At a time when the canvas of many graphic artists is the computer screen, it would seem that the ancient art of calligraphy has lost its relevance. But a dedicated group of those who practice the art of "beautiful writing" say demand for their work has remained steady -- almost a backlash against the uniform and machine-perfect lettering of the computer age.
“It’s been surprising and exciting where my hobby has gone,” says Sandee Sicard, who gained an appreciation of calligraphy as a child from her grandfather. “There’s still people who want things hand done and that keeps us in business.”
Over the years, Sicard has nurtured a small business by creating invitations for a WOOD-TV anniversary gala, a special retirement certificate for a longtime employee of CSX Railroad and even a fancy name on the metal sides of a stock car. She also does contract work for local stationery shops and wedding planners.
Experts say that while calligraphy doesn't require particularly expensive materials or equipment, barriers to entry for taking it up as a business may be the patience and attention to detail it requires. “It’s not really difficult to do calligraphy, it just takes some time to learn and practice,” says Sicard, who also serves as president of the Calligraphic Society of Grand Rapids.
“Most people don’t have a clue what calligraphy is,” says Diane Stum Fekete, president of the 100-member
Michigan Association of Calligraphers, based in southeastern Michigan. “It is a bit of an obscure art and has declined some since the advent of the computer, but now there is a backlash because of all the stuff done by machine.”
The Call of CalligraphyCalligraphyt can be a satisfying hobby or an additional source of income. There are no boundaries on creativity or technique, with everything from announcements, cakes and business cards to wall art, maps and restaurant menus graced with flowing and dramatic letters.
Some calligraphers offer a wide range of services to individuals, media agencies, public relation firms and wedding planners. Others concentrate on letter design for print, advertisements, greeting cards and illumination which is the historically correct reproduction of a highly decorated first letter of a word. All talk about the satisfaction in getting their creative juices flowing and the emotion that goes into the effort.
Stum Fekete says many calligraphers are “old school” and do all their work by hand. Others use the computer as a tool to hone their techniques and experiment before putting pen to paper.
“The Michigan Association offers all kinds of workshops with local and national instructors,” she says. We also have quarterly meetings, juried and non-juried exhibits to help educate the public and a list of calligraphers for hire on our Web site.”
Starting Out YoungIn Grand Rapids, Sicard got hooked as a child when she would watch her grandfather spend his evenings practicing the elegant Spencerian script he had learned.
In the 1920s, Spencerian style writing had been replaced in schools by the Palmer method because it was easier to learn and execute. Her grandfather would have none of it. “He just enjoyed doing the Spencerian and each night would practice with just one letter,” Sicard recalls. “I just loved it and wanted to learn, too.”
Her instruction continued until the age 18, when her grandfather died. After that, Sicard set aside her materials as work, marriage and family came along. It wasn’t until a long recovery from a hospitalization and encouragement from her husband, John, that Sicard resumed her calligraphy.
“I started practicing again and read articles about the different styles. That got it going for me as a hobby,” she adds. “Then a friend asked me to do her wedding envelopes and it just snowballed through word of mouth.”
Open to ExperimentSicard likes the ornamental forms of calligraphy and beyond using the more typical colored pencils, ink and paint, experiments with different designs and writing fluids, such as vegetable oils, dark teas and coffee-based mixtures.
“There are strict calligraphic forms you can follow or use different styles and flourishes to make it your own,” she adds. Some writers grind up berries or flowers to develop special mixtures.
Ada resident Karen P. Cornwell will attest to that. An artist of mixed media all her life, Cornwell tried calligraphy on her own but didn’t like the results. She wanted to incorporate the stylized writing into her signature metal art and finally a calligraphy class led her to the Calligraphic Society of Grand Rapids and some strong support and encouragement from its members.
“I’ve been a member for two years and I’m still a novice who’s not so good with calligraphy, but can create something beautiful,” Cornwell says. “I make a collage with tooling foil and a ball point pen, and the way I do it covers up all the imperfections.”
Cornwell’s work, along with other calligraphy pieces and art by society members, recently was displayed at the Franciscan Life Process Center in Lowell.
“The beauty of the show was that it allowed the society to expose people to calligraphy as an art form, not just fancy writing,” Cornwell says. “Calligraphy looks complicated, but it’s not hard to achieve and even a beginner can create something beautiful.”
While Cornwell has no current displays, she relies on special requests and sales for her customized metal artwork to keep her skills sharp.
Calligraphers say they charge for their work depending on its complexity and time involved. The exhibit at the Franciscan Center carried art that ranged from $50 to $550. Some simply want to express themselves for the artistic pleasure of family and friends.
Paper and InkSociety member Mike Linden makes his own paper to create some of his art and calligraphy, which he learned from reading books and taking community education classes. Linden uses a combination of material, including dried fiber and leaves from iris and hosta plants, which he works on during the summer in a labor intensive process.
“At one of the society’s early meetings we had a presentation which showed Japanese paper making techniques, and I thought I could do that,” Linden recalls. “Then I went to a beginning paper making class and to this day I continue to make a certain amount for basically my own use and displays.”
Still, Linden sold one of his art pieces to First United Methodist Church, where it hangs today. Last year he used his paper to create calligraphy on Christmas cards and envelopes. A retiree from the Amway Corp., Linden used his calligraphy skills to produce a travel memoir for the secretary of Rich DeVos, company co-founder, as well as handwritten art for Helen DeVos.
“I do odd-job projects when people ask me to do something,” Linden says. “This really turned into more then I expected and I don’t think it’s a dying art. It’s very popular.”
The Western version of calligraphy is based on Roman and European methods, with origins going back to the Egyptians and their hieroglyphics. Calligraphy still is popular around the world, especially in Europe, China and Japan. An
international conference for beginners to professionals is scheduled for June 20-27 at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.
For those interested in learning more about the art, the Calligraphic Society of Grand Rapids meets on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss, display and demonstrate the latest techniques in the stylized penmanship. With about 30 members, the society believes there are a lot of closet calligraphers out there seeking a little help. They can find it at the clubhouse in Brookside Village Mobile Home Park, 3130 Slater St. SE, Kentwood. Annual dues are $20.
“It’s strictly up to you as to what you want to learn and we’re always looking for new members," Sicard says. "You get hooked and then you always want to learn something else.”
The organization does not have a Web site, but can be found under “Yahoo groups” at calligraphy _ gr. The local society was formed by Suzy Schwark in 1987 after she ran a newspaper ad looking for “like-minded artists in the Grand Rapids area.” Men and women with a passion for the ancient writing tradition gradually came on board sharing their talent and learning more about the craft.
Kalamazoo also has an organization called
Pen Dragons Calligraphy Guild, which meets once a month.
Photographs courtesy of Michael L. Hale - All Rights Reserved
A veteran journalist formerly of The Grand Rapids Press, Mary Radigan is a freelance writer based in Grand Rapids.