Renowned Calligrapher Nicolas Ouchenir Shares 7 Essential Tips with ISG Students: 'Elegance Is Not Innate, It Must Be Cultivated'

Sayart / Oct 23, 2025

For young people venturing into the discipline of calligraphy, it's important to remember that calligraphy is the art of leaving a mark that is both unique and rooted in heritage. It represents the very essence of identity transcribed: a personal signature that is powerful and elegant. On October 20, at the French Senate, renowned calligrapher Nicolas Ouchenir delivered a master class to 130 students from ISG, a prestigious Parisian business school.

Thierry Sebagh, the school's director general, led his 130 students through the venerable golden corridors of the Senate to fill the amphitheater of the Médicis Hall. The objective was to introduce them to the art of calligraphy through a conference led by one of its most brilliant ambassadors. Nicolas Ouchenir has gained fame through collaborations with major luxury houses including Givenchy, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint-Laurent, and has also worked for prestigious institutions like the Ritz and the Élysée Palace.

During his presentation to the ISG students, Ouchenir provided a true demonstration of his expertise, creating live signatures and flourishes for several students while offering advice on improving their handwriting and developing signatures that reflect their personalities. Le Figaro Étudiant collected seven of his most valuable tips for aspiring calligraphers and anyone seeking to improve their writing.

The first principle Ouchenir emphasized was authenticity: "Don't try to borrow a celebrity's style." He explained that a signature is not makeup – you shouldn't try to invent a person you're not or borrow the style of a celebrity or pre-existing model. The fundamental idea is to present yourself as you truly are. What's enjoyable is being able to have fun with a signature or graphic expression that, while different from the ordinary, remains a reflection of yourself. The distinction comes from the magnified expression of your own personality, not from creating a facade.

"Modifying your handwriting is a strong act, a change of will, a new stage of life and objectives," Ouchenir noted. His second tip focused on heritage: "Seek inheritance to better innovate." To improve or transform handwriting that seems too simple or poor, you shouldn't start from scratch. The trick is to return to graphic heritage. This principle is universal and often observed in fields like fashion, where reinvention comes through returning to sources.

The third principle builds on this foundation: "Don't forget what you learned, but modify it." The starting point is the handwriting learned in elementary classes. Students shouldn't forget that they were taught to write correctly. If they wish to evolve, they shouldn't reject their foundation – their initial 'A,' for example. The trick is to modify it while preserving the anchor of their personality.

Ouchenir's fourth tip addressed the balance between distinction and complexity: "Distinguish yourself without falling into unnecessary complexity." Standard capital letters learned in school, like a very simple A and C, can look very nice and achieve general consensus. However, if the goal is to distinguish yourself immediately through your signature, this level of simplicity can be a hindrance if you have the will to stand out. A signature must allow for immediate distinction.

The fifth principle involved visual compatibility analysis. When working on a signature that incorporates numbers or other elements, harmony must be ensured. For example, even if you like your A, the essential question is whether this A goes well with numbers like 8, 14, or 73. Successful calligraphy is visual alchemy.

Technical mastery formed the sixth tip: "Master the two-part structure." For complex letters, the gesture must be structured. The letter M requires precision and is often executed in "two parts" or two distinct movements. Learning shouldn't involve copying models but rather decomposing the fundamental movement to ensure fluidity and accuracy of the stroke. The final validation of a new signature depends on its ability to please the author while respecting required elegance.

The seventh and final principle focused on tools and materials: "Choose your paper, reed pen, and pen holder wisely." Ink, especially when used abundantly for powerful strokes, risks "bleeding." Therefore, it's imperative to work on art paper. Generally, paper with qualities similar to watercolor paper is ideal for preventing ink from spreading undesirably.

Ouchenir explained the importance of different writing instruments. The reed pen, which can simply be a piece of carved cane or wood, is a rudimentary but precious tool. Since paper itself is derived from wood, the contact of the reed pen's wood on paper creates resonance and natural flow, providing a "very pleasant" sensation. It's an instrument designed for writing, not tattooing, and offers unique fluidity.

The standard pen holder, equipped with a steel nib, represents a major practical evolution. It incorporates a reservoir, making its use much more convenient by minimizing the action of dipping ink. It's an indispensable instrument for any continuous work requiring great precision.

For specialized projects, particularly for tracing Gothic letters (which many adore for their elegance), the Automatic Pen is the preferred tool. It consists of two joined metal plates and incorporates a reservoir in the diamond formed by their junction. This tool can produce writing of stunning elegance and spectacular density, allowing broad and uniform strokes that characterize this majestic style. Demonstrations of this tool are often impressive, illustrating its capacity to let ink flow quickly and powerfully.

Nicolas Ouchenir recently created illustrations and calligraphy for the book "Artist's Notebook for Liberating Creativity" by Julia Cameron, published by Jai Lu editions. His work continues to bridge the gap between traditional calligraphic arts and contemporary creative expression, inspiring new generations of artists and writers to discover the power of beautiful handwriting.

Sayart

Sayart

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