One of the most fascinating aspects of illuminated manuscripts is the range and diversity of the borders. Elements can include stylized and naturalistic foliate drawings, (flowers, ivy, leaves, buds), geometric shapes and pen sprays often growing from border bars anchored to illuminated initials.
This demonstration will look at a few basic structures and incorporate various common elements found in manuscripts to create simple borders with added layers of complexity as a starting point to either creating your own designs or researching manuscripts to recreate “authentic” styles.
The border designs in this demonstration are a simple Symmetrical Border, a Repeating Spiral Border and a Border Bar with Ivy.
I have also included references to a few manuscripts from the British Library Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts for each design to give you an idea of the use, range and diversity of the elements.
Drawing Borders
What you need:
- graph paper (refer to Calligraphy Resources page)
- pencil, eraser
- pointed pen nib and ink or fine point marker (e.g. Sakura Pigma Micron, Staedtler Pigment Liner)
- tracing paper
We’ll start by working out basic structures on graph paper, but consider drawing these borders free hand to give a more dynamic, less mechanical look to your designs.
These designs use very simple shapes that are easy to draw. If you don’t think you can draw, practice the shapes a few times – you might be surprised at how well you can draw!
Basic Shapes
The basic shapes to construct the borders are lines, circle, diamond, oval, hook and a squiggle:

Line, Circle, Diamond, Oval, Hook and Squiggle
We will also be using a simple flower, acanthus leaf and ivy:

Flower Construction

Acanthus Construction

Ivy Construction
Symmetrical Border
A very simple design containing a primary element (e.g. flower, leaf, etc.), a secondary element and pen sprays.
Manuscript References:
Lansdowne 851 f.54v
Yates Thompson 52 f.23v
Stowe 23 f. 62
Step 1:
On graph paper, draw a line for the center line. Draw alternating long (first) and short (second) branches evenly spaced from the center line. It might be easier to turn the paper vertically, and use the graph squares to help create symmetrical lines.

Step 1: Main Stem and Branches
Step 2:
Draw diamond shapes for leaves on the ends of the long branches, and circles for berries on the ends of the short branches. Try to make the leaves follow the direction of the stem.

Step 2: Leaves and Berries
Step 3:
Draw the hook shape (pen sprays) between the branches a little shorter than the berry branches, and following the same direction.

Step 3: Pen Sprays
Step 4:
Above the berry circles, draw two short lines and finish with a squiggle stroke.

Step 4: Berry Pen Sprays
And we’re done! Now we can transfer the design for painting or just add a few details.

Finished Border
We can make a variety of borders by simply changing the elements and pen sprays. The border below uses the same structure and substitutes flowers for leaves, oval-shaped leaves for the berries, and berries for the hooks:

Border with Flowers and Leaves
We could keep adding details such a pen sprays:

Border Variation with Pen Sprays
Of course, borders do not have to be straight – try adding some curves or have the borders “grow” from an object:

Border Variation
Repeating Spiral Border
A simple design that is easy to repeat around a page.
Manuscript References:
Harley 24 f.1
Harley 44 f.2
Harley 2966 ff.27v-28 – Symmetrical and Spiral Borders
Step 1:
First we’ll use the graph paper to plot out a spiral shape.

Step 1: Plotting a Spiral Shape
Step 2:
Connect the “dots” by drawing a curved line through each point. Draw an acanthus leaf at the end of the inside line.

Step 2: Spiral with Acanthus Leaf
Step 3:
Trace the design on tracing paper, then flip it and copy it:

Step 3: Repeating the Design
Step 4:
Now we can start building elements starting with a few evenly spaced nodes – these are simply a “curved” variation of the ivy shape:

Step 4: Adding Nodes
Step 5:
We can continue adding elements such as berries and pen spray hooks:

Step 5: Adding Berries and Pen Sprays
Step 6:
Add a few details such as lines from the berries, and we’re done!

Step 6: Finished Repeating Spiral
Border Bar with Ivy
Ivy vines and leaves are generally attached to border bars and initials. These can be very simple or quite complex and often are combined with other elements and design styles.
Manuscript References:
Harley 2899 f. 34v – spiral design
Egerton 3035 f. 38 – alternating style
Egerton 3037 f.193 – simple symmetrical
Step 1:
Draw parallel lines about one graph square apart for a border bar. Draw a second smaller width line outside the bar for the main vine line.

