Tag: calligraphy

Lifes a Wheel of Fortune

 

When we take the time to think about it life is really a wheel of fortune. At times we get a chance to spin it and other times we are waiting our turn. When we do get a turn we tend to not spin the wheel as hard as we can. Then we end up on something that we could really careless about. So when it is your turn to spin the wheel make sure you spin it as hard as you can.

These are weekly videos that I have been doing for about a month so far. I upload them every Monday (well when I manage time correctly). I may do one in real time and show the full process. Which would be a good thing for you all to see how my process is.

Below is the completed piece.

If you chose not to decide

 

Remember this and keep it in your thoughts. Do your best to not be afraid of making a choice. Because its so easy to fall into the habit of hoping for a better day and etc. More so hoping for your problems to go away. Which we both know that is not going to happen. Face your problems or whatever your going through head on and you’ll be glad you did in the end.

My Hand will always

When I first heard this quote from Margaret Kilgallen it was an eye opener. A great example is in our design work,calligraphy,lettering we focused so much on getting everything crisp and clean. Not to say having clean and crisp design/lettering,calligraphy work is bad. More so that you can try and try to get your lines straight but it will never be straight.

Therefore that is where the beauty is. If you look at something that is hand done it captures a different essence to it. The feeling of not being done by a machine lacks certain aesthetics. Lets take hmm a Renaissance  painting and compare it to a digital painting. The painting from the Renaissance will evoke more feeling of human like quality to the piece.

While the digital painting will have a mechanical feel to it. But this is could be up to debate for many people. I just want you to realize that the importance of having a human aspect to your work will allow you to invest yourself even more into it. Because if you look at someones lettering or calligraphy really close you can see the line waver.

Maybe from afar it looks amazingly beautiful. When close up you notice the flaws better. This involves training your eyes to be able to spot certain things. Another thing is with other aspects of lettering,calligraphy and graphic design.

How to get started Learning Calligraphy part 1

 

When I first learned about calligraphy I had no idea how to get started. The same thing can be said for many other hobbies/professions. Because we see the work of others and have no idea where to start. Well I’m going to tell you how in a series of posts.

First you want to determine what type of calligraphy you want to do. Meaning did you want to do. Meaning did you want to just learn calligraphy for the heck of it. You may be how I was at first I was amazed at flourishes. But lets stay on topic here.

Of course gathering materials is key with this. Because when you first start out you may want to go and buy the most expensive calligraphy set you can and by the best paper and pens you can afford. Well that’s not what you want to do. You may ask why not? I want to use the best material possible.

The reason I say not to is because for one you don’t have a lot of experience. Then second you may say screw this I don’t want to keep practicing calligraphy. Third you may end up quitting all together.

A recap of getting started with calligraphy

  1. Determine why you want to do calligraphy.
  2. Do your research about the history (watch a few documentaries and read articles)
  3. Do not spend a lot of money starting out

 

Stay tuned for part 2 of getting started with calligraphy tomorrow.

Knowledge is the new money

This could not be more true today then before. The more knowledge you have just think of how much more valuable you are. But as I have said before you can know everything in the world but if your not applying it then its useless.  Because you can procrastinate on that web design project or logo design project. Maybe your just lazy frustrated that you have not progressed in your work quality.

Well going back and reviewing the rules of design does no harm. Knowing the rules and etc will only help make you better. Then you have to realize that being just a graphic designer is not going to cut it. So therefore learn a skill that will help you create a niche for yourself. For me as you all may know I have been learning web design and calligraphy. Which I really just went to school for graphic design.

The reason I chose calligraphy and web design is because one calligraphy is not something you’d expect a graphic designer to be able to do. Also the upsurge of hand lettering coming back. So in the hand lettering niche I chose calligraphy to specify. Web design I chose it because its a skill that is needed now. Although at times learning web design can get frustrating I don’t give up.

Remember this and you’ll be alright

Don’t wish it were easier wish you were better – Jim Rohn