how, and how to engage in purposeful observation, you'll be able to tell what is right from wrong, so that you can train your eyes to study form and structure critically with clear understanding. So that when you actually start practising, it is deliberate and intentional, even if it's in a limited timeframe. There's no point in practising one letter 1,000 times incorrectly; it just reinforces bad habits and you end up wasting your invaluable time!

    Now that we understand that – from here, the amount of time you wish to spend on deliberate practice is honestly... as much time as you want! You can practise anytime on the weekends or weekdays before or after work/school whenever you're free, even if its just 10 mins.

What kind of style do you teach for modern calligraphy?
    For me, I don’t believe in teaching ‘one style of modern calligraphy’, there’s no fun in that if everyone’s doing the same style!

    My approach to teaching modern calligraphy starts with copperplate - reason being: you can’t break the rules if you don’t know the rules.

    So, only after learning traditional script (copperplate in this case, I’m not teaching Spencerian here tho Spencerian capitals will be referenced and flourishing variations may be included), then we’ll venture into modern calligraphy as we are now more well-informed.

    Style wise - Lessons will include studying individual features that make each style unique. You can think of this as: why are there so many fonts out there already but there are always more fonts being released? This is because of individual characteristics that make em distinct from each other. So for modern calligraphy, we don’t do ‘one style’. We do many so you’d understand how they’re constructed. Then the fun part: your turn to make your own unique style!

Would you recommend that I join your online course or in-person course?
    The online course content is equivalent to the in-person course ie. the online course isn't less beneficial or less valuable. The skills taught are the same. After teaching for many years, I’ve seen and provided solutions for various common problems my students face. So in all the lessons (in-person or online), common mistakes are always addressed with accompanying solutions so you’d know how to spot and rectify mistakes in your work. Personally, I’d say, a better question to ask yourself "what are my learning needs and which learning style suits me better?" as this depends on the individual!

    For in-person, you'll get direct access to me for 8 weeks, with one to one attention. It's great for those who learn better with accountability ie. prefers to learn at a set place, date and time every week for 8 weeks in a group setting. However, if you'd like access to recorded videos and prefer to have the option to rewatch the videos multiple times, as well as having the freedom to watch the lessons anytime, anywhere, without adhering to class schedules, I'd recommend the online version. This is great for self-motivated learners who are looking for flexiblity in schedule.

    If you're someone who wants all of the above aka best of both worlds, opt for the online course with one-on-one coaching.

    If you're still unsure, DM me on Instagram @leahdesign with your questions or concerns, I'll be happy to help.

What if I am unable to attend class after purchasing?
    The full 8-week in-person course is non-refundable but you may opt to completely switch over to the 6-week online course. Alternatively, you can opt to join future in-person course runs, depending on availability. However, I seek your understanding in informing me via email or text at least 2 weeks in advance so that I can better prepare the materials for class.

    For registration of individual classes, this is strictly non-refundable.

Is this course Skillsfuture claimable?
    Unfortunately, I'm afraid not. Sorry about this!

What if I have more questions?
    Ask away! I'm happy to answer any specific questions you have - just shoot me an email at hello@leahdesign.sg and I'll get back to you ASAP. I'd never want you to waste your time or money on a course that's not going to truly benefit you, so if you're sitting on the fence or unsure if it'll meet your learning needs, don't hesitate to reach out to me.
 
 
 

Student Testimonials

Here’s what my students have to say! Additionally, feel free to check out these Instagram accounts of past course students (either existing accounts, or those who created accounts after the first session of the course to document their calligraphy journey!): @shuiewrites, @coyligraphy, @omgitsweijian, @aiyen.arts, @jennytang722, @watercolor_luftmensch, @tohnado, @chemistrycalligraphy, @theletterbarn, @yourblueletters, @onesunnysideart.