Step 1: First Lines
Step 2:
Draw a wavy line at the top and bottom extending the smaller vine lines.

Step 2: Extending Vine Lines
Step 3:
At the bottom and top of the first outside line, draw a few scalloped shapes and connect to the inside lines of the extended vine lines.

Step 3: Extending Outer Lines
Step 4:
Add a second vine at the center of the bar attached to the outside vine.

Step 4: Drawing Center Vine
Step 5:
Draw alternating stems and leaves attached to the vines.

Step 5: Drawing Stems and Ivy
Step 6:
Draw section lines around the center vines and to separate scallops at the top and bottom.

Step 6: Adding Section Lines
We can continue adding a few details such as pen sprays on the ivy and vines, and the design is ready to be transferred for painting.

Finished Ivy Border
Painting Borders
Borders are usually (but not always!) painted and they are very easy and fun! What you do depends on your design requirements whether it is a simple touch of color, elaborate layers with detailed white designs, incorporating gold leaf, grisaille, etc.
These are just a few simple suggestions using a limited palette of colors that are easy to paint. Try substituting the Yellow Ochre with a metallic gold artist paint or metallic gold gel pen!
What you need:
- round brush (medium and small)
- mixing palette
- gouache paint (Opaque White, Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Raw Umber)
- paper suitable for water-based media
- pointed pen nib and ink or fine point marker (e.g. Sakura Pigma Micron, Staedtler Pigment Liner)
- ink
Optional:
- Metallic gold paint or gel pen
Start by using tracing paper and a pencil or another method to copy a design on to the painting paper. After you having finished painting, you can outline the design using a pointed nib with ink or a fine point marker. Try to make the lines thin and not too heavy or it will look too “cartoonish”.
If the black outline looks too dark, thin out the ink so it is a gray tone, or mix a bit of brown gouache such as Raw Umber for the outlines.
Sample Symmetrical and Repeating Borders
These borders generally follow the same steps when painting:
Step 1:
Paint any areas you want in “gold” first – either with Yellow Ochre or a metallic gold paint.
Step 2:
Paint the flat areas of color (e.g. red, blue). If you are mixing a color such as green (Yellow Ochre with a bit of Ultramarine Blue), mix enough to paint all the flat areas so the color is consistent.
Step 3:
Use Opaque White to paint details in the flat colors once the paint is dry.
Step 4:
When the paint and paper are completely dry, outline the design if desired, and add in the pen sprays.
These are just a few suggestions and variations:

Sample Flower Border

Sample Flower Variation

Sample Spiral Repeated
We could also use one color and paint a monochromatic design for a grisaille effect:

Sample Grisaille Style
Sample Bar and Ivy Border
Step 1:
Mix up a bit of Yellow Ochre and paint center section, top and bottom scalloped areas on the bar. You can also add a bit of Raw Umber and paint a few darker strokes to make it look like gold. Paint a few ivy leaves around the border with the same color.

Step 1: Painting Gold
Step 2:
Bar and vine colors generally alternate, so we will use Ultramarine Blue and Cadmium Red to paint the top of the bar red, the bottom blue, and switch the colors for the vine. Note that the vine color changes about halfway at the center gold section. Paint the remainder of the ivy leaves alternating red and blue.

Step 2: Painting Blue and Red
Step 3:
Mix up Opaque White, and paint a line down the center of the vines. You might want to mask out the areas as discussed in the Calligraphy Layout: Designing a Certificate post.
Tip: Another method of painting straight lines without masking is to use short, connecting strokes rather than trying to paint one long, straight line.

Step 3: Vine Center Lines
Step 4
Using a small brush and Opaque White, add details to the border bars by painting straight lines in geometric shapes on the red bar, and curved line shapes on the blue bar. You can paint these as simple or as complex as you like – try adding a few white dots in the shapes, painting double lines, etc. Paint a few highlights on the edges of the blue and red ivy leaves.

Step 4: Painting Bar Designs and Ivy Highlights
When the paint and paper are completely dry, outline the design with a thin line of black ink or brown gouache and finish up other details such as pen sprays.

