Signs and Logos

Open Sign for The Word is ART Gallery

Closed sign for The Word is ART Gallery Door

These are 2 logos for the same company, a menswear line

Two New Items to Post

Bride and grooms names to insert into invitation type set.

Wedding vows to be framed and presently to wife at first anniversary

The client sent me a letter written by another calligrapher with a wonky layout that he liked.  He wanted to have some of the same for his vows created .  He mentioned that his relationship with his wife was fun and very playful which is why he chose this.  He seemed really pleased with the results.
Created on Arches 90# text wove.

Martin's War

A poem originally written in 1969 with authentic photos of the Viet Nam War

Recently, I was requested to create an original piece in calligraphy, including photos this client took during his tour of duty in Viet Nam in 1969.  This was a poem he had written at the time.

After he carefully and sometimes painfully, shared with me his experience when he had written this poem and took these authentic photos, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to see as the finished piece.  Some things had to be altered according to the authors suggestions but, for the most part, I was extremely pleased that it came out very close to my original design.

I chose warm gray gouache using a pointed pen italic on a natural arches 90# hot press and a coordinating deeper gray mat.  The cut outs for the photos were strategically placed and I added a very thin line on the mat to bring it all together.  Simple, elegant and poignant giving the design a dimensional oneness.  I couldn't have been more pleased and the client agreed.

Sometimes things just come together easily.  I felt, after hearing his experience, that this needed to be a very quiet piece.  It was clear that there was still some healing that needed to be done but also important to acknowledge the experience and gratitude that he had survived and came home to heal the wounds.

I couldn't possible imagine what this man had gone thru, but I could know how an awful experience such as a war where your buddies got shot and died could alter one's perspective about life.  As memories grow dim, one can only hope that you can remember what had changed you for the better and try to leave the rest as just an extremely important experience and learn to heal for the better.

Ten Women Sign

This is a hand painted sign I created on a piece of birch wood to hang over the front counter at Ten Women Gallery on Montana in Santa Monica

The symbol and font type underneath is Ten Womens logo and I added the descriptions in free script.  The designs along the sides are free hand created.

A BIG FAT THANK YOU

I would like to take the opportunity to thank each and every person who has trusted me with their important events and those who have taken a chance and used my calligraphy services for the first time.  Also, to those who have used my services over and over these many years with prudent results which satisfies both of us or all 3 of us. You bless my life each time I create for you with happy results.  With the "not so happy result", just know that I have learned from God's plan and that too, has enhanced my abilities to serve you better.

I've been doing calligraphy for of over 35+ years and I embrace each job with love and hope that I have made a difference in your event and/or project.  I feel blessed to be in this profession and to provide a service that still remains part of history, our present and future art.

Again, thank you...

Recent Projects

A personal poem for my clients wife...My vision was to show the moon and sun together so I chose 2 different metallic gold ink for representation in the circle, watered down the navy for sky and gold specs for stars.  He wanted an anchor but I thought this was more romantic and so did he when he picked it up.

Second poem for this client's mother...She's a lucky woman.  Peonies being her favorite flower and what I chose to paint however inexperience I am at it, it wasn't so bad in the end.  The poem, "A Mother's Love" by Helen Steiner Rice, says it all.  I did it with pointed pen italic.

Unbeknownst to me, my work appeared in Inside Weddings.  The client, Levine Fox Events, gets a lot of play in this magazine.  They are the best at what they do and I've been working with them a long time.

Seating cards at the wedding...the bride and groom.

Choices for a stamp monogram for Zazzle

This was the final choice...

I know I should post more often so I don't have to put several things together on one post but, I'm blessed with lots of different things to create and I love being a calligrapher and mixed media artist.  When given the choice of what to do, I usually choose one of my art projects and not blogging.  Here you have it...true confessions of passionate artist.

Wedding Gift - Words of Love

Just completed a scroll for my client who will be giving it as a gift at their wedding.  I love when men are romantic and think to do things so genuinely loving as giving words of love as a gift. 
It's a beautiful keepsake that can get passed down for generations.  Imagine your mother or grandmother receiving something like this as a wedding gift and to know how deeply she was loved.  It's just one of the most romantic things a man can to do for his bride to be.

