Fair readers, our last week of Calligraphy Corner is upon us. I am certainly going to enjoy it while it lasts, and I hope you do too!

This week’s closing discussion on the multitude of interesting facets found in the core topic of calligraphy and decorative mark-making will focus on the possibilities for monetization of the craft. Fair warning: I have not completed the next set of tips in totality so take my advice as you will. Everything I will discuss is the product of several years of research as I approach following through with a small calligraphy business venture myself.

Tip #1: Understand the variety of clientele needs and niches

As we have already seen, calligraphy is an aesthetic-based artform that ideally prompts a reaction of the viewer. Different hands/styles, placement and positioning, sizing, and color can cause such a reaction to drastically change. The aspiring calligrapher must be aware of the desired reaction as stated by their clients and guide their artistic choices to fit this expectation.

Most people are familiar with the traditional calligraphy used for wedding and party invitations. Calligraphy can also be used for reception needs, like placeholders, centerpieces, and gifts for guests.

Fig. 1. John Stevens Design. Honorary Documents.

Beyond weddings and parties, professional calligraphers are also often tasked with completing professional documents and honorary certificates. Check out a few samples of calligrapher John Stevens, who designs such specialized documentation.

Tip #2: Set pricing upon employment

One of the main things emphasized throughout the calligraphy community is that if you are hired for a job, prices should be agreed upon by both parties at the beginning of the contracted period. This way, neither client nor calligrapher are hit with unexpected costs or bills. The pricing should also be accompanied by deadlines for both final day of full payment and day that all work should be submitted or given to the client. Consistency and reliability in business practices are key!

Fig. 2.  Lauren Perry Studio. Envelopes.

Tip #3:  Become a king or queen of customer service

Because calligraphy is often a freelance occupation, calligraphers do not typically have large corporations that have customer service departments dedicated to taking complaints and feedback from clients. This means that the calligrapher must become adept at handling all concerns from clients. If a client is upset with the quality of submitted work or a listed specification was not followed as they asked, they have a right to follow up with their calligrapher. The calligrapher should respond courteously and with the upmost professionalism, offering to fix any mistakes. This will do two things: keep the client happy, and uphold a stellar professional reputation.

Tip #4: Choose an appropriate platform to sell on

Anyone interested in starting a business should understand their strong suits and the type of clientele they wish to attract. Therefore, they should put heavy consideration into the type of platform they wish to attract customers on. I have seen calligraphers find success on Etsy, Facebook, Instagram, and their own hosted websites. The Gen-Z calligrapher who wants to sell to their peers may have more success on a combination of Instagram and Etsy, linking their seller’s page through their social media. Plenty of professional calligraphers, however, host their own websites with great success. It really depends on what one finds easiest to both list their products and services and engage the appropriate audience.

Fig. 3. Etsy. SimpleScribe.

Thank you for checking out the above tips and reading the final edition of Calligraphy Corner. I have garnered great enjoyment through publishing this blog week by week. It has made me even more excited about my passion for art and handwriting. I hope that any readers are able to do the same with their interests.

Have a wonderful rest of your spring and summer!

Another week of Calligraphy Corner is upon us! I am very excited to see you back here to learn more about calligraphy and decorative handwriting strategies. Today, we will be diving into how to take some different calligraphy skills to the next level. Let’s begin!

1. Find the Correct Hand Positioning

Fig. 1. Postman’s Knock. How to Hold a Calligraphy Pen.

Before you do anything else, finding and perfecting the correct hand position to hold your pen is going to be one of the more important steps in increasing the quality of your calligraphy. Many people might assume that the way you hold a calligraphy utensil is the same as you would hold a regular pen or pencil, but that is incorrect. The pen should not be held in any sort of death grip – it is better to leave the hand relaxed to allow for a greater flow of movement. It should also rest in the curve of your hand between your thumb and index finger. In this way, the pen is not held perpendicular to the page. Ideally, your fingers should not have much movement because the goal is to allow the arm to control the lines drawn on the page. The role of the fingers is more so to control the ink flow in the nib instead.

      2. Understand the Structure of Calligraphy Lines

Once you have your pen grip down, gaining an understanding about the structure of this art form is something that I myself have found incredibly helpful in improving my calligraphy. When I say “structure”, I refer to the balance of invisible guidelines between letters to either keep things uniform or establish a general flow to a word.

Fig. 2. Faber-Castell. How to Learn Basic Calligraphy Techniques.

As you can see in the above image, calligraphy is based in a set of symmetrical and well-proportioned standards. To review, the baseline is the bottom line on which every letter is based. The main body of the letter rests on this line. An ascender (part of the letter going above x-line) or descender (part of the letter going below the base line) can exist, but all letters will for the most part sit on this line in a basic traditional style. In contrast to the base line is the cap line. This line dictates the topmost height of a capitalized letter. There is also the slant line. This may be best explained by asking you to imagine the slant of an italicized font on Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Calligraphy styles generally follow the same slant or angle to which letters are to be tilted throughout a piece of writing. Finally, the x-line is the line for which letters without an ascender will be limited. This would be like the top of the circle portion of a “b” or the top of an “r”.

3.  Experiment with Different Pens and Tools

Fig. 3. Postman’s Knock. Calligraphy Pen Comparisions.

I’ve made mention of this in previous posts, but I truly think one of the best things you can do to improve your calligraphy is to find what works for you! There are so many different types of pens, tools, and avenues to learn calligraphic techniques out there. You can try faux calligraphy with a brush pen or jump onto Adobe Illustrator to create your own digital patterns. You can head to YouTube to watch a variety of tutorials or buy a couple of instruction books at your local bookseller. If a refillable fountain pen does not work for you, try a dip pen! The skies are the limit for what you can find. I am a big believer in everyone having their niche that they have very strong skills in. Practicing and adjustment are the names of the game here.

4. Seek Advice From Professionals

Finally, following professional calligraphers and trying to gain insight into their processes would be a good move to enhance your mark-making. Dozens of professionals keep blogs across the internet and provide free instructions and tutorials for the benefit of aspiring calligraphers. YouTube is also an easy place to go to find advanced techniques in any subject of art. Some of my favorite blogs and sites are as follows:

The Postman’s Knock

Laura Hooper Calligraphy

Molly Suber Thorpe’s Calligraphy Blog

Loveleigh Loops

Calligraphy Gems

I’m so glad to have another week of Calligraphy Corner in the books! Thank you for reading. See you next time!