I’ve just recently completed the TUCC by Leah, and I have learnt so much from it! Each week’s lesson covers a specific theme and this enables anyone of any background, skill and level to grasp the basic well. The materials provided were very detailed and extensive. Personally, I found the in-person guidance and sharing of experience by Leah to be especially meaningful and helpful to my learning. Would highly recommend anyone who is interested in calligraphy to join!
— Qiao Ying Leong (16 Dec 2023 - 3 Feb 2024)
Attend Leah’s 8 weeks calligraphy class, and it was an experience worth every ink drop.

The class commenced with a brief history of calligraphy, setting the stage for our exploration into its various styles and techniques. There’s so much to learn.

Leah provided invaluable guidance, patiently correcting our posture and stroke formation.
Enjoying every lesson with delightful blend of education and inspiration. Thank you Leah❤️
— Ivy Huang (16 Dec 2023 - 3 Feb 2024)
This review is for the 8-week Ultimate Calligraphy Course offered by Leah.

I have dabbled in calligraphy and hand lettering on and off but my skill only truly improved by leaps and bounds after joining this course. Leah’s teaching is systematic, starting from foundational drills before taking you through the fascinating (if not occasionally chaotic [LOL]) world of flourishes and ligatures, all the while training your visual eye on what looks pleasant, what doesn’t, and why.

Her sincere positive reinforcements along the way helped the class stay motivated. She’s extremely generous when sharing her knowledge about everything calligraphy-related: tools, resources, her calligraphy idols etc. I also particularly appreciated how she doesn’t force you to confirm to her design style.

This is indeed the “Ultimate” calligraphy course. Definitely one of my best investments this year. If you wish to take your calligraphy craft to the next levels (note the plural), look no further.

Thanks, Leah! May you and your business continue to prosper!
— Caroline Lu (5 Aug - 30 Sep 2023) | @theletterbarn
I attended Leah’s Calligraphy class recently. Leah is both friendly and pleasant, during class she gave me pointers on how to improve and helped me spot my mistakes. I’m thankful for it and I look forward to improving my lettering. Calligraphy is really a craft and not something you can achieve easily but she does it like a pro. Her lettering is so pretty! Thanks again Leah!
— Lynn Neo (29 Dec 2023)
We had a good 3.5hrs calligraphy workshop with Leah on our friend’s Birthday. Although it was intense but if you are interested in calligraphy, consider Leah. She’s very detailed, passionate and very resourceful, willing to share all information even after our session. Thanks Leah!
— Mavis Huang (29 Dec 2023)
I just completed the ultimate calligraphy course with Leah and the experience was great!

Leah is such a passionate teacher and she explained each steps/ stroke with patience.
The course was crafted in a way that we can slowly build up our foundation and leveled up to more advanced calligraphy techniques.

Even after I’ve completed the course I still can reach out to Leah and she’s very generous in sharing her knowledge.

Definitely recommend for those that who’s keen to learn brush lettering / calligraphy!
— Gabrielle Lee (21 Oct - 9 Dec 2023)
I attended The Ultimate Calligraphy Course last Aug-Sept 2021. As I look back now that 6-day course, everyday was an overflowing day with information and learnings. It is only by 2023 that I was able to find time to practice calligraphy intentionally. I still keep my course handouts, it is timeless. In addition, the good thing about this course is it keeps on improving. Now this is an 8-day course and offers an experience in dip pen calligraphy and others.

I am interested for a dip pen calligraphy but this course will use a brush pen (2021) that is totally fine because the lessons are very compressive, it is well structured, well-written, well organized. I told myself, if I can take this course I will have the best foundation of calligraphy.The tool/medium (pointed pen or brush pen, etc.) is just a material used to write but the big question mark is how to write those beautiful letters.The answer take this course. I will recommend this course to anyone who is interested in calligraphy. I’ve never seen any calligraphy course better that this. It deserves the title “The Ultimate Calligraphy Course”.

This is an investment for yourself and it’s all worth-it. No regrets of taking this course. I am very thankful that Leah is teaching everything that she knows.

It is still on the student on how the lessons will be applied after the course. Practice intentionally.

