08/10/2017

Calligraphy Inspiration: Kelsey Malie Calligraphy

Hey everyone! Somehow it’s August and summer is zooming by at full speed (with hints of fall even in the air.) Before our focus goes full-on about the new school year and fall plans, let’s dive into a fresh dose of calligraphy to keep our summer senses floating on high. Once I stumbled on the work of calligrapher Kelsey Carpenter, I was blown away by her work’s natural lightness and organic style. Let’s take a peek into the world of Kelsey Malie Calligraphy. – Jen

Photo Credit: Ivory + Bliss Photography

Kelsey stumbled into calligraphy when she was getting married. “I didn’t like any paper goods out there and couldn’t afford something custom so I picked up a dip pen and learned.” Then she literally hand wrote each wedding invitation (as a beginner!). After that experience, she was hooked on calligraphy.

Photo Credit: Donny Zavala Photography

Kelsey hails from the beautiful state of Hawaii, and that’s where she and her husband got married, too. They now are city dwellers in Chicago.

Kelsey shares: “The most wonderful part of invitation design is working in the personality of each client into their wedding paper goods. I just had a client who had a sketch of each member of her wedding party done for her program and another that, in lieu of favors, hand-wrote a message on custom stationary to each guest to be placed at their seat during dinner.”

I’m such a sentimental sap when it comes to special details like that, and little ways to connect with people in your wedding. Since that connection with friends and family is certainly part of the joy of a wedding!

Kelsey likes to changes things up in her work and play with different lettering styles. “I love learning new scripts and am constantly challenging myself to work on older script styles like Spencerian and Copperplate.” But if you try to nail her down to describing her calligraphy style in a couple words, she’ll share it’s “romantic and messy”. Kind of feels like the perfect mix, right? Far from fussy, her romantic messy style of lettering work feels effortless and organic.

Photo Credits: Jenni Kupelian Photography

“I love when I can just play with wild, illegible script and ink splatters,” shares Kelsey. But she definitely keeps everything more readable when it comes to invitation suites for real brides.

Leaving you with this sweet wedding program where Kelsey’s calligraphy is the star. Thanks so much to Kelsey for sharing her beautiful work! See you back here soon.

All images via Kelsey Malie Calligraphy, except where noted.

07/13/2017

Calligraphy Inspiration: Emily Rose Ink

Hello friends! I’m super excited to dive into the work of calligrapher Emily Asher of Emily Rose Ink today. It’s summertime, and we’re right in the peak season of being outdoors, where you want pretty things around you that feel fresh and organic, and even maybe a little romantic. That pretty much wraps up Emily’s style of calligraphy. So let’s jump in with a whole dose of lettering work that I think you’ll love. – Jen

Photo Credit: Lea Emerson Photography

Of her inspiration, Emily shares, “I’ve found that I gravitate towards a style that feels romantic and organic but refined, a little imperfect without being too messy. I want my invitations to convey the formality deserving of a wedding without feeling stuffy or too traditional.”

Emily likes to use vintage stamps with her wedding projects. “It’s fun for me to choose stamps that correspond to the couple’s geographical location, their history, or their interests, and they dress up an envelope in a way that makes each guest feel like they are opening a beautifully decorated gift when they receive their invitation.”

Photos: Leah Emerson Photography

“I am definitely inspired by nature and often my invitations have a sense of place â€“ whether it’s a venue illustration or a floral border inspired by the local colors and varieties of flowers that will be used in their wedding,” shares Emily. This is one invitation for a welcome party that I’d want to frame afterwards!

Photo: Tim Tab Photography

I love this color palette for an invitation suite. That’s such a pretty blue and I love how it pairs with the reds.

“Lately I’ve been doing a lot of venue illustrations – both detailed architectural line drawings and watercolor scenes inspired by the natural beauty of the venue â€” and I love giving guests a preview of the wedding in this way,” says Emily. “The invitations also then serve as mementos for the couple, pieces of art that they can cherish forever.”

Photo Credit: Lea Emerson Photography

Check out these Save the Dates by Emily! Talk about a keeper â€” the California landscape looks so cool on those cards.

Photo: Maria Harte Photography

Here’s an example of when subtle is so perfect. The soft gray tones of the lettering and vine illustration on this table card makes the design feel more modern.

Thanks so much to Emily of Emily Rose Ink for sharing a peek of her work. See you soon, friends!

Emily Rose Ink is a member of the Oh So Beautiful Paper Designer Rolodex â€“ you can see more of her work right here!

06/15/2017

Calligraphy Inspiration: Hanwriting

These days, calligraphy goes waaaaaay beyond ink on paper. Tiles, sea glass, agate slices, light bulbs â€“ pretty much any surface is game! Today we’re perusing the work of New York-based calligrapher Han Cao of Hanwriting, an expert on writing on non-traditional surfaces. Han was also kind enough to share some of her tips and tricks for writing on some of the trickier surfaces using a traditional calligraphy nib and ink. Let’s take a look! â€“ Jen

“My lettering style tends to vary based on the surfaces I work on,” says Han. For objects like sea glass and slate, she likes to use a thinner calligraphy script. In contrast, she likes to complement agate’s bold colors with thicker downstrokes and thinner upstrokes. “I usually try a few styles and nibs on each surface to test out what looks best,” says Han. “It’s fun to try and bring out the best of each surface!”

Here’s a tip Han shared for writing on non-paper surfaces (since she does that quite often!): Han likes to use rubbing alcohol. “Some surfaces (agate, marble) sometimes have a thin, oily film which repels inks,” she shares. “So if you simply wipe them with a little rubbing alcohol, that removes the film and allows the ink to adhere better.” Han also uses acrylic ink on most of the items to give them some water resistance. “It gets tricky on some surfaces where the ink might pool at the bottom of the downstroke, so just thicken the ink up by either leaving it uncovered for a few hours, or adding some gum arabic, and that should help you control the strokes better.”

