Agate slices have been HUGE these past few years and no wonder - they have a beauty that just can’t be manufactured.
That being said, they’re slippery little buggers to do calligraphy on, especially with a pointed nib.
So here are my tips!
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH THE VIDEO, OR KEEP READING FOR WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS!
1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT NIB
I tested a few popular modern calligraphy nibs and here they are by ranking:
Brause EF66 - my favorite! For some reason, this little nib seemed to write most evenly on the smooth surface, without shakiness or pools of ink
Brause Steno - with a light touch, this nib also did a good job of producing thick downstrokes without too much excess ink pooling
Leonardt Hito #41 - not my favorite. Was difficult to get thick downstrokes without shakiness
Nikko G - worst! This stiff nib made it hard to write on such a hard, slick surface
2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT INK
Your best bet is to use thicker, acrylic-based inks. I like Dr. PH Martin’s Bleedproof White or Dr. PH Martin’s Irridescent Inks. These will adhere better to the smooth surface without pooling. And they’ll stay put once dry.
Thinner, water-based inks will spread out, giving you more sloppy results. They’re also much more likely to smudge off, even when dry.
3. DO NOT SPRAY WITH A SEALER!
You may be tempted to try spraying your agate slices with a sealer, to protect the ink from getting chipepd off. Don’t do it! No matter what kind of spray you use, it’ll leave a dull, textured surface instead of the glossy, mirror-like surface that agates are supposed to have.
See? The near slice was sprayed and the far slice wasn’t. You can totally see the difference in shine right?
4. HANDLE CAREFULLY
Even if you use acrylic-based ink, because it’s on such a slick surface, it can be scratched off if you don’t handle the finished slices carefully.
When I do agate slices for bridges, I package them very carefully for delivery. I stack them about 5-7 high, with tissue paper between each slice, then the whole stack wrapped tightly in bubble wrap so the slices don’t slide against each other. Then I use plenty of padding in the box itself.
SOURCING AGATE SLICES
I’m based in California and I usually get my agate slices on Etsy. Rock Paradise is a shop that I’ve had good experience with. Make sure to pay attention to the SIZE of the slices that are advertised. Make sure they are large enough to write on and use as placecards. Also, make sure NOT to buy slices with a hole pre-drilled in them (unless you’re planning to make a pendant necklace).
Those are my tips! Hope you have fun creating some beautiful calligraphy-ed agate slices!
WANNA IMPROVE YOUR CALLIGRAPHY?
Well, first things first - make sure you're using the right tools! Don't waste your time and money buying the wrong shit!
Enter your info below to join my calligraphy learning email list - as a bonus, you'll get a FREE PDF of my favorite pens, nibs, inks and papers - with CLICKABLE LINKS - so you have all the info you need to get started right.
I'll send occasional, non-annoying emails with calligraphy tips, special offers and updates about my online courses!