A couple of days ago, I received a thought-provoking email from someone. In the email, I was asked: “When you first started doing calligraphy did you like how it looked? Did it take a while before you felt you were doing a good job and you liked how you did it? … I’m hoping if I practice enough I will get good at it – is there hope?!” I remember having the same questions — and you might, too. Since sometimes it’s just nice to read about how someone else achieved something, I thought maybe it would be fun for you to read about how I learned calligraphy, and the ups and downs along the way.
Motivations
First, I will touch on why I wanted to learn calligraphy in the first place.
In September of 2011, my now-husband, Hernán, and I moved from our college town of Lawrence, Kansas, to Boulder, Colorado. Hernán came here to pursue his PhD in Aerospace Engineering, and I came along because I had always wanted to live in Boulder with its cool vibe and close proximity to my family in western Kansas. Like moving anywhere, it was magical for the first few days, and then reality sunk in and I realized I missed my friends. So … I started writing letters to them.
Writing letters made me feel closer to my friends in Kansas, and I really enjoyed decorating cards and envelopes to send to them. At that time, though, I wasn’t necessarily trying to create calligraphy. I just liked drawing on envelopes.
The first year we lived in Boulder, I worked at a software company downtown. I wasn’t completely in love with the job, so when a coworker mentioned that she used to create calligraphy on wedding envelopes for extra pocket change, a lightbulb went off in my head. I liked making mail art, so why couldn’t I create calligraphy, too? And why couldn’t I make extra income from it? I knew nothing about calligraphy, but I looked at some photos of calligraphed envelopes on the internet and resolved to figure out how to make envelopes like the ones that people seemed to like.
How TPK Got Started
At the time, I couldn’t figure out for the life of me how to use a calligraphy pen. I had a straight plastic Speedball holder with some nibs that I didn’t know much about, and the pen was really difficult to use. I suppose I had assumed that when I first used the dip pen, I would have a calligraphy epiphany and be able to write like a pro. Sometimes that happens with new tools! Like: you buy something that totally changes the way you do things. Since this unfortunately was not the case, I stuck to what I knew: regular (gel or ballpoint) pens.
As far as I could tell from photos of envelopes on Google Image Search and Etsy, some parts of letters in calligraphy were fat, and others were thin. I now know, of course, that that’s because of pressure levels on the nib. I figured out the pattern, and offered envelopes with faux calligraphy in my Etsy shop (I didn’t have a website at that time).
For my very first commissioned envelope job, I had to figure out how to make white faux calligraphy. I went to Michael’s, purchased a few Sakura Gellyroll pens, and created the envelopes. I couldn’t have been more proud of my creation — and by some miracle it ended up on Style Me Pretty {photos below are from the SMP photoshoot}.
Now, thus far, I haven’t mentioned whether I actually liked my creations or not. I do remember being content with them. Sure, I knew there were better calligraphers out there {who actually knew how to use calligraphy pens}, but I was getting little commissions to do things with faux calligraphy, which was fun. I remember charging $15.00 for the Rumi quote below — and it took me three hours to make! That price was fair, though, because my skill level was still “getting there”. I did the best I could, and was always thrilled when people would request commissions! I even designed a few tattoos.
Progress
My commissions weren’t overwhelming, but I was getting better at calligraphy, and I progressively disliked my day job more and more. So, after a year of working at the software company, I turned in my notice; and Hernán and I planned out how I could create a business. Initially, my focus was on logo design for small businesses — so that’s mostly what I did, along with other design projects like creating invitations. I also had a steady stream of calligraphy commissions; mainly poems and wedding place cards like the ones below, which were always created with a Pilot G2 pen.
I’m not sure what the tipping point was, but eventually, I just thought to myself: “OK. I’ve got to figure this dip pen thing out.” A normal person would have Googled how to use it; but, of course, that would have been too easy. I sat down with the pen, and after a few hours of trial and error, I figured out that when the tines are spread, a thick downstroke is created, and when the tines of the nib go up, a thin upstroke results. I was really shaky at first, but after a couple of days and countless ink blobs, my style got a little bit better. You can see some before and after photos in this blog post.
