How to become A Calligraphy Artist

Calligraphy is music for the eyes. Calligraphy Artists are those wizards who design and use artistic letterforms, in multiple disciplines, to create graphically powerful expressions.

• Calligrapher
• Penman
• Lettering Artist

What do Calligraphy Artists do?

A Calligraphy Artist would typically need to:

• Create artistically attractive texts and lettering, using different tools like markers, pens, and pencils
• Accentuate the effect of poetry, letters, and quotes; write portions of diplomas, certificates and invitations
• Think artistically, use design sense, employ both traditional and virtual mediums to create multiple rough drafts, and then a final polished product without any inconsistencies of space and text
• Select materials to be used based on color, texture, strength and other qualities
• Develop innovative ideas or methods to create art, using visual techniques such as composition, color, space, and perspective to produce the desired effect
• Build portfolios showcasing artistic styles and abilities to potential employers
• Complete grant proposals and applications to obtain financial support for projects

You have the option to work in a Calligraphy studio or as a freelancer. Working conditions are as varied as the types of projects that Calligraphy Artists can create. The work requires sitting down for hours as you wield your tools. A business casual dress code is standard unless otherwise specified.

Freelancers may find the workflow inconsistent, but the working hours flexible. Regular employment will usually means fixed work timings. Deadlines could mean working beyond regular hours.

Freelancing is common in the field of Calligraphy.

Calligraphy Artists are generally employed by:

• Wedding Planners or Agencies
• Educational Institutes
• Graphic Design Firms
• Greeting Card Companies

Several websites and organizations offer professional certification and distance learning courses. Becoming a member of your local Calligraphy guild is a useful way to find friends, mentors, and professional contacts. International online guilds are also beneficial.

Guilds may contain some of the area’s most notable and accomplished scribes, as well as a number of newcomers looking to dip their pen for the first time. Membership to guilds may come with opportunities to attend workshops and annual conferences as well as access to professional listings, insurance information, and networking opportunities.

• Managing work-life balance
• Investment of time for daily practice
• Hand cramps caused by the constant use of hands and health issues from long periods of sitting
• Work usually done in isolation
• Maintaining a creative mindset in the face of low prospects of stable employment

Formal internships are minimal, and options to gain experience are limited. Constantly learning from various sources, practicing, and building a portfolio are the ways to gain experience. Joining as a trainee under a professional Calligraphy Artist can help expand skills and garner experience.

In the absence of any particular academic requirements to enter or excel in this field, formal training can be extremely beneficial. Bachelor’s degree programs in the fine arts may offer Calligraphy electives that equip you with much sought-after skills and techniques like italics, flourishes, and copper presses. Since most Calligraphy Artists are self-employed, elective courses in marketing, finance, and accounting will come in handy.

Certification from an objective and reputed organization can help you gain the professional credibility and stand out in the job market. It will help demonstrate your competency in Calligraphy, typically by validating your work experience, training, or passage of an examination, which increases your clientele and helps you become an independent consultant or a reputable freelancer.

Websites and organizations offer professional certification and distance learning courses. Membership to guilds may come with opportunities to attend workshops and annual conferences and access to professional listings, insurance information, and networking opportunities.

Working for a Calligraphy studio versus pursuing independent entrepreneurship as a freelancer offers its own set of potential benefits. Your choice has to depend on your career goals. In either case, the clientele and pay determine where you stand on the career ladder. You may even choose to teach Calligraphy to a set of students.

Those who are up-to-date with new tools and are good at promoting themselves have the best prospects.

Taking courses and attending workshops regularly throughout one's career can help a Calligraphy Artist stay up-to-date on current industry trends and learn about new tools and supplies. Calligraphy guilds and professional organizations, like the Society of Scribes, offer Calligraphy seminars and workshops open to the public or organization members.

The International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH) offers online lessons to aspiring Calligraphy Artists to supplement formal training and serve as an additional resource for information. All Calligraphy Artists should ideally possess a professional portfolio that showcases the best examples of their work.

Application & Versatility

Calligraphy Artists specialize in handwriting and use the craft for commercial purposes. They may use a variety of inks and other mediums to create their masterpieces. Calligraphy may be used in different categories: pen-written or brush Calligraphy, vivid image or custom typography, hand-lettering, illumination by hand, handwriting as a visual element, classic lettering with a twist, alternative lettering, custom-made lettering or visual expression.

Work from Home - or in the White House!

A Calligraphy Artist may be self-employed, work in a corporate environment, or even work in the White House, penning invitations to special events or awards. Self-employment requires multitasking like inventory tracking, filling of orders, finding new clients, and answering emails. Artistic and business skills need to be continuously balanced.

Viability - Some Downs and Some Ups!

The demand is not very high for this job, and neither is its stability. The competition is fierce, and only excellence can ensure good prospects. There are only a few studios that will hire Calligraphy Artists regularly. Even so, Calligraphy has steadily been making inroads into various other fields. It has become an essential part of design, graphics, and typography. Calligraphers have also been integrating into other areas such as fashion design and interior decoration.

Potential Pros&Cons of Freelancing

Being a freelancer offers freedom in regards to flexible schedules, working hours and location. Freelancer Calligraphy Artists have full ownership of the business and can afford selectivity in terms of the variety of projects and clients. On the flip side, lack of stability and security is just as much a possibility as unlimited earning potential. Freelancing spells out increased responsibility, effort, and risk. Self-employment tax may become the bitter reality only as paid holidays, sick/maternity/paternity leave, and any eligibility for employment benefits turn into distant dreams. A Calligraphy Artist who chooses to be a full-time employee has access to company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Boredom is compounded by the inability to pursue passion projects due to lack of time or effort, lack of flexibility and lack of ownership. Lack of variety and the need to allocate extra money for commuting and attire weigh against full-time employment.

As a general rule of thumb, calligraphic strokes going up on the page should be thin while strokes going down should be thick.

Though Calligraphy Artists require tremendous patience and perseverance, the job is a dream for those with an artistic flair. If you have an eye for art, a mind for creativity, and fingers that can wield the pen flawlessly, this is the job for you.

Remember the five virtues of Calligraphy: accuracy, literacy, a steady hand, industriousness, and the perfect writing utensils.