By the way, isn’t this a beautiful idea for place cards?! I love these little glass vessels, which channel that message-in-a-bottle vibe with the cork tops. The teeny shells matched with the guests names in calligraphy is such a perfect idea for a beach wedding.

Of course, Han’s calligraphy work on paper is equally stunning. I love the light, romantic feel of her lettering style.

“My favorite recent project was the light bulbs which were for a fun dinner party in the city,” shares Han. “I loved the thickness of the lettering, and the novelty of the surface.”

Thanks so much to Han for sharing her beautiful work and insider calligraphy tips with us!

Photo Credits: All images via Han Cao of Hanwriting

05/25/2017

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ruth Jahja of Seniman Calligraphy

Hey everyone! I’m excited to share some pretty lettering work with you today. What I love in the paper world is when you spot wedding invitation suites that don’t look quite like everyone else’s. And I’m a big fan of seeing calligraphy in places beyond paper. Because why not dress up a celebration with pretty lettering in other places, too?! So here’s a look into the lettering work of Ruth Jahja of Seniman Calligraphy. Let’s hear what Ruth has to share about her experiences as a calligrapher! â€“ Jen

Photo Credits: Tenth and Grace

Ruth Jahja is Indonesian and she came to the United States for her bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture. “Drawing and painting have been something I’ved loved to do since I was a kid but I decided to pursue something a bit more stable for my degree,” she shares. After working for a few years as an interior designer in Los Angeles, she stumbled on calligraphy while trying to find a new hobby. It turned out to be even more fun than she expected, and she wanted practice, so she decided to set up an Instagram account and Etsy shop to make a little extra pocket money. One thing led to another, and after a couple of photographers took a leap of faith and collaborated with her on some styled shoots, more work followed. “Almost a year since I posted my very first Instagram photo, I decided to do this full time and it’s been an adventure ever since,” shares Ruth.

Photo Credit: Tenth and Grace

Where does the name come from? Ruth shares: Seniman means artists and craftsmen in Indonesian, so it’s my little homage to my heritage and a commitment for what kind of work I want to produce.

Photo Credit: Diane McGregor Photography

What a wow statement this giant menu board makes in a reception!

Ruth shares that she prefers a strong contrast between the thick down-stroke and the delicate up-stroke, the bold lines and the bouncy flourishes. “I do notice my writing evolves as my ability to control the medium improves over time,” notes Ruth. “I’m able to work with strokes and curves that feel comfortable and natural to me instead of trying to copy others’ writing.”

“I’m a huge sucker for letterpress and handmade paper,” says Ruth. (Me too!)

Photo Credit: Tenth and Grace

“I love working on non-paper medium â€” from glass/mirror, tile, natural stone, ribbon, and wood,” says Ruth. This bottle of bubbly with her hand lettering is definitely my fave.

Photo Credit: Ether and Smith

Many thanks to Ruth for sharing a sweet peek into her lettering work and work process!

Photo Credits: Seniman Calligraphy except where noted

04/13/2017

Calligraphy Inspiration: Esther Clark

Hello everyone! I’m feeling the spring fever (after a final snowstorm hit here in Maine the first week of April â€” enough!). So I went searching for calligraphy that captures that lightness we all feel when spring has finally sprung. And I discovered the amazing lettering work of Esther Clark. Her light, organic style of calligraphy feels as welcoming as the warm sunshine. Let’s take a look at her work! â€“ Jen

Esther Clark is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and her love of design started early. “I majored in art at college, with an emphasis on printmaking â€” my background in woodcuts still plays a big part in my current work,” says Esther. “Most of my single-color illustrations are influenced by the monochromatic prints I loved making in school.”

Esther shares that her style got started when she drew a floral piece for a tattoo she wanted for herself. “I couldnâ€™t believe how much I enjoyed drawing the delicate blooms and foliage,” she says. “Thatâ€™s when I really honed in on botanical/floral pieces as my main skill.”

Photo Credit: Alyssa Wilcox Photography

How did Esther turn her interest in the art into a job? First, she studied lots of other artists, and she took Skillshare classes. “No matter what, your own handwriting style always influences your calligraphy and makes the words your own,” says Esther.

Esther’s work has evolved since she drew that first tattoo and dabbled in calligraphy. “The thing that has refined my style the most, though, is definitely practice!” she says.

Photo Credit: Alyssa Wilcox Photography

As Esther has developed her calligraphy work, she’s also developed an interest in styling. “I resolved to learn some styling skills myself, which would give me more control over the photos I had access to (especially for Instagram),” she says. “I always start with a beautiful background (linen, cotton, marble, and painted plaster styling boards by Emma Natter of Pilgrim & Co. are my go-tos), lay out my invitation suites, and then fill in as needed with different props and natural elements. Flowers and greenery are a must, but I also use lots of little treasures that I find antiquing/thrifting or at home goods stores.”

What a pretty way to welcome in spring! Thanks to Esther for sharing her lovely work and a bit about her journey as an artist. See you back here soon!

Images by Esther Clark, except where noted

Menu

Search Results for: "calligraphy inspiration"

Calligraphy Inspiration: Kelsey Malie Calligraphy

Calligraphy Inspiration: Emily Rose Ink

Calligraphy Inspiration: Hanwriting

Calligraphy Inspiration: Ruth Jahja of Seniman Calligraphy

Calligraphy Inspiration: Esther Clark