At that point, I started noticing oblique pen holders, mainly in styled photos on Etsy. After I figured out what they were called, I ordered a plastic Speedball oblique from Amazon.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have started out with a metal-flanged oblique holder. But — the angle of the plastic oblique did make it easier for me to create calligraphy, and my calligraphy improved. At that point, a couple of brides approached me for help with their invitations. That put some pressure on me to make sure my calligraphy was decent.
At that time, I always wrote things out in pencil first — a grid plus the actual calligraphy — to ensure everything would turn out correctly. I also began experimenting with white ink.
Blogging
As I was learning more and more about calligraphy, I started to blog about it. I am so oblivious; I didn’t think anyone would be interested. But — with every blog post I wrote, I discovered that the case was quite the contrary. Plus, the more that I blogged about calligraphy, the more my skills improved. I was still using the plastic Speedball oblique, but I had finally gotten to a point where the pressure I put on the nib was intuitive. My calligraphy was less strained and more fun to make. I used calligraphy styles I knew I could create well on client materials; and I practiced styles I felt iffy about on personal correspondence. I had a lot of fun making some pretty neat materials for weddings!
I think I broke into making “real” calligraphy with Kaitlin Style. It’s a creative style — whimsical and modern — and doesn’t require a lot of concentration. Because of that, it proved very beginner-friendly for me. Later, I tried writing more formal styles with the plastic oblique, and I was pleased with the result.
It was at that point that I realized people have a genuine interest in calligraphy. That’s probably because everyone can write, and there’s always potential to improve on something that you already know how to do. I have noticed that calligraphy-related blog posts get more traffic than general art-related posts. Perhaps the reasoning behind that is calligraphy is perceived as being more useful in everyday life? I mean, you’re always going to need to write a thank-you note or a birthday card or what-have-you; and of course you want the envelope and note to look nice. Basically, it’s fun — and, compared to a large art project, easy — to create a beautifully calligraphed piece and send it out into the world.
About eight months ago, I started using metal-flanged oblique calligraphy pens. After a bit of a learning curve, they helped me to improve my skill significantly. Eventually, I was comfortable enough with my own calligraphy to make calligraphy worksheets for other people, and, ultimately, a video course for beginners.
Now, even as I work on projects for celebrities, publishing companies, and wedding planners, I believe there’s always room for inspiration and improvement. I can’t tell you how delighted I am when I find an Instagram account that inspires me (my latest obsession: @fpmmac); or when I discover a new calligraphy ink or nib.
The point of this blog post is to show you: I wasn’t always good at calligraphy. In fact, pretty recently, I wasn’t good at calligraphy! My exclusively-faux-calligraphy days were but two years ago — which, in the scheme of things, is a very short amount of time. And, here’s the thing: I don’t think it’s going to take you two years to figure out what it took me two years to figure out. More and more people are having conversations about calligraphy, especially online, and goodness knows I’ve failed if the TPK blog doesn’t help you in your calligraphy endeavors at least a little bit.
If you’re just beginning calligraphy, here are some great TPK blog posts to check out:
- The {Utter & Complete} Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy
- About Oblique Pen Holders
- The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit
- Faux Calligraphy Tutorial
Just keep creating, and you’ll notice improvement. My advice is to keep it fun: send intricate, embellished envelopes to friends; volunteer to help with someone’s wedding; and make calligraphy quote art. The more you create calligraphy, the more you’ll be astonished at what you are actually capable of!
If you have any questions, you know where to find me. 🙂 Thanks again for reading TPK!
Warmest wishes,
Hello
Great post and site. I’m really into writing and have been doing calligraphy writing on and off. I’ve decided I want to take the plunge and do wedding cards/invites. Do I need to be able to use desgin software for it? Or do you do them all by hand?
I’m doing my own table name cards by hand, but I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to sell that on Etsy or if I need to start learning the company skills?
Thank you!
