CLIENT: Personal Project,
AD: Prina de Nooijer
This piece is handmade. I used a calligraphy oblique pen holder with a pointed nib (Nikko G) and Sumi Ink. For the watercolor background, I used my Holbein Artists’ Watercolor Paint. I enjoy practicing my calligraphy skills to keep them sharp and refined. I also love the messiness and the tiny imperfections that come with working with ink and paper. It is a different skill set than the digital tools I mostly use for lettering nowadays.
I used some lyrics from one of my favorite songs from the American band, The National. The song “Secret Meeting” revolves around themes of mental health, paranoia, secrecy, and self-reflection. The lyrics delve into the idea of disappearing gracefully in a room, suggesting a desire to escape the scrutiny and pressure. Feelings I struggle with myself from time to time. Because of this theme, I used cooler colors, such as blue, emerald, and purple, from the color spectrum to represent the song’s dark and moody feeling.
I adapted the calligraphy style I used from Bryn Chernoff’s “Introduction to Modern Script Calligraphy” class on SkillShare. (Click the button below to watch the class.)
I mastered brush lettering and calligraphy at the start of my lettering journey, and love to incorporate both styles into my lettering pieces today. Contact me if you’re interested in a custom calligraphy project, such as a wedding invitation, anniversary invitation, or beautifully addressed envelopes.
