| arts & culture |
Write Stuff The
by NELLY KISLYANKA
The term calligraphy comes from the marrying of two Greek words, “kallos” (meaning beauty) and “graphein” (meaning to write). But calligraphy is more than beautiful handwriting—it’s an ancient art form practiced in cultures all over the world, like China and India, each developing its own aesthetic. Hand lettering had to compete with the invention of printing, but calligraphers today continue the tradition with mediums like wedding invitations, diplomas, custom artwork, and even tattoos. Meet six local artists who have made a business of it.
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stylemg.com
| MAY 2021 |
What attracts you to lettering/ calligraphy?
I love that words and art bring meaning to our lives. Words inspire, comfort, connect, and clarify— they express who we are, how we feel, and what we’re thinking. When an artist merges
design elements with letters, their creations give a new dimension to the alphabet.
ROCKLIN calligraphers and painters; I’ve found joy along the way to share lettering with students, clients, and the community.
How did you develop your skills? What’s your most notable My ongoing achievement? pilgrimage has led me to study with more than 65 international
Winning the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award
for my first lettering book (selfpublished) and going to Washington, DC, for the awards ceremony. The next year, my book was enlarged and published by Mango Publishing as Lettering from A to Z: 12 Styles and Awesome Projects for a Creative Life.
Lonna Yen GRANITE BAY
inkfurie.com, @inkfurie What attracts you to lettering/ calligraphy?
The intrinsic beauty and rich history of the written word have always appealed to me. Calligraphy allows me to slow down and step away from digital ephemerals with a mindful intention to create lasting experiences
/stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags
of intimacy and authenticity.
fascinated by the deliberate rhythm How did you develop and flow of every movement. The your skills? precision was, and I’m self-taught still is, beautiful. with a penchant for modern and What’s your Engrosser scripts. I remember spending most notable achievement? countless hours I’m deeply humbled online watching by the success master penmen of my LetterInk execute letter Guide, which is after letter. I was
a calligrapher’s companion tool for envelope addressing and is stocked by stores in the U.S. and abroad. Every design element and manufacturing specification were meticulously pored over to create a tool that allows calligraphers to draw guidelines in seconds.
Photos courtesy of their respective companies or organizations.
6 Modern Calligraphy Masters
Phawnda Moore
journalismdesign.net @phawnda.moore calligraphyanddesignbyphawnda