Victoria
Hi Victoria! It really depends on how many wedding invitations you’re making. In general, people digitize them because most weddings send out several invitations. I have hand-written invitations before, but that was for a client that was having a very small wedding (8 guests), and they didn’t want an external printer to see wedding details because they were a celebrity couple trying to keep the details private. I would take the plunge and learn how to digitize! It should only take a couple of weeks to learn, and doing so will add valuable skills to your repertoire. As far as things like name cards go, I would continue to do those by hand. 🙂
Hello Lindsey!
I’ve been a fan of your blog since I started getting into calligraphy a couple of years ago. But I just started to realize that quite a few of your decorated envelopes had Lawrence, KS on them. Are you a Jayhawk? I graduated from KU, well we’ll just say it was a while ago! I studied graphic design there and have my own freelance business. Your blog has been really informative and I also recently purchased some of your worksheets. So thank you for that!
I do have one other question…I’ve just started a local class on working with dip pens and have noticed it’s a real pain to pack up all my tools, inks, etc. when going to class. Do you have a favorite tote or something that you put everything into when transporting?
Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
Kiley
Hi Kiley! Yes, I graduated from KU — it’s actually where I met my husband, which is neat because we never would have met otherwise (he’s from Peru). 🙂 Last year, I wrote a post over traveling with calligraphy supplies! You may find it helpful. The real secret is to travel with watercolors instead of inks!
So glad I read this comment. My husband is from Peru also! I just
I’ve been following your blog since I started learning calligraphy and I love all the amazing information you offer. So I just wanted to say you have been an inspiration for me to start calligraphy and even my own blog!! Thank you!
Hi Lindsey! I feel so inspired about your story. Your work is getting amazing and amazing and amazing as time passes by. I love writing too, like I cannot go to my work/job or school without pen and papers because creative writing is my great past time. I started to do writing and calligraphy since I was 8 years old, now I am 20 years old and I still doing my hobby. Every time I feel bored I only sit on my table and just practice and keep inspired to boost my talent as a calligrapher/letterer. I want to be like you. I feel your love on writing when I read your blog. You’re so amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your story. ^_^
At Penkraft, we teach you Calligraphy not just as a technique, but from the heart – using the simplest of equipment…..please refer below link http://www.penkraft.in
So happy that I stumbled upon your site and blog! I have recently found myself homebound due to an injury and subsequent surgery and decided to spend my weeks learning calligraphy. Your frank conversations, style and tutorials are inspiring!! And you are correct – the more you practice the better you will be – as I have seen this myself in the past weeks. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Its 20 past midnight here in India as am going through your wonderful story and the wonderful things you’ve done to create help & guidance for calligraphy enthusiasts. Am a photographer by profession, but am kind of stuck with a mid life crisis where am not happy with what am able to earn or create. My tiny family looks up to me & believes in me. And i want to earn everything they might ever need. In that restless quest to become more capable & earn better, my mind continuously thinks of random things that i can do to add more happiness & income. Calligraphy is somewhere close to bottom of that list. But being a visual artist i kind of believe that starting with calligraphy & being patient with it would develop my creative skills. And God knows something good will come out of it. Your story has inspired me and knocked my sleep out. I so dearly wish tremendous success to you on your endeavors and truck load of happiness & love in your life. Thankyou for everything that you are doing Lindsey! You are a gem!
Thank you so much! You know, you might check out The Calligrapher’s Business Handbook … even if you don’t pursue calligraphy professionally, Molly Suber Thorpe has a lot of good advice for any creative entrepreneur. 🙂
That is a very inspiring story Lindsey. 🙂 Thank you for sharing and encouraging others!
Can I just say how amazing your site is? And, you do amazing work. I am SO glad that I found you! I have yet to start because I am always second guessing myself and I feel like I need a class, an instructor, someone to “hold my hand.” But you are extremely talented have thoroughly inspired me to at least try it out. I will be buying your worksheets, to start.
Thank you for sharing your story and your talents. I also love how clear, concise and straight to the point you get on your posts and videos. I DO appreciate that you don’t have a lot of “filler.”
Awesome job!!!
