Hey everyone! No time like the holiday season to appreciate the beauty of calligraphy and lettering work. So today I have a treat for you that’s almost as sweet as a warm mug of cocoa topped with marshmallows. New York City calligrapher and creative entrepreneur Sam Teich takes us through a peek of her stunning portfolio, and shares inspiration behind her lettering work. (She had me at her logo, it’s simply so good!). So let’s dive in! – Jen
Sam working her calligraphy magic at Paper Party 2018! Photos by Charlie-Juliet Photography
Sam even wrote on balloons at the party! Photos by Charlie-Juliet Photography
On how she got into doing calligraphy:
“When people ask me how I got started in calligraphy, I usually say that I was a very nerdy kid! I taught myself cursive (in the backseat of a car during a road trip) and always loved decorating letters and trying to copy other people’s handwriting or fonts and logos that I saw. I went to NYU for photography and graphic design, and worked as a photo editor for editorial publications for a number of years before leaving the office life to pursue calligraphy full time nearly 3 years ago.”
Photo Credit: Ebbe Sweet Photography
On what she regularly works on:
“In addition to working on private and corporate projects and custom pieces, I produce and execute live lettering events, and teach regular modern calligraphy workshops.”
On her favorite unconventional projects:
“Paper is great, but I love applying calligraphy to unconventional materials. Denim jackets are always a favorite, and I really love working on sneakers too! I’ve done a few collaborations with the Italian sneaker brand Superga and they’re some of my favorites.”
On collaborating with the Steelers:
“This fall I also collaborated with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a few events and got to create custom jackets for the wives and girlfriends of the players, and custom luggage tags for all of the players’ game day bags! I also hand-painted calligraphy on leotards for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater to wear during the Steelers’ charity fashion show.”
Photo Credit: Nico Schinco for HeyDay
On seeing her work in neon lights:
“I have a neon sign of my writing for the NYC facial shop Heyday that’s not far from where I live in Greenwich Village, so I get to pass by and see that from the street, which is pretty special.”
On teaching calligraphy:
“I find calligraphy is an extremely therapeutic hobby and it’s very rewarding to create something with your hands. It’s very gratifying for me to be able to introduce people to a new way of thinking. Even if it’s not something you’re going to continue with or pursue in a big way, I believe that we should always be challenging ourselves to learn and try new things.”
Big thanks to Sam for sharing some of the fun ways she’s bringing her lettering work to the world! You can also find her over on Instagram.
All photos via Sam Teich, except where noted.
Want to be featured in our calligraphy column? Reach out to us at submissions [at] ohsobeautifulpaper [dot] com with the subject line “Calligraphy Feature” for more details!