It was a very fun experience. Leah is very patient and friendly. If I have questions regarding my calligraphy even after the course duration she will respond and comment on my work for improvement. She will continue to support her students. Leah is kind and helpful and this course is amazing! Fantastic!
— April Joson (22 Aug - 26 Sep 2021) | @yourblueletters
Attended The Ultimate Calligraphy Course (TUCC) with Leah from May - Jun 23. I was hesitant for a long while to sign up due to the fees but it wasn’t a regret at all. In fact, one the best decisions I’d made thus far.

Leah’s teaching is worth every dollar because she’s thorough, detailed, patience and generous with her teaching and resources. Her lessons cover both theory and practical. They aren’t boring but rather fascinating because there is just so much to learn from her.

She will also make sure that her students are clear with her lessons as she will check in constantly during class. In addition, she will observe and provide feedback during class activity and show us the areas to correct and offer suggestions to make the work look better.

I have learnt so much from these 8 lessons, way better than any classes I’ve attended. Wishing there were more lessons! 😅 I learned more than what I expected and even got exposed to flourish, ligature and dip pen which you may have to take individual classes for each one. Her patience is above and beyond as she always welcome us to ask her questions regarding our work! All to thanks Leah, I regain my love for calligraphy 😍

If you’re into calligraphy or has started but wanted to improve your skill sets, pls sign up TUCC! It’s that worth it!! I’m honoured to have her as my mentor and friend now!!
— Yulanda Chng (30 Apr - 25 June 2023)
I took my first-ever calligraphy class with Leah and really enjoyed myself ☺️ Leah is a fantastic, patient teacher. She helps you troubleshoot your work which I appreciated - she doesn’t just point out where something could be improved but shows you ‘how’ the error happened in the first place, and how to correct it. I got so much out of this class - really happy I went!
— Teresa Crawford (2 Apr 2023)
It was an awesome class! I couldn’t believe that I manage to complete this calligraphy class!! Leah is very clear and systematic in her teaching. She gives good advice and feedback which helps improve the mastery of skill set. She is also very patient and passionate about her craft. Really appreciate her time, effort and encouragement! Highly recommended!
— Maureen Lee (8 Jan - 19 Feb 2023)
I took The Ultimate Calligraphy Course. Leah is a generous teacher. More than just teaching the Copperplate script or modern style, she teaches concepts and principles to help you understand not just the ‘what’, but also the ‘how’ and ‘why’. I have taken other calligraphy classes before and the level of detail in Leah’s teaching is unmatched. Super highly recommend learning from Leah!
— Ai Ling Chiam (Sep - Oct 2022) | @chemistrycalligraphy
Leah is the Ultimate teacher if you ever want to learn Calligraphy! :) I’ve personally always been interested in getting better in Penmanship, and this provides the best kind of challenge - requiring both Creativity and Perseverance; as observed in Leah herself! She is extremely patient with all her students in the class, for questions, demonstrations of technique and critique. She tries to be there for everyone, in her own way; and this made the experience really wonderful. She’s really kind and will help you along the way; in fact, she observes her students to an extent where she picks up when they’re silently struggling, and helps them out accordingly! If that isn’t a mark of a good teacher, I’m not sure what would be. :) Anyway, this course is Absolutely Amazing, and anyone willing to take a chance would have come out of it more enriched than before :)
— Aneesha Sachdev (Sep - Oct 2022)
Highly recommended for people who are interested to learn calligraphy to attend Leah’s course. She covers important concepts and principles that are essential in calligraphy, be it Copperplate, modern or other styles. Leah also provided constant feedback for each practise and try her best to clarify any questions. It was a fruitful six-week course!
— Jacqueline Zheng (Sep - Oct 2022)
Leah is a passionate and knowledgeable calligrapher, teacher and now I consider her to be a mentor! It is indeed the “ultimate” calligraphy course and I highly recommend the “in-person” experience if you’re in SG - she reviews every practice and provides detailed feedback as well things to do to improve challenges you may face (and they make a lot of difference). The deep dive is on copperplate calligraphy with brush pen but can be easily translated to dip pen, and she also touches on modern calligraphy to open up the world of possibilities/creativity/style.