Thanks for sharing your experience. When I go through what you’ve written, it inspires me to try harder even with the existing constraints of not being able to pursue what I love. I recently started to learn calligraphy, my basic source being the internet and your blog has been very helpful.
I would ask you though, how can I educate myself about the art of calligraphy (reliable sources) right down to the basics. Also, how can I impart more stylized fonts into my learning. I have been practicing for a month and would love to eventually become really good at it. Currently I have done a few brush lettering styles. Please advice.
Hi Avani! I would recommend reading Script in the Copperplate Style by Joseph M. Vitolo — it’s digital and free!
I am so glad I found your blog. Thank you for sharing your story; your talent and your encouragement to our readers are very inspirational. God Bless You!
I’m really happy that you are enjoying the blog! It just takes time and motivation to get better at anything, really. 🙂
Love your blog and thank you for sharing your story! I love to write: words on paper… so much fun!
Great blog post, Lindsey! Thank you so much for sharing. I am an aspiring (& timid) lettering/calligrapher myself, but your story is proof that practice really does pay off!
I really appreciate your words.
Best,
Kelcy (@kaypea_draws)
You have inspired me to learn more every day. I am falling in love with this art and I can say it is the perfect combination to my other passion: baking beautiful cakes.
Thank you so much for your tutorials and for the great and inspirational writings.
Greetings from Costa Rica!
Sincerely,
Adalberto Rodriguez
Muchas gracias, Adalberto! Tortas y caligrafía — una buena (y rica!) combinacíon!
Thank you so much Lindsey!!! Your blog posts and tutorials are so helpful and inspiring.
It’s my pleasure! Thanks so much for reading. 🙂
Hi Lindsey!
You are an inspiration to me! I’m actually transitioning from hobbyist to (hopefully) commissioned artist (is there such a thing) as I have a few wedding commissions lined up. Now my question, I want to create a brand for myself and very undecided if I should stick with my real name, current Instagram handle (which can be catchy) or an entirely different name that has meaning to me, to make into a company name. Did you start out as Lindsey Bugbee then transitioned to The Postmans Knock? Or started with that ever since? Hope to hear from you! 🙂
Hi Myka! I started with The Postman’s Knock. 🙂
How refreshing it is to know that even the most professional of artists started out from “scratch”! Not only is your calligraphy stunning, but your artwork is amazing! Did you go to an art school at all or was this just a talent you always had?
Hi Clariza!
My university degree is actually in English with a minor in French, but I studied art under an amazing instructor from the time I was around 7 years old to 17 years old. That said, I really don’t think that a person needs professional training to be a great artist or calligrapher … art and calligraphy are both so subjective, that someone (or, more likely, several someones) is/are bound to like what you’re producing!
Wow thank you so much :’) I hope to success in this and all that I am. Greetings! I love your blog, tutorials and all of this!
Aw, I really appreciate your kind words — thank you!
Hi Lindsey! I am so excited to have found your blog! Thank you for putting together such an in depth beginners guide to calligraphy! I have been doodling “fancy” alphabets and names for quite some time and am ready to do some bigger projects. Your blog has inspired me to keep going!
Yay, Roxanne! That’s exactly how I got started. 🙂 You’ve got a fun road ahead of you!
I love this post! I have wanted to learn calligraphy writing styles for YEARS and this is the year I intend to actually work on it. Your story is inspiring, and I plan to try out your LCFAL worksheets soon… once I figure out what supplies I need. I will bookmark your blog and come back to read more posts!
I’m really happy you enjoyed the post! Calligraphy is a very fun skill to take on; just remember to be patient with yourself and, even if you’re unhappy with a piece you have created, take the time to identify the good things you did in the piece (e.g. thick downstrokes/thin upstrokes, proper letterforms)!
I am sooooooo GLAD that I found your website! This is HANDS DOWN my favorite! I get so giddy when I see your emails in my inbox! {?Eek!}Your personality and the way you write makes me feel like we could sit down and instantly connect. The affordability of your worksheets and other things that you offer is very much appreciated, too (I have the Kaitlyn worksheets!). It is very obvious that you are a giving person and just want to share what you have learned with others.
