How did you become a professional calligrapher?
I was looking for a hobby and landed on a career. I was single and had a good bit of extra time in the evenings...and I don't sit still well. Ha! I was looking for a way to be productive and to occupy my time with a hobby. Particularly, I was looking for something that I could do for the rest of my life and continually learn and improve. I tried tennis and was TERRIBLE. And then heard about local calligraphy lessons and decided to give it a try. I picked up a calligraphy pen and quickly became obsessed. I guess my truly awful tennis skills launched my calligraphy career!
So what was the process of learning calligraphy like? Had you ever tried hand lettering before?
I was never one of those kids who doodled in their notebook and to be honest my natural handwriting isn't very good. I view calligraphy as an art. It is actually much more like drawing letters than it is like handwriting. There are a series of basic strokes that you learn at the beginning. And then you begin to put those strokes together to form letters. And eventually, you learn to put letters together to form words. The structure and "rules" of calligraphy appeal to my type A, analytical brain. Yes, it's art. But it's art with structure and rules - my kind of art!
What advice would you give someone who is interested in learning calligraphy?
You can certainly learn through online classes or through self-study books. But I found it invaluable to learn in person from a teacher. My first teacher was Deb Warnat here in Birmingham. She teaches a "Beginning Copperplate" class and is a wonderful instructor. Deb would walk around the class and help correct our posture and our arm movement and our pen grip. Establishing proper form and technique at the beginning has helped me not have to break bad habits down the road or to suffer from muscle fatigue as I work. And then I recommend practicing, practicing, and practicing some more. All of that practice builds muscle memory and you'll begin to see improvement and consistency in your strokes and letter forms. Oh and also, please do yourself a favor and use good supplies.
What calligraphy supplies do you recommend? And where can they be purchased?
Relatively speaking, calligraphy supplies are a lot cheaper than other art supplies. The tough part is knowing what to buy and where to find it. For the most part, you won't find the supplies you need at big box stores (like Hobby Lobby or Michael's). In Birmingham, I love shopping at Alabama Art Supply. They carry lots of inks and gouaches and have also begun carrying a wider variety of nibs. (Hint - they are behind the desk at the front. Just ask the super helpful staff and they'll get them out for you.) Otherwise, I purchase from Paper and Ink Arts in Nashville. I recommend buying a Rhodia pad, oblique holder, a few G nibs, and some sumi ink. You could buy all of that for around $20.
What would you say to a bride looking to hire a calligrapher?
First, "thank you!" Thank you for valuing calligraphy. Your wedding invitation is your guest's first impression of your wedding. Seeing their name written in beautiful calligraphy on the envelope lets them know that they are valued and are important to you and your fiance and your families. And it sets the tone for the lovely and special wedding day you have planned.
Then, I would ask you to consider the tone and style of your wedding. You'll want to find a calligrapher whose style will match. I offer traditional, elegant calligraphy. The brides who choose to work with me are most often planning traditional, elegant weddings. Whereas, there are calligraphers who specialize in very modern or very casual calligraphy that would better suit other weddings.
And finally, ask the calligrapher if they are available as soon as you know you want to work with them. My production calendar often books four to five months ahead. And since you're aiming to send invitations six to eight weeks prior to your wedding, I recommend reaching out to me six to seven months before your wedding. (I have put brides on my calendar 15 months prior to their wedding - it's never too soon to get in touch!)
What are you working on now? What's next for Grace Calligraphy?
In the next year, I'll begin offering a line of wedding invitations as well as a very special collection of greeting cards. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