Also she’s available even after the course to answer questions and mentor her students’ journey onwards. I’m very grateful for her dedication and this course was above and beyond any expectations from my PoV.

Having dabbled in online courses on Skillshare and Domestika, I can firmly vouch that this experience was unparalleled and unmatched. I most highly recommend Leah’s course. 🙌🏽🙌🏽
— Prianka (May - Jul 2022)
Leah’s Ultimate Calligraphy Course takes you from basic strokes all the way through to more advanced work like flourishing and ligatures. She is incredibly passionate and selflessly imparts all her knowledge to students. She also provides thorough feedback as well as tips and tricks to help her students improve. It was 6 weeks well-spent as her classes were very fun & enriching, definitely recommend! :)
— Kim Lim (May - Jul 2022)
Attended TUCC in May-Jul 2022. The pace of the course was just right for me. As I started calligraphy via online freebies and library books, TUCC made everything make more sense. Learning the basic strokes helps me identify my own mistakes which turn mediocre work into good and good for better. Flourishing week was fun, especially when we get to see everyone’s creativity! There’s no gatekeeping in Leah’s dictionary. Even when she has no answer to a question, she will find out about it and get back to you. The main takeaway for me is that Leah’s way of teaching allows me to apply the techniques to learn other types of calligraphy that I might want to explore as I practice. She is very passionate, and that passion is contagious! I recommend TUCC and support Leah Design’s work.
— Toh Yan Li (May - Jul 2022) | @tohnado
I took The Ultimate Calligraphy Course and the whole course was amazing. I have no background in calligraphy but Leah was very patient. She welcomes all questions, big and small, with passion and patience. She is very knowledgeable and is willing to share everything she knows. She is also very encouraging. She treats each of our practice works with care and respect (though I know I have been writing craps sometimes), and go through great extent to mark and point out our mistakes and teach us how to improve.

I am glad to find her as my teacher and I strongly recommend anyone who has an interest in calligraphy to take up her class! You will not regret it.

It was so fun that 6 weeks seem to pass very quickly. Thank you, Leah! ♥️
— Delia Cheung (May - Jul 2022)
It’d been great learning with Leah! Her mastery of skills & knowledge in calligraphy is outstanding! Her spirit of sharing is generous & resourceful! I’m a happy learner, thank you!
— Sylvia Chan (May - Jul 2022)
Leah’s introduction class was a fantastic introduction to the basics of copperplate calligraphy! Her thoroughness yet patience alleviated the initial frustrations of learning calligraphy. Highly recommended!!
— Cheng Yang Chow (Apr 2022)
I attended Leah’s ultimate calligraphy course. As a beginner with no calligraphy experience, Leah has been very patient, attentive and engaging for the course. She also caters her feedback to each student based on their progress. Highly recommend to attend the course if you love a very detailed version of calligraphy course, which you can pick & choose what you need.
— Goh Chern Fern (Feb - Mar 2021)
My daughters and I recently attended Leah’s Calligraphy Masterclass. Thanks to her patient and methodical teaching, we managed to learn the proper techniques and strokes of calligraphy. My daughters especially loved using the iPad to create digital pieces of art. Thanks Leah for the wonderful lessons we had together.
— Pamela Yang (Private Course)
I had attended Leah’s “The Ultimate Calligraphy Course” in Aug-Sept ‘20, and it was a great experience for me! Leah is undoubtedly knowledgeable and skillful in calligraphy, yet she is modest and unassuming. Leah’s classes were well planned and easy to follow. And she is always generous and genuine in giving feedback to her students’ work. As a beginner in calligraphy, I learned so much from Leah, and I’m really glad that I had signed up for the calligraphy course! 🙂 Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in calligraphy. 🤩
— Tay Yee Juin (Aug - Sep 2020)
Leah has been instrumental in my learning of calligraphy. Taking her 4-day copperplate class was intensive and fulfilling. The classes are packed with gems of info, but what differs Leah from other teachers is not only her soft approach but her showing the common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Her experience in calligraphy translates in her delivery and there is no question she can’t answer without a probable solution. Her classes also touch on the aspect of digitising your work, a critical part of preserving your work and resources.