I definitely needed to read this post about how you started in modern calligraphy because I am in my mid-forties and am scared to death that I won’t be good enough, or too old, to do anything with calligraphy. I’ve taken an online course and did pretty well with it, but that fear is still there. A friend has asked me to do calligraphy envelopes for her wedding and you have inspired me to give it a go! Thank you so much for your inspiration!
Hey Lindsey
I came across your blog/website a few days ago, and haven’t stopped reading your posts ever since. Just read this one, and saw you went to KU, RCJH!! I just graduated from KU as well, and currently still live in Lawrence! Thank you for being an awesome inspiration, I have been practicing with all the practice sheets you provided, love them soooooo much! Can’t wait to share with you what I’ve learned!
-Kate
We have lived in Boulder since September of 2011, but I left a piece of my heart in Lawrence! I still miss pad thai at Zen Zero, the (endearingly weird) wanna-be philosophers who sit and argue in Henry’s while you study, and my classes at KU! I even kind of miss going to Tonic, though I’m sure at this point I’m a little too old to enjoy it like I used to! We are going back to Lawrence in May for my sister-in-law’s graduation, and I am SO excited to get to re-visit the places I loved so much. 🙂 I hope they do the farmers market even though it’s graduation weekend; I always really loved going there.
To end my nostalgic rant, I’m so happy that you are enjoying the practice sheets! I can’t think of a better way to enjoy them than with a cup of coffee/tea, enjoying the surroundings that autumn in Lawrence provides.
Lindsey,
Your website has been a wonderful resource of both inspiration and encouragement for me! I have always loved creating things (especially in relation to letters) and recently I decided to start putting together a portfolio. I am teaching myself calligraphy. Just wanted to pop in and say thank you for opening up this information to the public! It seems a lot of people would want to keep their “secrets” to themselves but it is refreshing to see you being real and offering advice both in great blog posts and in your responses to others. Looking forward to keeping up with the Postman’s Knock 🙂
Maddy
Hi Maddy!
I gave up long ago on trying to be mysterious … I’d much rather gush about how to do something than simply show a photo of it with a non-revealing, “Look at this thing I made.” 😉 I can honestly say, though, that being up-front about how to do things has helped me in all of my business relationships, and I wouldn’t do it any other way!
Thanks so much for your very kind comment; I really appreciate it. 🙂
Hey Lindsey!
I’ve been doing Calligraphy now for almost a month. I have the down and up strokes and down, holding my pen ect. What I am still struggling with is having too much Ink on my nib which causes extra ink on the paper, even if I am not pressing down hard. The other issue is running out of ink while I am still forming my first letter of a word. Do you have any tips on how to get this to stop happening? Am I putting too much on my nib, does it have to do with the pressure? I have been wanting to try out an oblique pen (I’m a lefty) but have a feeling it doesn’t have to do with the pen/nib itself.
Thank you!
– Hillary
Hi Hillary!
The first thing I would think about is how old your nibs are: are they brand new? If so, you might need to get the manufacturer’s oil off. While I do recommend reading this article about that, I will say that I generally use a match to get the oil off, which the article vehemently recommends against. It sounds like if you’re using a new nib, you may be dipping it in too much ink to compensate for the ink not wanting to flow well. So — try that first.
{Note: I don’t prime all my nibs … in fact, I’ve only had to prime a couple. It’s not a “must-do” type thing.}
If/once your nib is primed, I’d pay attention to how far up you are dipping. The ink should go halfway up the vent hole, and I wouldn’t go any farther than that. Also, yeah, you’ll want to be conscientious of how much pressure you are using. When we are concentrating, we have a tendency to press hard, right, because we are going slowly and want to make sure we do it “right”. I’d forget about that, and try to use a relatively light touch and organic, consistently smooth movements. Pretend you’re one of those older people doing tai chi in Central Park; that’s the kind of flow and consistency you want. I would just grab a piece of scrap paper today and write a few words on it; but don’t concentrate on making them pretty, concentrate on your pressure. Once you experiment for a few minutes, it will become clear what your sweet spot is as far as ink amount and pressure, and that should help to facilitate smooth sailing from here on out!
