Friday, April 03, 2015

C is for...Calligraphy

I didn't start drawing or painting until I was into my forties, but I have been a calligrapher since I was 13.  My art teacher taught a calligraphy lesson in Grade 8, and I always kept it up.  I loved lettering.

Back in the day I worked at a drugstore, and I did most of the little red-bordered "sale" signs that dangled off the shelves in calligraphy.  One of the owners of a mom and pop sub shop was a regular at the drug store, and she noticed me doing up the sale signs one day.  We were friendly, as I often went there for lunch, and she asked me to do up their store menu.  I worked at a winery doing personalized wine labels for a year or so, and it was there that I perfected my "technique."  You had to be fast at Christmastime -- we were pumping out 40+ labels an hour!  At this point I can write something in calligraphy as fast as I can print.  

Most of my friends know I do calligraphy, so there have always been little requests over the years. Like this project for my friend Tara's wedding:


I have met very few calligraphers over the years, but one day I searched Facebook and was pleasantly surprised that there was a calligrapher's group in my area.  I've been kind of monitoring the site for a year or more, because things have changed a lot since I learned!

I'm glad the art form is still thriving, and I've picked up my pen recently with the hopes of broadening my calligraphic repertoire.  As for the FB group, it is Edmonton Calligraphic Society.  


7 comments:

  1. I wish I had the patience (and wasn't a perfectionist) so I could learn an art form. Especially one having to do with the written word.

    Dropping by from #AtoZChallenge. You can find me at http://www.carrieanntripp.com

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  2. Your work is awesome. I have friend in Houston are that does a different form of calligraphy.

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  3. Your work is awesome. I have friend in Houston are that does a different form of calligraphy.

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  4. Incredible! I've always wanted to learn calligraphy--it's a beautiful skill.

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  5. thank you, folks...I'm glad calligraphy is alive and well...need more time for art!

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  6. My husband could produce amazing calligraphy, right down to the inset illustrations. It was part of the first year art class he taught in high school. Me, I can't draw a straight line...computers are the only way anyone can read what I produce
    BTW, there's an Elizabeth Lowell book with a secondary plot of twelfth century calligraphy.

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  7. Cool, m :) I'll take a google. I would love to be able to do flourishes and insets.

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