The Calligraphy Podcast

From the large tips on the Tombow dual pens to small point of a Pentel Brush Sign Pen, we're talking all things brush calligraphy. Detailed show notes to come.

Today, we welcome special gust Chantelle Hoffman of Bespoke Strokes. Chantelle shares about how she made the decision to step back from her calligraphy business for a season and what brought her back. You can follow Chantelle on Instagram at @bespokestrokes or visit her website, bespokestrokes.com.

Ever wonder what it's like to go to a calligraphy conference? In this episode we share clips from the 2019 IAMPETH conference and tell you all about what you can expect from a week with fellow pen and ink lovers.

In this episode, we talk about: how to learn a new script why keeping a Beginner's Mindset is the key to learning tips for beginners challenges faced by advanced calligraphers Recommended in this episode: Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield

Nina is a calligraphy teacher and artist renowned for her Live sessions on Instagram and her incredible attention to detail. In this heartfelt chat, we talk about: The journey of a calligrapher- from apprentice to master Why basics matter What it means to 'Pay it Forward' The relationship between a Mentor and Mentee Nina's favorite tools Follow Nina on Instagram here.

One of the biggest streams of income for calligraphers is wedding envelope jobs. In this episode we talk about: how to set up a job, what to charge (yes! We talk real numbers!), tools of the trade and more! Your homework—time yourself! How long does it take you to write an envelope in calligraphy? Tell us your time for a traditional envelope or a modern style envelope.

Do wine, beer or beetles go into inks? Why do metallic inks need to be stirred frequently? Is Iron Gall ink actually bad for your nibs? Are chemical reactions part of ink-making? What kind of ink should we use if we want to create something for our great-great-great-great-great-grandkids? We bring Mr. Fox of Fox & Quills on the show to answer all these questions, and lots more! New ink announcements: Fox & Quills Check out Fox & Quills' ink collection. Codex Sinaiticus Bible Sign-up for summer workshops: Christen's Summer of Script Intro to Copperplate Michael Sull's Spencerian Saga by Washington Calligrapher's Guild

In this episode: How you can OWN your calligraphy journey What makes calligraphy worth pursuing How you can determine if calligraphy will become your career If being a calligrapher means being the best How to deal with judgment Plus, Christen asks a bold question and Ajab shares her vulnerabilities. Books recommended: Think Again by Adam Grant Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield The One Thing by Gary Keller

In the last episode of season 2, we recap the past year of the podcast, share some BIG news and end with two rounds of rapid fire questions. Thanks to all of our wonderful listeners for your support these last few years. We will be taking a few months off to enjoy the holidays and plan for season 3, coming spring 2021.  

At one point or another, we all get asked to create a commissioned piece for a client. In this episode, we break down all the steps from inquiry to delivery and share how we handle projects like this. Watch Martina Flor's Adobe Max presentation – Christen mentioned it when discussing sketches.

*Disclaimer: This episode is not legal advice. We share about copyrights, the public domain and plagiarism in this episode. Consult a legal professional if you have questions about this topic.* In this episode, we talk about plagiarism, copyrights and the public domain. We hope our heart behind this episode comes through–we want to honor and respect fellow artists and those we learn from.  An article we liked about the public domain and copyrights: https://lifehacker.com/these-1924-copyrighted-works-enter-the-public-domain-in-1839612665 A good resources about the public domain: https://copyright.cornell.edu/publicdomain  The difference between copying and learning: https://might-could.com/essays/inspiration-vs-imitation-how-to-copy-as-an-artist/  

In today's episode, we interview Sarah Richardson of Sarah Script. Sarah specializes in Copperplate and Engrosser's Script, in fact, she wrote the book on it! We talk with Sarah about her book and how she overcomes self doubt. Check out Sarah's Instagram Visit Sarah's Website Sign up for Sarah's Classically Copperplate class Buy Sarah's book, Copperplate Calligraphy from A to Z Sign up for Christen's Holiday class

While the coronavirus has us holed up at home, the calligraphy community has adapted and taken to the internet to provide a plethora of online classes. This episode is all about how to plan for and teach a calligraphy workshop online. If you're not a teacher, this episode will put into perspective all the hard work teachers put in to make classes accessible to students across the world.

