Modern Calligraphy: An Intensive Practice Workbook (Kestrel Montes) Review (2026)

Who wrote this workbook and what it is for

Kestrel Montes is a professional calligrapher and the founder of the calligraphy education brand Inkmethis, and this workbook is built specifically to give new pointed pen students the grounding they need to progress in modern calligraphy. The book walks through good practicing habits, how to hold and use pointed pen tools, recommendations for supplies, and ink mixing, before moving into a detailed breakdown of the basic strokes that combine into full letterforms. Montes designed it with beginners in mind, though the publisher and reader notes suggest more advanced students still find useful tips and technique refinements inside, particularly around troubleshooting inconsistent line weight.

The drill based structure that defines the book

The defining feature of this workbook is its intensive practice format, where instructional pages sit directly alongside dedicated practice space so a student can drill a stroke or letterform immediately after learning it rather than hunting for blank paper elsewhere. This repetition first approach is meant to build the muscle memory that modern calligraphy depends on, since the script's bouncy, irregular baseline and varied letter slant rely on consistent hand movement rather than tracing a fixed template. Readers who prefer to jump straight into finished projects may find the drill heavy structure feels slower paced than a workbook built around quick wins.

What kind of calligraphy this teaches

The book focuses on modern calligraphy specifically, the loose, expressive pointed pen style associated with contemporary wedding invitations and stationery, distinct from the strict historical rules of traditional copperplate or Spencerian scripts. That focus makes it a strong match for a student whose end goal is bouncy, personalized lettering for envelopes, place cards, or social media style quotes, and a weaker match for someone who specifically wants to learn a traditional, rule bound hand. The book was first published in November 2018 and remains available in both paperback and Kindle formats.

A few practical limits worth knowing before buying

Because this is a paper workbook meant for guided pencil and ink practice, the pages are not designed to handle wet dip pen ink at the volume a dedicated calligraphy practice pad would tolerate, so students should expect to supplement it with separate practice paper once they move past the guided drill sections. The intensive, repetition heavy approach is also a matter of personal learning style. Students who thrive on repeated drills before moving to full words will get the most from this format, while those who want to write full quotes or sentences from the first session may find the pacing more methodical than they expected. Buyers should also plan to supply their own pointed pen, holder, and ink, since the workbook covers supply recommendations rather than shipping tools in the box.

How it compares with other modern calligraphy workbooks

Against other guided practice books reviewed alongside it, this workbook lands solidly in the middle of the field, valued for how closely its practice pages track the lessons that precede them, though it ranks below books that pair drills with more varied project based exercises. For a student who wants a structured, drill centered introduction to pointed pen modern calligraphy from a working professional in the field, this workbook remains a reasonable choice, with the caveat that a separate ink friendly practice pad will likely be needed alongside it. Students who prefer varied projects over repeated drills may find a workbook with more mixed exercises a better personal fit.

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