Scroll rolled in tissue paper, wrapped in sari silk with a silk flower that can be replaced with real flowers.

A Poem by Nicholas Gordon with an added personal sentiment of love.

A close up of the flourished illumination

This original scroll was created on Arches 90# hot press hand torn making deckle edges which I darkened with linen Distress ink pad.  Written with a pointed pen, my version of a delicate italic in black sumi ink and hand drawn first letter with micro .005 using olive green, gold and plum watercolor to bring in color.  This piece measured 11x17.

Some New Things to Share

An original invitation, gold gouache on Crane stock

Personalized first page of a gifted photo album

Both pages calligraphed in Windsor Newton gold gouache

 and mounted on gold stock

I am now working on gray envelopes in white ink

A close up of my personal script

Adding Calligraphy To My Other Art

This is my space at Ten Women Gallery on Montana in Santa Monica, a co-op of women artists.  I've been a member going on 4 years and seldom sell my calligraphic art except on handmade cards or a few words here and there.  I mostly create other mixed media art such as collage paintings in acrylic, encaustic, plaster and compound, 3-dimensional art with fabric etc. and jewelry, as pictured here.  Doing calligraphy for a living leaves little enthusiasm to continue working in the same medium.  I am a Pisces and need change in my art arena.

Size of my space is 36"x 8'

A closer look at the top portion

A closer look at the bottom portion

I've recently decided to add some other items to sell that do include my calligraphy and was inspired by some paper weights that I've seen.  Here are 2 that I will be bringing into the gallery to hopefully inspire someone to purchase.

A vintage postcard collaged with book page where I did the calligraphic quote

An original watercolor background, added quote and collaged butterfly

I did a few others but haven't photographed them yet.  I'll post them as well.
I'm having fun with these small canvas'.  I will also be creating some magnets and coasters to add to my calligraphic things for sale.  I'm also inspired to add calligraphy to a new painting I'm working on.  Hopefully, I will be able to take all the different mediums I love to dabble in and combine them to create a unique signature.

The Art of Calligraphy

If you are looking to learn pointed pen, then my friend Xandra Zamora is your gal.  She just came back from Dallas after teaching a fabulous class on "Pointed Pen Exploration".  Here's one write up on her class.....
http://letteringartstudio.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/pointed-pen-workshop-with-xandra-zamora/.

There are a handful of calligraphers out here in Southern California that do exceptional work with pointed pen.  Among them are my dear friends, Xandra Zamora of course, Lisa Holtzman and Barbara Close...then least of all myself. I only know this by the amount of work I attract.  I also know this because after years of comparing myself to others I know that I'm a good calligrapher.  I'm modest and can admit I'm not a great calligrapher...but I know I am good.
  
Pointed pen is my tool of choice and I am most comfortable doing lettering with it.  There are incredible calligraphers that do fabulous lettering with all the tools of the trade in So. Cal., but I'm talking about the pointed pen...my favorite instrument of all.

Outside of California, there are too many fabulous calligraphers that I admire and envy for their instinctual abilities.  I have my favorites that I consider over the top talented, creative and filled with expression.  It makes me crazy with wondering why I can't do what they do with our tool in common.  I explore every detail of their work and try to inhale the knowledge and brilliance that they bring to the substrate of choice.  The creativity is awe inspiring and fills me with desire to pick up my pen and follow their lead.

I feel so blessed to be an artist and one that has incorporated calligraphy into my creations which brings a specialized flavor to my art.  I feel privileged to have created a successful profession for myself that continues to enable me to sustain myself financially.  God has truly blessed me in this arena of my life and I am thankful to be among the many people whom I admire the most in life.  I truly think of each and every one of you with gratitude and admiration and will continue to be inspired for the rest of my life.  Thanking all of you in my prayers...I am honored to be considered an artist!