The class advances every week and pushes you to take on more within a short period but Leah is always there to guide, support and even cheer you on.

You’re awesome, Leah!
— Nadiah Salam (Feb 2020)
Here’s my thumbs up for your classes 👍👍👍:

I wanted to improve my handwriting and boy was I deluded into thinking that learning calligraphy would achieve that! However, the results exceed my expectations. I began to pay attention to signages, brochures and advertisements. I was inspired to practice and practice and revive my love for handwritten cards, notes and journal. I also find the efforts meditative.

The lessons by Leah were extremely instructive and fun. Leah has an enormous passion for calligraphy. She is generous with her guidance and techniques. While it looks effortless, to me calligraphy is an art form that requires skill, effort, time and an eye for details - there must be integrity, harmony, symmetry, rhythm and balance of the negative/ positive spaces.

Leah is patient, cheerfully encouraging and remains accessible to provide feedback any any piece of work. I do highly recommend her classes to all.
— Cathryn Chang (Feb 2020)

“From learning lowercase to uppercase to flourishing and finally ligatures, the course was SO GOOD. I highly recommend it. Leah will give feedback on the pieces you’ve done and you feel personally coached. I could see improvements very quickly. Super proud of myself and how far I’ve come!”

– Joyce Lim | @letterstojoyce

“Five years ago, Copperplate was my love-at-first-sight script style that made me venture into this penmanship interest but I was not able to produce the beautiful, elegant and rhythmic writing piece the script embodies after going through countless books and online videos. From then onwards, I went to study broad edge pen calligraphy such as Foundational Hand and Blackletter and paved my way to modern brush calligraphy.

In 2019, while scrolling through Instagram for inspiration, I came across Leah’s Instagram page and saw her conducting Copperplate Workshops in Brunei’s neighbouring country, Singapore. I flew across to rekindle my relationship with my first love and Leah was very helpful and informative in teaching the anatomical structure of the script letterforms and family relationships among the letters.

In class, you get honest, instant feedback and she’s also been generous to give detailed feedback on your work submissions through WhatsApp as well. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned calligrapher, I highly recommend her classes to build your foundation or even further upgrade your current writing skills.”