We use the famous words of Brian Walker, shared by Heather Held, to format today's episode. We talk about resources to study from, tools to practice with, and asked our listeners to reflect on their own experiences and offer up advice to new broad edge calligraphers. Below are the resources we mentioned: Books: Foundations of Calligraphy by Sheila Waters  The Speedball Textbook  Pen Lettering by Ann Camp  Writing & Illuminating & Lettering by Edward Johnston   Calligraphy for Kids by Eleanor Winters  Calligraphy Studio by Christopher Calderhead  The Art of Calligraphy: A Practical Guide to the Skills and Techniques by  David Harris (also has a nice bit about the history of each script with a generous number of colour pictures)  Calligraphy Made Easy: a Complete Beginners Guide by Gaynor Goffe  Websites: Calligraphy-skills.com  Jakerainis.com – blackletter trishiba.com – various manuals Tools: Pilot parallel pen  Speedball nibs  Automatic pens  Mitchell nibs:  Carpenter pencils  Brause nibs  Papers: Cotton Comp, Bond Layout, Gilbert Bond

In part one of our broad edge series, we talk about the basics of broad edge calligraphy–tools, how to get an x height, how it relates to and differs from pointed pen, and more.

What do government certificates, tied ribbon, Punjab and Hebrew calligraphy, and the public domain have in common? All of these topics are covered in a single episode. This week, we posted an "Ask Us Anything" question on Instagram and you truly did ask us everything! We answer a bunch of questions. We hope this episode makes you feel like you are sitting next to us, catching up over tea and talking about everything under the calligraphy sun.   This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com for 5% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions.

In this episode of The Calligraphy Podcast, we had the honor of chatting with Heather Held, known for her stunning offhand flourishing and florals and her knowledge of the Italian Hand. Learn about the history of Italian Hand and hear Heather's journey of falling in love with calligraphy. Connect with Heather... Instagram: @heathervictoria1 Blog: http://inkflourishes.blogspot.com/ Website: http://inkflourishes.blogspot.com/ Studio tour: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCWRGzgDBeJ/

Sometimes we just need a little pep talk to remind us that we are worthy of pursuing this art, working professionally and contributing to the calligraphy community. It may sound silly, but there are many ways we as artists doubt ourselves and on this episode we talk through some of these pain points so we can face them head on. Feel free to come back to this episode when you just need someone to cheer you on! Christen recently gave an online presentation/demo about the podcast envelope exchange. You can watch it here! Want to check out the pens Christen has in her Paper and Ink Arts cart? Find the Lamy fountain pen here and the flexible Le Pen here. This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com for 10% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions.

We asked YOU, our amazing listeners, about the small businesses who create your favorite inks, pens, papers and other supplies. We got an incredible response, and while we couldn't share every single maker on this episode, we created a spreadsheet with all of their info. View the spreadsheet at tinyurl.com/TCPartisans. 

Today, we welcome IAMPETH Master Penman Jake Weidmann on the show. Join us as Jake shares about his calligraphy journey, his favorite condiments and advice for calligraphers of all levels. You can follow Jake @jakeweidmann. Visit his website: jakeweidmann.com Visit Everyday Heirloom at https://everydayheirloomco.com/ Visit Jake's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Jmweidmann Watch Jake's TED Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofj18vLdHug https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85bqT904VWA   This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com for 10% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions. This episode is sponsored by IAMPETH, the International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting. Learn more at IAMPETH.com.  