Once you do get a feel for pressure/ink amount, I’d whole-heartedly recommend a left oblique. 🙂 I really love my right obliques, and I actually also have a left oblique that I use for flourishing. I’m totally in love with oblique pens!
Let me know if you still have questions after reading this answer/practicing a bit. I’m happy to help {even if I’m slow on the draw when it comes to responding, at times}!
Hello Lindsey!
I’ve been trying to learn calligraphy for ages but it was really difficult finding a good guide – I have you say your blog is brilliant.
Thank you very much for your posts. They are a great inspiration and I look forward to reading and learning new techniques from you.
<3
I just found out about your website through a friend! I have always wanted to learn calligraphy and picked up a cheap kit from Michael’s the other day! I’m really nervous to jump in…but I’m willing to practice. Loved reading about your journey and appreciate your honesty so much! Subscribed ;D
Dear Lindsey,
First of all, Happy 2015 in advance! *waves from Singapore!* Thank you for this inspirational post! Isn’t it amazing how every word looks beautiful once written in calligraphy? As a maker and seller of handmade rubber stamps, I remember being overjoyed yet slightly-hesitant of my skills on receiving my first commission about 2 years ago. However, with each piece that I made, I seemed to understand the craft better! Hopefully I’ll be like you soon enough, to leave my day job and craft for a living! 🙂
P.S. May I ask you a novice question here – how do you convert your hardcopies into into digital images without the grey shadow behind? I have tried taking photos of my illustrations and stamped images but find that white paper tends to leave a dull tint 🙁
Hi Valene!
I can totally relate — I felt the same way when I started getting commissions as well! It was like, “Wow, this is so awesome … hopefully I can do a good job …” And yet, now you are clearly good at what you do, and your shop is wonderfully creative. I couldn’t pick a favorite; your dahlia stamps are so cool, the squirrel and nut, the paisley … I love what you are doing!! Since your designs are so cute and original, you really might consider opening a Society6 shop in addition to your Etsy shop. You could stamp designs, scan them into your computer, and let Society 6 make them into things such as art prints and iPhone cases. The quick shipping might attract even more clients outside of Asia!
I convert hard copies into digital images by scanning. I then work with the scan in Photoshop (and sometimes Lightroom or Illustrator) to get them just right!
Happy New Year to you, too!
Ooh thanks for the linkup, Society 6 looks really cool! Have a great day ahead 🙂
Great site and article.
A suggestion:
Consider making a title image for each post, with calligraphy, so that it can be more powerfully Pinned.
That’s a great suggestion! Since creating/scanning/digitally manipulating calligraphy takes time, though, I generally just make sure all images are appropriately titled in the meta description so Pinterest users don’t have to type in their own text. I agree that sometimes images with text/calligraphy overlays can be powerful, but I find that having overlays vs. not having overlays doesn’t really affect the pinning rate. I think that ultimately, “pinnability” boils down to whether or not the blog post offers good content and good photos. Thanks again for the thoughtful suggestion!
I believe I told you this story before but it bears repeating: I found your blog because I was searching for a video of someone actually using an oblique penholder and going slow enough to explain what they were doing. A lot of calligraphy blogs/Tumblrs/Instagrams just show the final product, but I keep coming back to this site because you take the time to break it down into simple steps so I can learn new skills. I don’t consider myself particularly artistic, but as you said, people feel like they can do calligraphy, and it makes every day things look so much prettier and if it is somehow given to another person (an addressed envelope, a place card, a gift tag), they feel flattered that you spent time making something so beautiful. I’ve found that people are especially happy to see their names written in a fancy way – one of my friends keeps on her desk a gift tag I made for her, something that normally would be thrown out.
Plus you are one of the nicest people I have ever met (even if it’s only online!) so I’m glad you’ve gotten so much success!
I made that video because I wish someone would have shown me how to use an oblique holder when I was starting! I agree: everyone shows the final product, but there’s no “Hey, if you want to make this, here’s how”. I think that you are proof positive that someone can excel in both right-brained and left-brained activities; and I’m surprised you don’t consider yourself particularly artistic because you are always coming up with creative things!
