I was hesitant to write this post because I know so many creative people, and I discover new artists/calligraphers/makers almost daily. The post’s title implies that I only know of eight people who are worthy of note, when the reality is that there are hundreds. Still, I decided to go ahead because I think that you’ll find every person on this list just as interesting as I do! So, here they are, in alphabetical order:
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Last week, I posted a throwback article called 10 Items That I Successfully Sold on Etsy. Writing that post offered a fun trip down memory lane, and I think that people were able to draw some inspiration from it! This week, I’d like to continue that throwback theme by sharing some of the mistakes that I made as a freelance artist and calligrapher. I hope that you can learn from my mishaps if you decide to take on any freelance work, whether it’s just on the side or as part of a full-time gig!
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In 2012, I decided to start an Etsy shop called “The Postman’s Knock”, and I quit my day job (read the full story here). The idea behind the Etsy shop was this: I could design stationery and write out custom envelope calligraphy for people, which they would be delighted to receive when they heard “the postman’s knock” at their door. Eventually, the Etsy shop evolved into so much more than that — now, TPK is mainly a blog and learning resource — but, like everyone, I started somewhere. I tried a lot of things and put myself out there before I felt completely ready, which is just what you have to do! Here are some of the items that I used to sell, some of which you may be surprised at. Without these now-retired items, TPK as we know it wouldn’t exist!
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If you’re confident in your calligraphy abilities and want to use them to make extra cash, it may be time to address envelopes for clients! If you’re at that point, I’d recommend reading two articles first: How to Make Extra Income Selling Calligraphy and 8 Tips for Starting a Calligraphy Business. Once you’ve read those articles, you should be ready to start advertising your services! But what do you do once someone reaches out to hire you (and ultimately decides to work with you)? This article endeavors to answer that question!
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January is a month of new beginnings. After the “holidaze” clears, you’re left with the clarity and focus to make and start working toward new goals! If one of your goals is to become a creative entrepreneur this year, you’ll enjoy this post. In it, we’ll hear from Jess Greenleaf, proprietress of Greenleaf & Blueberry, who makes and sells natural watercolors.
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Calligraphy offers a fantastic creative outlet, and the vast majority of people practice the art as a way to decompress. If you can’t get enough of calligraphy and you feel ready for a life change, however, you might consider starting a calligraphy business! With an average salary of $72,000*, you can be comfortable in and really enjoy a career as a calligrapher. Here are a few tips to get you started!
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I have been a fan of Molly Suber Thorpe since I stumbled upon her first book, Modern Calligraphy, three years ago. With its gorgeous photos and encouraging tone, Modern Calligraphy can’t help but inspire you! Based on how much I enjoyed Modern Calligraphy, I was excited when Molly offered to send me a copy of her latest book: The Calligrapher’s Business Handbook. It arrived a couple of weeks later in a gorgeous envelope!
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In 2012, I decided to start a blog about nothing in particular, mainly because I enjoy writing. I set up my simple WordPress site, made a couple of very basic printables, and wrote a blog post about soup. Fast-forward five years, and that first little blog post looks grossly out of place among the image- and content-rich art and calligraphy posts that I write now. That’s the nature of blogging, though: blogs are constantly growing and evolving to meet the needs of their audience. If you like reading the TPK blog, you may enjoy this unique look at the steps that go into creating every blog post!
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I recently wrote a post over how to make extra income by selling your calligraphy. In that post, I recommended professional-level product photography … but, this week, I realized that I left you hanging about how to achieve that! Today, I’ll discuss my top six tips for taking photos that catch prospective clients’ attention. Don’t worry if you’ve got zero photographic talent — trust me, I was there five years ago! It just takes some patience, experimentation, and time.
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I have always enjoyed experimenting with lettering and alphabets, but the thought of selling calligraphy didn’t occur to me until a few years ago. I was working at a tech company in downtown Boulder (Colorado) at the time, and a coworker started talking to me about her side calligraphy business. “Brides can hire me to address their envelopes,” she explained, showing me one.
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