Stay tuned for a special episode with artist and master penman Jake Weidmann. The full interview will be available July 6. Music credit:Meekness by Kai Engel, used under Creative Common license CC BY 4.0 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kai_Engel/Sustains/Kai_Engel_-_Sustains_-_02_Meekness

Ink stirrers, triangles, footballs, oh my! Pens and inks aside, tune into today's episode to hear about the tools that help you do your best work. Laser liner video Laser liner blog Laser liner Ames Lettering Guide blog Ames Lettering Guide Water dish Eraser guard Light box T-square Envelope drying rack Ink Stirrer David Grimes Leather Blotter Phantom Line Guide This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com for 10% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions.

Today we had the honor of speaking with Dr. Joe Vitolo, one of the most well known and humble calligraphy teachers and educators in our community. Dr. Joe shared about his experience in the calligraphy world and even gave us the historical answer to the great debate...is it Copperplate, Engrossers Script or English Roundhand? Grab your notebook because you'll be jotting notes down all episode long. Check back for detailed show notes featuring images from Dr. Joe.

If you want to go on a calligraphy deep dive, The Flourish Forum is the place to be. We talk with Erica McPhee, the founder of the Flourish Forum, to learn about this welcoming and educational online resource. The Flourish Forum is open to anyone interested in calligraphy and has hundreds of conversations threads all about calligraphy. You can ask questions, share work or participate in one of their many envelope exchanges. Visit theflourishforum.com to sign up. Follow Erica on Instagram @flourishforum. This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com in April and May 2020 for 10% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions.

In today's episode, we talk about what it means to find your calligraphy style. In this episode, we mentioned this book, great for being inspired and learning how to analyze scripts. Edward Johnston's Writing & Illuminating & Lettering. - 1906: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.105487/page/n5/mode/2up  This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com in April and May 2020 for 10% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions.

Today's episode is about social media–not from a business perspective, but from a friendship perspective! Social media has opened up many avenues for collaboration, accountability and friendship amongst calligraphers. We're here to talk about how you can connect and nurture conversations and relationships with fellow calligraphers. Join us for our very first calligraphy exchange! Sign up at tinyurl.com/TCPmail.  This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com in April and May 2020 for 10% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions.  

During a recent survey that we conducted, Suzanne Cunningham was one of the most requested guests. Well, we listened to you! In this candid and memorable episode, Suzanne shares how she found clients (and vice-versa), her process and favorite supplies, and some amazing advice for calligraphy beginners. For links to Suzanne's favorite tools, go to https://tinyurl.com/s2e3-suzanne Stay in touch with us on Instagram!

Before the bells start ringing, take time to do some wedding planning of your own. In this episode, Christen and Ajab share tips on how to prepare for wedding season. From prepping pricing guides to setting up automatic systems, we'll talk about ways you can plan for success in your business. We talked about Calendly, a way to schedule your time. This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com in April and May 2020 for 10% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions.

Maybe you took a break for the holidays, the summer or a busy season. Either way, sometimes it can be hard to bounce back and feel motivated to practice calligraphy. We asked you for your best tips for getting back in the saddle and progressing your calligraphy. Learn more about Morning Pages: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com in April and May 2020 for 10% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions.

The Calligraphy Podcast is coming back! We've been working behind the scenes to bring you another great season, starting March 16. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you can be the first to know when we are live.   Sound credits:  "Ambience, Seaside Waves, Close, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of freesound.org "12- Swimming Fast" by 14GPanskaValaChristoffer of freesound.org

We started from the bottom, now we're here. Less than a year ago, Christen and Ajab decided to venture into the podcast world with The Calligraphy Podcast. In this final episode of Season 1, we talk through each episode and share some of our favorite moments from the show. Stay tuned for more episodes coming in 2020. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram @thecalligraphypodcast.

Take a look at your calligraphy library–is the Speedball Textbook sitting on your shelf? In this last interview of season one, we sat down with Randall Hasson, the co-editor of the 24th edition of the Speedball Textbook. Randy shares about his own art and experience working on the book. You'll hear about show cards, the history of Speedball nibs and how the book evolved to the place it is today. You can find Randy at hassonstudio.com.

