Just started practising Calligraphy today.
Certain letters are more of a challenge to write than others.

As I write I'm finding that there are a few things that occur that I'm not sure how to put an end to.

I did plenty of research to ensure that I purchased the correct pen and nibs for dip pens. The nib sometimes skips or gets hung up in the middle of the line of universal beauty and splatters on the page.

The nib sometimes has plenty of ink in it but doesn't write at the first stroke but the next stroke there is to much ink in one spot.

Manufacturer's of nibs put a clear coating on the nibs and that material has to be burned off with a match or toothpaste and than dipped in Windex or some other type of window cleaner and wiped clean.
I did that-

I frequently wipe the nib with a cotton cloth and not let the ink dry to it. I'm using Windsor & Newton Calligraphy ink.

Is this something that will go away over time with experience?

Parchment paper seems costly on some websites.
Pads of Calligraphy paper are pretty reasonable.

Has anyone tried Translucent Layout Paper?
It says no bleed through or feather.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/bo...r-for-markers/

Can you recommend a different paper?

-:-Any other tips and suggestion's are welcome.-:-

I have always used fountain pens for writing. I find it useful to have more than one pen with different sized nibs. Specifically one with a thin nib and one medium. Thin, medium and thick might be useful for calligraphy. For writing Chinese with a writing brush I have several brushes of various thickness. That does not address your question concerning calligraphy pens, but it may be useful. To be honest, I do not know what difference there is between a "calligraphy pen" and a regular fountain pen. Unless a calligraphy pen is a stylus that is dipped into the ink? If so, writing principles should be the same. Anyway, I hope this might prove useful.

A calligraphy pen has a steel or aluminum casing (shaped like a cap) that fits down into the drilled aperture of the wood in the end of the pen thus allowing for only the nib to be changed.
The entire nib has to be dipped into the ink in the ink well several times to write a complete sentence.

Only the nib can be pulled out not the whole tip that's connected to the nib like the fountain pen.

After 15 years of Oil painting I have a ton of brushes that I might be able to practice Chinese Calligraphy with.
For now, I'm practicing the calligraphy alphabet.

I found Chinese Calligraphy ink online. Is that for brushes only or could I use it for dipping my dip pen?

Here's a bronze calligraphy pen so you can see the design at the nib and how it's different from a fountain pen.
https://www.papierplume.com/product-...ens/0-154.html

I have never used such a stylus. Although I tried to make a quill once. Had to dip it before every word. Although I love Middle English and Old German scripts, I never got into calligraphy. I just install nice founts on my computer.

Painting brushes are not suitable for writing Chinese. They have wide and thin ends, whereas writing brushes are long and thin (relatively). And doing the writing (calligraphy) requires knowing how to write Chinese.

My guess is you will overcome that situation with experience. Fountain pens can have similar issues, although to a lesser degree. Writing brushes ... you do not want to know. It is a case of practice makes perfect. I am sure the difficulties will disappear after you get used to the pen. Have fun.

Edit:
Experiment with different angles of pen to paper and different hand positions. Tiny changes can have big results.

Agreed, the Middle English, and some of the Old Irish scripts and German scripts are very nice.
Elegant to look at. Not so easy to write but this is only day 2.

Holding the pen consistently at 45 degrees gives wonderful results.
Easier said than done of course. Like you said I think experience and practice will make these issues fade away.

I found some Bamboo and Sumi brushes at Blick Art Materials-
I know a Chinese Martial Artist but I don't know if he'd be willing to teach me. I'd have to ask.-

Using the calligraphy dip pen I attempted to draw the bird as I did in pencil.
http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/Ul.../Bird.jpg.html
http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/Ul...ctice.jpg.html

I found a Calligraphy Artist that is a Master Scribe for a living.
He works for Tiffany in New York and the British Museum.
His name is Paul Antonio and his work is exceptionally beautiful and his videos are great to learn from!

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-...raphy-pictures

With practice I look forward to producing nice work and sharing with my friends, family and client's.-

Thanks for your time, councel and encouragment Randicus.

Doing much better with the Calligraphy pen and I think I've got it now.

I drew this Dragon this morning.-

http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/Ul...ragon.jpg.html

-::-The key is the way you hold the pen at the proper angle.-::-

Told you.
Nice drawing.

Thanks!

When I finish the Chinese Dragon I'll post it.

The Chinese Dragon took me about 2 hours of straight drawling.-

It's pretty amazing what you can do with a old fashion Calligraphy dip pen.

The link to where I posted the Dragon on Photobucket isn't working.
This happened before, not sure what's causing it.
I'll try again later.

It's working now-
http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/...e%20Dragon.jpg

Drew Poison Ivy today.

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/...ison%20Ivy.jpg

Oh dear. I wish some-one had told me that before I kept buying new nibs and eventually gave up because the acrylic artist's ink wouldn't flow off them!

Oh, jeessez:-

Do you still have the Calligraphy and all of the nibs?

I hope so-

I've only tried dipping the nibs in Calligraphy ink but I bet white acrylic paint on black paper would make a nice design.