Calligraphy HOW WE DO IT & WHY THE COST? Many non-calligraphers don’t realize everything that goes into lettering what may seem a simple piece of writing. One of the misconceptions is that a calligrapher just sits down and proceeds to write, the speed most of us would write a list or a letter.
The learning of our craft compares to learning to play a musical instrument; one cannot sit down to play without years of practice. A calligrapher doesn’t get past the beginner stage by learning from books with the most basic tools, we require proper continual instruction from knowledgeable instructors. Seasoned calligraphers take time and thought to properly produce each stroke of every letter while combining or creating letter styles and changing the layout to add interest to suit the true meaning of the words.
Many of these factor into the pricing of professional looking calligraphy
applicable to cards, quotes, poems; some applicable to wedding stationery
*Initial meetings and/or discussions
*Preparing multiple thumbnails or (not always applicable) professional rough designs
*Fine tuning the preferred design which involves writing out the piece with different nib sizes to ascertain the best size letters and weights, experimenting with different layouts, interlinear spacing, colours, mediums, etc
*Writing out a final rough and taking careful measurements
*Preparing the paper surface (not always applicable)
*Ruling up the final piece
*Preparing inks and mixing paints
*Final lettering of all wording of artwork
*Erasing all lines and proofing
*Cleaning brushes and nibs
*Final meeting
*Office time and expenses
*Final image scan or photography for our files
(Info mainly from Leuan Rees on Cyberscribes)
Often the lettering of the final product is what we‘ve spent the least amount of time on, with more time spent “laying the foundation” for that product. I hope this is helpful insight into the effort and training and therefore the cost behind what may seem like simply writing to those unacquainted with the art of calligraphy.