And thank you! I used to think it was weird to meet people online, but having this blog has proven otherwise. Especially when you have similar interests, friendships that originate online can be really enriching. Speaking of which: a package will be arriving at your mom’s on Saturday. 🙂
Ahhhh! How have I not found your site before??! I have just spent the last hour reading your calligraphy posts. Amazing! I am working on a blog post about my journey with calligraphy and was looking up some resources and down the rabbit hole of calligraphers I went. Landing me right at your site. It’s truly amazing. Thank you for all that you share! I’m learning so much (newbie calligrapher here). Anyway, thank you and I look forward to more of your posts!
I am so glad that you are enjoying the blog! I checked out your “About” page; it was fun to see that you are a KS girl as well. 🙂 Keep going and you’ll be amazed at how great your calligraphy skills will get!
Thanks for sharing your story! It’s encouraging to hear that investing now in what interests me can take me to a completely unexpected place (though not without work) in future. I look forward to seeing where your artwork takes you next.
Thank you! I think if you are passionate about something, success can most certainly come of it. 🙂
I can’t wait to dig into this…your writing is so encouraging and honest!
Thank you! It was a fun post to write because it was all-holds-barred. It’s always embarrassing to look at past work {even if it’s not so bad}, but I thought it would be encouraging for others to see and realize how much a person can improve over a pretty short period of time. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your journey in another inspirational post. It’s exciting to be able to envision the possibilities by sampling from another person’s example.
I used a dip pen to address my Christmas cards for the second year, but my how those inexpensive envelopes provided made my ink bleed! Next year I think I will invest in better quality envelopes.
Happy Holidays!
You hit the nail on the head as to why I like hearing others’ stories so much: “It’s exciting to be able to envision the possibilities by sampling from another person’s example.” You have such a wonderful way with words!
Re: the envelopes, either higher-quality envelopes or thicker ink will fix that problem. You could also do all handmade envelopes next year … depending on how many cards you are going to send out! More than 10-15, and handmade envelopes get a bit time-consuming!
It was such a cool blog post to read. It’s really interesting to see how someone has evolved in what she/he does. And, by the way, it’s been just two years since you started with calligraphy, and you are now so huge? It’s really not a long time! I kinda envy you a little!
In my case it was the other way round! I had to learn calligraphy when I started the typography classes while studying Graphic Design, and I was pretty good really fast. I mean, as good as you can get with just a couple of months practice while you are trying to complete all the assignments for all the classes and study for exams. That year ended and I had the intention to continue practicing calligraphy, but never did. About a month ago I grabbed my pens and inks again, tried for a couple of hours, and boy do I really suck now! Got a little frustrated, but I won’t let that take me down!
I suppose you’re right — two years isn’t such a long time, is it? But, gosh, it feels like I’ve been doing it forever! I do think it would have taken less time to learn if I would have been a little smarter about what resources and tools/techniques I was using — but everything happens the way it does for a reason, right? 🙂 I do think anything pertaining to art/creativity is like riding a bike. If you haven’t done it for a while, you’re a little rusty; but after a few hours, you’re back to the skill level you had before!
Oh Lindsey…as always, I love your blog and I was so interested to read about your “adventure” into calligraphy. What a story…you are truly an inspiration and I am eternally grateful that I found you on a Google search a few months ago. I could pick your brain for days about stuff, but these blog posts help a lot!! Have a wonderful holiday!
Nancy
I always think it’s fun to read/hear about how someone came to do something/be something. Turns out it’s pretty fun to write about, too! I’m glad you read the blog; it’s really gratifying to be connected to superbly cool people like you. 🙂 I hope you have a fantastic holiday as well!! I’ll be a state (but many, many hours!) away. 🙂
Thank you for this post. This is so inspiring. I just started to learn calligraphy beginning January this year (fortunately, there were available 3 hour sessions). I am not yet happy with my calligraphy (also because I don’t get to practice much) but I have seen that I’ve been improving. Eventually, I’d like to also start making pocket change from my calligraphy (and other art work).