Sample Bar and Ivy Border
These are just a few simple suggestions to get you started – try different structures, colors and elements with variations. Study manuscripts to recreate an authentic border to match a particular letter style, or create something completely contemporary!
Thank you for all of the instuction and inspiration. I would like to add this to my list blogroll list. I will check in and learn.
Donna
Thank you – hope you find it useful!
Very informative and useful. Thank you for sharing!
Once again, great job! I never learn about this ornamentation in calligraphy books – they usually only focus on letters, gilding, gouache, etc.
Thank you so much for sharing your techniques. It is so much easier when shown step by step.
I know! Thank you for such a good website.
Geez, thanks for presenting all of these ideas. You not only describe everything very clearly, but your drawings are truly elegant and beautiful. I keep wanting to look at them, for sheer pleasure. I am a publisher, and I would say that you should seriously consider writing a book about calligraphy. Sign me up to buy it if you do.
Thank you for your kind words! I would love to do a book and actually started writing one a few years ago but working on my Masters degree put it on the back shelf for a while – maybe I’ll finish it now that I have the time.
I think I almost enjoy writing as much as I enjoy calligraphy and drawing 😉
Thank you! I’ve longed to create this kind of artwork… 🙂 You have made my day. Sending you lots of great karma
those are amazing
They’re beautiful.
I’m a complete fail drawing (excuse my english), but you make it look simple and easy.
First I’ll try to draw some flowers and leaves to frame a poem. If it goes okey, then I’ll paint a wood box or some fabric.
Your blog is lovely.
Very useful , step by step display.
Keep showing more of it , its very helpful for learner.
Thanks for sharing these detailed instructions.
I am presently reading “The Illuminated Alphabet: An Inspirational Introduction to Creating Decorative Calligraphy” and I must say that I find your examples and explanations just as if not more than inspirational. I agree with Josh Rappaport…you must get back to finishing that book! I would be a buyer. And may I ask if I could teach your designs to some of our calligraphers here in the Raleigh area? We all just learned some miniature art techniques last night, and your fabulous examples of borders would be just the ticket.
Thank you for your kind words – you may teach the designs, but please be aware that they are my copyright so please provide proper credit as per the Copyright Notice on this site.
i most certainly will! thank you.
Thank you so much for such a great tutorial. It makes it all come together for me and I am much more apt to try it now.
Keep them coming……
diz is great! its so easy to do if u juzt have step-by-step instruction..who ever made diz i love em!
good calligraphy ideas for painted borders
Beautiful interesting borders…..
Its gr8……..
Superb tutorial. I finally understand how spiral ornamentation works.
This will help me enormously in my work. I cannot express my gratitude. Thank-you.
Such beautiful work!
This is really awesome tutorial!! thanks a lot 🙂
Thank you for sharing this, you have made it look easy! After looking at countless books, you have in the space of a few minutes made every thing simple and clear!
It would be great if you could publish your book I already know it would be a bestseller!
Good luck and once again sincere thanks.
I love this Website it helped me so much.The drawings are vey pretty!
very nice bodres
Love your site thanks … its been a great help as I’m just starting out
its ok
really great ideas
thanks for sharing
Your page is a Godsend!!!! Thank you so much!
very very very useful page.THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR SERVICE
THanksful to everyone
lovely i wanetd to draw it on a paper
quite good but not up to the mark………
this is bosssssssss omfg1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful design amazing
awesome ideas thnx alot
This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you SO much!
itz awesome..please send me mails regarding new designs
stupendo grazie mille per l’ispirazione. complimenti
This is quite helpful. I had to make 4 charts at school and needed some designs to put up as borders. And the borders look beautiful now, thanks to you! Do keep posting such things! Thanks.
Very cool and awesome! Easy to follow instructions!
I AM A IVY ARTIST AND ITS AWESOME
OMGoodness! So beautiful! I can hardly wait to break out some grid paper and practice! I know what I will be doodling when I am on boring teleconferences! LOL!
Peace and blessings to you for sharing your wonderful talent!
a lovely picture and I (L) it so much :):):):):):
