Host David and guest Michael Sull, a renowned calligrapher, share advice for aspiring penmen, reflecting on their own journeys and offering insights for improvement.
30 Mar 2026
13 | For Joan
In this episode, David and Gray chat about a very heartfelt letter they received, the process for learning about historical penmen, and the highs and lows of participating in critique.
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15 May 2025
12 | Calligraphy IRL
In this episode, David and Gray chat about how the calligraphy community has changed over the last handful of years and what each of us can do to ensure that we are fostering and facilitating real-world connections with other penmen.
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27 Mar 2024
11 | Kenya's Finest Penman
In this episode, David and Gray chat about the Outer Banks, Gray's experience with going through the 2023 Engrosser's Script program at DIS, and how to make friends and impress people with your super interesting penmanship knowledge.
View the show notes » (https://masgrimes.com/ink-tank/episode-11)
5 Mar 2024
10 | The Calligraphy Influencer Playbook
Comment "Slime"
In this episode, David and Gray investigate the business of calligraphy, how to take on a first client, and some disturbing trends in the calligraphy social media world.
View the show notes » (https://masgrimes.com/ink-tank/episode-10)
27 Dec 2023
9 | The Penmanship Express
"All aboard The Penmanship Express!"
In this short episode, David and Gray answer questions from Ink Tank listeners about perfectionism and showing your work. Here’s to more Ink Tank in 2024!
View the show notes » (https://masgrimes.com/ink-tank/episode-9)
7 Sept 2023
8 | Party at the Moon Tower
"Something seemed wrong about dreaming my life away..."
In this episode, David and Gray talk a bit about their impromptu break from recording, wonder where everyone in the calligraphy community is hanging out these days, and kick around the idea of hallucinating penmanship forms.
View the show notes » (https://masgrimes.com/ink-tank/episode-8)
22 Feb 2023
7 | Two Big Penmen in the Tar Heel State
How it's made — Speedball edition!
In this episode, David and Gray reminisce about visiting Speedball, teaching Offhand Flourishing for the Triangle Calligraphers’ Guild, finding inspiration in getting together with other penmen IRL, and Tar Heel basketball. Go Heels!
View the show notes » (https://masgrimes.com/ink-tank/episode-7)
27 Jan 2023
6 | Competitive Penmanship
Are you a competitive penman?
In this episode, David and Gray discuss some recent correspondence, their studio set ups, competitiveness, and habits in penmanship, both good and bad.
View the show notes » (https://masgrimes.com/ink-tank/episode-6)
24 Dec 2022
5 | Christmas at the Zanerian
Merry Christmas from the Zanerian College
In this episode, David and Gray present a very special radio drama they found in an old box at an antique store. They discuss their New Year’s Resolutions, a very hypothetical “Would You Rather?” and answer some listener questions.
View the show notes » (https://masgrimes.com/ink-tank/episode-5)
30 Nov 2022
4 | What is a Penman?
Welcome back to Ink Tank.
In this episode, we discuss what’s been going on since the last episode of Ink Tank, the general format of the show, what makes a penman, and how you can get in touch with us to ask a question or participate in the show.
View the show notes » (https://bit.ly/3EQLuEf)
Inside a recent episode
14 | Advice for younger penmen
Published 31 Jul 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And then one has the hair follicles, obviously. And so you prepare them both differently. But what Pergamena said that they do is they stretch them and scrape them, obviously. And I guess they probably bleach them as well. And then they sand them with 400-grit sandpaper. And then that's what their, quote, preparation for writing entails. It's just a 400-grit sand. Yeah. Which is fine. I mean, I've done other projects on that and had no issues. But this time, you have to get the surface just so. You want this kind of toothy texture, because without it, your pen kind of is just slipping all over the place. […]
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