– Zaman Wahid, Brunei | @zaman_whd

I’m so glad I made the decision to sign up for this class. I’ve been reading online and trying to figure out calligraphy on my own, the result? Calligraphy that looks ok (by amateur standards) but not quite there. And for the longest time, I couldn’t improve and I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. This workshop really went into the basics of traditional calligraphy which I think was really crucial. The boring and nitty-gritty rules and stuff that I loathed and avoided was made plain and simple. And, it really helped me to improve my skill. Learning the basics also allows me to identify my mistakes when I practice drills. Leah was there to watch and point out the mistakes that I made which I think adds to my dramatic improvement! I can’t believe how much better I got after just 1 workshop with her. She takes the effort to know what ways we would like to apply the skill we learnt and spent a bit more time on digitalising which was what I was interested in. Leah is a very sincere and encouraging teacher, I highly recommend signing up for her class if you haven’t (if you can’t already tell by the 5 stars). I am patiently waiting for more courses by her!
— Charity Wong
Glad that I signed up for these lessons! Tried picking up lettering from various online sites but the outcome was far from acceptable. The online guides classes worksheets and videos I tried didn’t go into the detail that Leah does and definitely go into the tips and tricks that Leah generously shares. Her lessons are clear and easy to follow and Leah herself is a great, patient and approachable teacher who takes time effort to give personalised constructive critique. Well worth the course fee! Highly recommended!
— Aileen Chia
I’m really glad that I chose to sign up to do the brushlettering course with Leah. Leah is really a great teacher. She is very knowledgeable about the theoretical, practical and many other aspects of brush lettering. Her lessons are well-structured, with a good balance of theory and practice. She provides notes, handouts and practices which I find really helpful. Besides sharing her knowledge and experiences generously, she is also very patient to attend to all our questions, she helps point out our mistakes and how we can improve, which is great! Not forgetting, Leah also goes the extra mile to teach us how to develop our own styles and digitize our brushlettering pieces, she has opened our eyes to the possibilities with calligraphy. Having seen some of her works, I find her to be a truly talented and passionate artist. For anyone who wishes to learn Brush Lettering well, I strongly recommend joining Leah for her classes.
— Amanda Lee
My session with Leah truly opened my eyes to the world of brush lettering! I appreciated the overview to typography and hand lettering as an art form. The class was also made enjoyable by Leah’s tireless efforts in engaging us and encouraging us to develop our individual styles. What I found most helpful was identifying common errors and what to avoid, as well as her patience in correcting our individual mistakes - something we won’t learn on online videos and tutorials. Leah’s workshop is ideal for beginners in calligraphy as well as those who are looking to strengthen their foundation in brush lettering.
— Ng Hai Ying
Having tried watching Youtube videos, buying brush pens and failing miserably at learning it myself, the experience with learning from Leah is super awesome! She is really patient in guiding and helping me improve on the basics and my strokes, and she is also really encouraging in the learning process which really made the experience very enjoyable. She also puts in the effort to make her own notes and exercises so that it’s in line with what she wants to teach, rather than using standard ones already out there. It shows the amount of dedication she has to have her students improve. (: Super awesome! Hugely recommended.
— Cheryl Liew
The brush lettering workshop conducted by Leah was an extremely value-for-money and useful one. The materials provided including guide sheets and information about brush lettering were very helpful for beginners, the undivided attention given in a small group setting also helped pick out my mistakes which is something you don’t get from self-learning. Learning the basics was really essential for me before venturing into other styles, was glad for Leah’s guidance and help. She’s extremely kind and approachable too.
— Rachel Peh
Leah’s classes are very informative, taking us through not only the processes but also the history and evolution of lettering. Best of all, Leah takes the time to continue coaching even after the class is over - definitely a fantastic instructor and one who really cares about how each of her students progress :)
— Karen Liew
Leah is sincere, encouraging, helpful. The course was well thought through - the clear, step-by-step lesson has made brush lettering and modern calligraphy achievable! I’m looking forward to having more lessons with Leah!
— Meeling Yeo
This is one class with lots of generous sharing. I had learnt a lot of details in brush pen writing from Leah today! I appreciated her patience in going to each and every individual to help us in our writing. She is very encouraging and open to share her writing journey with us! Thank you Leah!
— Caroline Choong
To excel at a subject, it’s important to have first understood it well. I really love Leah’s way of teaching where she will always provide a comprehensive overview before zooming into the details. The classroom outline is systematic and organized. And Leah makes the technicalities and concepts easy to understand. Definitely, she’s the go-to person for learning brush lettering and the like!
— Kianne Lim
If you are looking to learn brush calligraphy, look no further. Leah will teach you a whole range - from history, terminology, basics. She has made brush calligraphy less daunting, breaking it down and making it easier to digest- from basic strokes to what can go wrong. She is very friendly, encouraging, helpful, very humble and open to feedback. Take her class, it won’t disappoint.
— Shu Ying Ng
 

*Read more 5.0 star reviews here or here!

 
 
 

Private Calligraphy Workshops

My youngest student, he's only 6 years old!

My youngest student, he's only 6 years old!

If you're keen in picking up calligraphy in a more private and intimate setting with complete one-to-one attention and guidance throughout the entire class, I am happy to provide private classes to meet your specific learning needs. Or if you want to take a private class exclusively for just your group of friends (maybe say for a hen's party or birthday party?), let’s make it happen!

Specifically, I've taught several private group classes for young kids aged 6-12 as well. Usually, they're kids in the same peer group at school and I'd suggest a private group class if possible for them to be in a comfortable setting of similar age group and same pace of learning and style.