From Thanksgiving feasts to holiday cards, this episode is devoted to all the ways you can make calligraphy part of your holiday traditions. We discuss project ideas, client work and personal pieces that will make your home merry and bright. Thanks to justkiddink for the jingle bells.

With calligraphy on the rise, more and more penmen and women are turning their art into a business. We asked our listeners to help us get a grasp of what the calligraphy business climate is like. Are you full-time or part-time? How long have you been in business? What kind of work do you do? These are all questions we asked and YOU answered. We end the show by sharing listener submitted advice for those starting their own business. Follow us on Instagram @thecalligraphypodcast.

After practicing letterform after letterform, it's time to put those strokes to work! Today we are talking about how to layout a calligraphy art piece. From centering, to learning how your eyes trick your mind, we talk about how we approach a blank page, set up our guides, margins and more. For show notes, visit tinyurl.com/ep16-calligraphypodcast Follow us on Instagram @thecalligraphypodcast.

We bring you our second international guest on the show–Hoang Dao of Vietnam. Hoang, a calligrapher, pen maker and artist, is a true inspiration to the calligraphy community. On today's episode, we talk about how Hoang got started in calligraphy, how he approaches his practice and how he made the most of what he had when he started his calligraphy journey. Spoiler–Christen goes bananas when she hears Hoang's tip for prepping handmade paper! You can find out more about Hoang at huyhoangdao.com. 

Today we hear the inspiring story behind Kalo Make Art right from the source. From approaching new scripts to starting a business, we talk about it all from today's special guest Kalo Chu from Hong Kong. You can follow Kalo at @kalomakeart or @shop.kalomake art. You can visit her website at kalomakeart.com

Ajab and Christen get real about how often they practice (and how long their warm ups take!) We all know it is important for amateurs and professionals alike to practice calligraphy, but sometimes we need a little direction in how to set up an efficient practice session. Listen for tips and tricks for stepping up your practice game. Grab the Lowercase Practice eBook here. Download the Basic Guide to Calligraphy Warmups here. Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher

We welcome Dave of Perfect Biscuits and Posted Letter to talk with us about the cases for keeping cursive I school. As a tribute to calligraphy, Posted Letter is offering our listeners 20% off their order of the most recent letter. Visit postedletter.com/tcp and use promo code TCP20. 

It all started with an Instagram survey. We polled our audience on Instagram and learned that like us, many of you keep your old nibs even when they are unusable. After the survey, we knew we needed to talk about the quirks we have as calligraphers. In the episode, we mention the velocity of a pen. Learn more here. Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher

Experimenting with new inks is a great way to branch out in your calligraphy journey. Whether you're a sumi lover like Christen, or a walnut ink fan like Ajab, you'll be sure to find the best ink that suits you. And if you're drinking wine or coffee while you write, your beverage can double as your ink pot! Show Notes: tinyurl.com/dipping-in-ink 03:10 - Sumi ink 08:25 - Walnut ink 13:05 - Higgins Eternal Ink 15:45 - McCaffery's Ink 18:00 - Historic Iron Gall Ink 19:00 - Noodler's Fountain Pen Ink 20:20 - Ziller's Acrylic Inks 19:22 - Pelikan 4001 inks 21:45 - Gouache (Winsor & Newton) 24:50 - Payne's Gray Watercolor 25:30 - Ecoline Watercolor Inks 28:30 - Writing with Beverages Check us out on Instagram  Don't forget to Subscribe!

InkSlinger Pen Holders are known for their clean, minimal design and excellent functionality. In this episode, we get to the nitty-gritty of making calligraphy pen holders. Dan of InkSlinger Pens shares his heritage as a woodworker, what inspired him to adapt pen-making as a full-time career, and more! 05:40 - What is a pen holder 06:20 - Pen holder materials  09:25 - The pen-making process 12:08 - The wood that makes Dan's studio smell heavenly 12:40 - What makes a good pen holder 15:32 - Why size matters 17:07 - What to consider what buying a new pen holder 20:45 - Taking care of your pen holder 28:33 - Where to grab InkSlinger pens  30:53 - Dan's Booger Collection   Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/y2ht988g