Thank you so much for the beautiful and elegant designs. You truly are talented. Thank you very much for the step by step instructions and different variations. I loved it. I will use the spiral with the acanthus in my scrapbook 😀
Thanks again. I’m so glad I found this page.
Good luck for your Master’s degree and the book!
Master’s Degree? Let’s figure out a thesis here. …and someone out there knows from where I speak… This is soothing to the the soul! Shell
Awesome ! Luv it!
Great, Exactly what I was looking for to give me some inspiration and get my artistic juices flowing that have laid dormant too long.
this site was really helpful. i wanted to know that do you have anymore sites which help in improving drawing or anything like that??
awesme and exacly what i need.
thanx 4 hlpn…………………………..
lov it……………………………………….
awesome designs yaar…….
Really wish all these came in a pdf format!!
its very nice but a little difficult
Thanks
its very very beautiful but pretty hard to draw it
it is good while looking ……………….but a bit tough to draw …………….it came out well when i tried one of the borders given .
It’s so nice….so inspired now. Thanks for this article!
veryyyyyyyyyyyy nice, Thank you
I love your blog. I like how it is very intricate in the design. I found that this blog was very helpful when designing a poster. It is purely magnificent!!!!!
This is so useful but it takes time so I did it at night. Ihad to finish it so badly, so my friend can sign it. It is super good. Thank you!
This is soo helpful!! Thx alot
awesome creatiity
Awesome love the designs
Awesome Awesome creatiity…………….
This is so so helpful……………………………………
Very nice and easy to understand.thank u
This site has got all that I was looking for, thanks, I will bookmark this.Cheers!!
[…] using a fantastic tutorial for borders I found here (the one under the heading Border Bar with Ivy) I added the border; in pencil first, then I went […]
I love calligraphy nd u hv made it so simple !! Loved this ♡♡
Very pretty and nice. Thank you!
Reblogged this on Shabadoodles23's Blog and commented:
Nice…
[…] flowering vines. However, as is often the case, my plans changed as I worked. I used the tutorial here for the vines and flowers and the one here for the leaves. When I finished penciling in the border […]
use less for me 😦
I am so impressed with your kind answers and detailed instructions for all of us. The generosity in sharing your expertise is gratefully admired. I have bought numerous books, yet by going through your daily Q and A, I have learned much more than from any of the books. Just wish to thank you for your
work. Have a great Holiday Season. Helen Chang from Taiwan.
Actually , I like drawing and painting very much . So , I just want some tips on it . And , its really very helpful . Now , I have got many – more tips for my drawing and painting .
Thank you for your practical and clear tips, I have asked my calligraphy students to look at your blog! It is good to share calligraphy
Reblogged this on jannangmetung.
wow! it was brilliant
they are beautiful:p
nice:) really helpful for everybody.
Thanks for being a great teacher. Step-by-step demonstrations are the best help one can hope for outside of a classroom.
Thank you so much for this detail and understandable description of border design. Having just taken up the beautiful art of calligraphy, border design is the next big hurdle and your page has made it more a step over rather than a hurdle. Would love a book on this subject if you can find the time
Thanks!
Glad you find it useful!
Thank You for sharing your experiences and knowledge. It will be very helpful to my paintings.
THANKS A LOT !!!!!!
I’m very very very glad to find beautiful calligraphy designs here:-) 🙂 🙂
so very very happy useful learners thank you aruna
very beautiful pictures
Just found this site, wonderful, just what I have been searching for, keep up the good work, John uk
sema appa very beautiful
Thank you so much for these beautiful instructions and examples. This is so helpful and inspiring! God bless you!
Wondering if you completed Your Book? As a beginner I felt I could create beautiful images with your style of instruction. Thankyou.
No since I probably couldn’t get it published 😀
I suppose I could do an e-book without a publisher if I had a distribution method. Maybe I’ll look into it if there is enough interest in one.
Just an update – I decided to give it a try so I’m currently working on an e-book.
Thank you for sharing your expertise, I shall look forward to your e-book BJH
Nice it is very intresting
Hi am new to Calligraphy, thanks for a great article look forward to using it to make my own borders.
[…] This blog uses grids to teach you how to create intricate and exact borders and letters that will thrill those to thrive on precise detail. […]