I love following your blog! I get what you mean that the more you blogged, the more you found other people that inspire you and those who are interested in your work – same thing happened to me.
I’m glad you were inspired by the post! With just a little bit of time, you’ll develop a style you love — and I’m sure be able to make some pocket change from it! You go, girl!
Loved your revealing your history, your creativity just could not be stopped. And we all get to reap your journey. 20 years ago my husband and I went to England on a very inexpensive week. When I returned I said’ my friends have no idea how WONDERFUL SHOPPING is ‘. He said ‘you can put trips together’. And I did, 20 trips of ladies to England, 24 to France. I made money on what I loved doing. I guess that is the American dream.
You go, Jan! You’re a wonderful, creative “can-do” type, which I really admire about you! I have been using the book you sent extensively, by the way, and I have your flower painting hanging right behind my desk. 🙂
Love that you posted this! It’s interesting to see where you started and your development!. You’re are so generous with your knowledge & experience, it’s encouraging for us (me!) who’s just starting to learn!
I think I’m just verbose and love having a soapbox! 😉 But, in all seriousness, I do think it’s interesting to read/hear others’ stories. It’s easy to forget that everyone has to start somewhere, you know? I’m really glad that you liked the post — thank you!
Thank you so much for a look into your calligraphy journey. To assure you that you have done someone a service in their own calligraphy journey I’d like to say that finding your blog marked my start and is still my very favorite resource. And for that I’m oh-so-grateful. You are appreciated, Lindsey!
I’m so, so glad that this blog has been useful to you. Thanks for being such a positive presence on it!! 🙂
What an inspirational story. Thanks for sharing your calligraphy journey. I used your Margaret envelope as inspiration for addressing my Christmas cards this year. It was fun (but I gotta say, the end result was not nearly as pretty as yours!)
I am certain that that’s not true — and I’m sure your happy recipients of the envelope would also beg to differ! I am really glad that you got mileage out of the tutorial, and that it helped you with your Christmas envelopes. Wow, which reminds me … I haven’t send out any Christmas cards yet. Suddenly it’s clear what I need to focus on today! 😉 And thank you for thanks! It was a fun blog post to write; it definitely required a lot of concentration trying to remember the hows and whys. 🙂
Thanks for this blog and sharing your talent. You are such an inspiration. You have the best site for learning calligraphy!
It was totally my pleasure writing it! I have to admit that I was hesitant to put up photos of my old work at first — but then I thought it would be helpful to see how much a person can improve with just a little bit of time. I’m really, really glad that the site helps you to learn. If you have any questions, please let me know. Questions help me to write helpful blogs posts! Thanks very much for reading. 🙂
I’m in a software job too that I don’t want to be in! Haha, and I’ve always pursued arts, and now I find myself seriously moving towards calligraphy and flourishing. I’ve just started (and mostly like working in the digital world of art), but your post has inspired me 🙂 Right now, I’m not going anywhere fast, but hopefully one day!
Thanks for your post.
I remember feeling that way, too, like … “eh, I don’t really want to be here, I like art and design but don’t know what to do with it; even if I did do something with it, would I like that?” Obviously, everyone has their own unique situation including logistics and financial stuff; but eventually the stars aligned for me, and I’m confident that they will for you, too! I just kept going with my art and design, and eventually it developed into a career/pastime that I really love. For now, keep on working on what you like, and you’ll be surprised at where it takes you. Of that I’m sure!
I can’t emphasize how happy that I found your blog. But as well as this post that is extremely inspirational. You’ve gained another follower! I hope to acquire such a beautiful talent with much practice and this post has motivated me. Thank you Lindsey!!
I’m so glad that this post was inspirational! When I write blog posts, I always try to think about what I would have liked to read when I was trying to figure out how to create calligraphy. I don’t think a lot of artists are comfortable sharing some of their lesser works {I definitely was hesitant}; but I do think it’s important to show that with some time and knowledge you can achieve anything! Just keep going, and you will get to where you want to be with your skill much sooner than you think. 🙂