What's up podcast? Study and reading are important parts of learning calligraphy. In this episode, #calligranerds Christen and Ajab share their favorite calligraphy books. You'll also hear comments from our listeners who have great resources for you to study from. View Show Notes here: https://tinyurl.com/y3pfjxsv Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher

Calligraphy conference and workshop season is upon us, which means traveling with pens and ink in tow. In addition to Christen Ajab sharing advice, our listeners call in with their best tips for traveling with calligraphy supplies. View show notes at: tinyurl.com/ep07-calligraphypodcast Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher

From metallic powders, to brush pens, to real 24 karat gold, you can add shimmer to your work at all levels of calligraphy experience. In today's episode, we talk about our favorite metallic products and offer tips on how to use them. View show notes at: tinyurl.com/ep6-calligraphypodcast Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher

We've all been there. Your nib snags. Your nib won't write. Ink drops on the paper. Your back hurts from hovering your nose over your work. Christen and Ajab talk about common setbacks when learning calligraphy and share the solutions to common problems. View show notes at: tinyurl.com/ep5-calligraphypodcast Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher  

Traditionally, calligraphy is written on paper, but in this episode, we branch outside of the notebook to talk about writing on non-traditional surfaces with our guest Marisa Jackson of Marisa Made. From glass to wooden ornaments, we talk about prepping surfaces, tools of the trade, and the special job of creating calligraphy for clients. Marisa is a professional calligrapher and artisan in West Virginia who has lots of experience selling her art in a variety of forms. She's an incredible advocate for her son Maxwell, who was diagnosed with FoxG1 syndrome. Marisa is a huge asset to the calligraphy community and we are excited to share her story and experience in today's episode. View show notes at: tinyurl.com/ep4-calligraphypodcast Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher  

As you dive into your calligraphy journey, you'll discover many tools and supplies for creating letters. In this episode, Christen and Ajab take you through a mini tour of their studios and share how they store and care for their supplies. After sharing about all the different options out there, your hosts get down to business "desert island" style and share their absolute must have supplies. View show notes at: tinyurl.com/ep03-calligraphypodcast Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher  

Calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing. It's a single word that covers a breadth of styles, scripts, tools and preferences. In this episode, Ajab and Christen unpack the iceberg of a question, "what is calligraphy?," and share about the different types of calligraphy we will often chat about on the podcast. The kicker: we want you to weigh in on Instagram. What does calligraphy look like to you? Do you write with a brush pen or a broad edged pen? Pencil, ink or paint? Tell us about the kind of writing you are most passionate about. At the end of the day, whatever the style, whatever your preference, we're all here to share the love of beautiful writing.  Show notes: Comparison of Pointed Pen Scripts Writing with a Brush Pen Follow The Calligraphy Podcast on Instagram You can also follow Ajab and Christen @calligraphyquill and @thecalligrapherchristen Please take a moment to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and leave us a rating and review. We truly appreciate every kind word and set of 5 stars! Listen and Subscribe below: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher  

Thanks for listening to the inaugural episode of The Calligraphy Podcast. After taking a few moments to introduce you to the show, your hosts Ajab and Christen dive right into the first topic that is perfect for beginners. Learning calligraphy on your own can be challenging. How do you know when to change a nib? What style should I learn? How do I hold my pen? Wait, I have to prep my nib? These are all questions Christen and Ajab had when starting out. If you're a beginner, this episode will help you move past the early struggles and grow in your calligraphy. If you're a veteran scribe, chime in to empower those just starting their journey in pen and ink.  A few notes from today's show: How to prep your nib using the potato method We mentioned Heather Held, who does beautiful illumination and flourished florals. Check out her work. Follow The Calligraphy Podcast on Instagram You can also follow Ajab and Christen @calligraphyquill and @thecalligrapherchristen Please take a moment to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and leave us a rating and review. We truly appreciate every kind word and set of 5 stars! Listen and Subscribe below: iTunes Spotify Google Play Stitcher