Random Calligraphy Thoughts

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It wasn’t until September 2009 that I discovered calligraphy was part of my personal history. I’ve always loved letters; finding out that my great-great grandfather was a sign painter in Ogden, Utah made me love them more. It was like I was destined to love calligraphy. I can’t describe how perfectly timed that gift was. It was like God was telling me that calligraphy was what I was meant to do. It gave me more direction in my life.

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Since getting more involved in calligraphy, I’ve felt even more validated that I’m supposed to be here. Over the summer I attended a calligraphy conference. Spending a week with some of the world’s most amazing calligraphers was incredible and eye-opening.

In art school, I felt like I was somewhat of an outcast because I was in the strange gap between commercial and fine art. My professors nearly failed my BFA final show because it was “too commercial”. It bothered me that they couldn’t see that commercial art can be fine art.

I feel like calligraphy strikes that harmonious balance. The people in the calligraphy community get it, too. There’s a shared love for modern and traditional, commercial and fine art, formal and casual. I love that.

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Here’s a little birthday card I made for my cousin. It’s no fine art piece, but it required the creative process in order to complete. And isn’t that what creating art is about at the end of the day?

What art will you be creating?

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    1. Judy Cornell says:

      Your card is beautiful. Not only is it a wonderful piece of art, what a gift for your cousin.

      You are right there are all kinds of art, and commercial is no less an art form than any other.

    2. Kristin H says:

      Yes, yes, yes! That is exactly why I switched from painting to Art History in college. One too many “you need more detail to make it fine art” critiques turned me to studying art instead of creating it. I was so disheartened that I chickened out of trying for a spot in the graphic design program. What they don’t really tell you in college is that afterward, you can do whatever you want! A degree, with all the fundamentals under your belt, is a fantastic stepping stone into finding a niche for yourself. How awesome is it that you are following in your great great’s footsteps? You’re amazing!

    3. Lindsey D says:

      I love this post! I recently discovered that my great grandmother was an incredible seamstress. She sewed her own clothes, but she also sewed the clothes for most of the people in her home town by hand. When anyone died, she would sew them a beautiful outfit in which to be buried. At the time I read that story, I owned a sewing machine, but I had always been too intimidated by it to attempt sewing. The day I read that story, I pulled it out and decided I was going to give it a try. If she could sew all those clothes by hand, I could at least try to use my sewing machine. Since then I’ve realized that I love sewing, and I’m definitely not very good at it, but I hope some day I get to meet her and I can learn from her.

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