Academy Awards

Academy Award Nomination Certificate for 2012

For the past 13 years, I have had the privilege of creating the Nomination Certificates for everyone who was nominated in each category for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.  This is the certificate given to Thomas Langmann, Producer for the film "The Artist" at a luncheon given in their honor and my personal choice this year to win the award tonight. 
The reason for the personal interest is that the parents of my grandson James worked on the film; Barbara Inglehart as Costume Supervisor along side Costume Designer, Mark Bridges, nominated for Best Costume Designer and Harvey Alperin played the doctor in the hospital in the film.

Last week we all went to FIDM, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, to see the Museum Exhibit of all the costumes that were nominated for the Costume Design category for the Academy Awards.  Seeing them up close is something amazing.

So tonight, we will be sitting on pins and needles with hopes of awards being given to "The Artist" our personal pick this year.

Love Sonnet by Shakespeare

Love Sonnet by Shakespeare

My version of a sunflower, the recipients favorite flower

This is the second time around for this client.  He was so pleased with the first project I did for him, he hired me again to do another.  Once again, I'm honored to say he was very pleased with the results. 

The Begginning of a New Year

Lots of things happen at the start of a new year and one of them is The Building Bridges Award.  This year I tried something a bit new...not much different, but still new.

This piece is 20x24 on Arches 90# cold press using a variety of nibs to accommodate the lettering and gouache in gold, Alizarin Crimson mixture and Winsor Green mixture, of course, black and gold foil.

When I say mixture, I mean the main color plus a little of this and a little of that to create a richer rendition of what is in the tube according to my eyes.  I don't usually use the color straight from the tube since I have so many colors already created from matching PMS colors I just reconstitute what I have and add a little bit more to it to freshen and enhance.

This Award will be presented to the recipient, James B. Steinberg, at the end of February matted and framed .  I am very proud to be part of this award.  For me, it represents peace in the world and honoring people who put their life energy into just that.
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Last Post of 2011

I just did a blog post at my art blog and at Ten Women on Montana Gallery so I'm sort of posted out.  Please visit them to see what's happening in my other art mediums.

Here's my last calligraphy project for 2011.

This is a large piece, 11x17, created as a letter with an old 18th century feel to it.  This gentlemen from Vancouver wanted to convey his love to his girlfriend the old fashioned way.  Not many of these kind of men around these days.
I did a free flowing copperplate with some added handwriting touches to add some texture to it and varied the pressure a bit to give it an authentic feel.  The paper was parchment and aged with a variety of inks and ink pads.
It was a large piece that didn't look right without some artistic touch so I created an originally designed first letter and added gold and alizarin crimson gouache for color.  At the bottom right I created a wax seal from a rubber stamp of a pen nib I had for balance.  I then rolled it up, tied it with sinu then an aged piece of cloth, again tied with dyed silk which I don't have a photo of unfortunately.  I was very pleased with the end result when it was shipped off to my gentleman client.

Wishing everyone the happiest of New Years in 2012.  May we all experinece Peace of Mind and Heart, Clear Intentions, Ease from being over burdened, Perfect Health mentally and physically and to recognize that abundance is our inheritence.  God Bless You and Your Family and may Peace Prevail throughout the world.

Christmas Ornaments for G2 Gallery

Once again, I was asked to create Christmas ornaments with the names of all the supporters and donors to animal causes for G2 Gallery on Abbot Kinney in Venice CA.  These were large matte silver balls and I wrote with paints pens.  If I get a chance, I will swing by the G2 and take some photos of them hanging on display.  I'd actually like to see for myself how they all look hanging together.

Heidi's Wedding Envelopes

 

This was a fun addressing job.  White gouache on kraft envelopes makes a happy combination with a free style script. 

Playful and Free

Playful, free and definitely fun!

Each envelope was just a bit different

 

It's rare that I get a chance to use my own twist to a calligraphy style chosen.  My client, Iris, showed me what she liked and said I could do my own interpretation.  She particularly liked the numbers being bouncy and some being larger than others and the overall look not so uniform.  It was so refreshing not to stick to a guideline and just write.  So, in honor of the opportunity and my generous client, I've named this style "Iris".

A Sign for the Bride

On foamcore board to hang in the church for the brides family

Recent Addressing Jobs

Flourished script 1

Flourished Script 2

Sloop

Sloop 1

All caps