Calligraphy as Art

Ever since I was a young adult back in high school, I was enchanted with the art of calligraphy. Historically, it was a decorative form of writing using elaborately detailed borders and graphics. Accented by gold leaf, the manuscripts shined in the candlelight thus getting the name of "Illuminated" manuscripts. Before the invention of the printing press, scribes and illuminators worked many long hours to create the large magnificent manuscripts carefully preserved in churches, libraries and museums all over the world.

As I practiced and studied the samples I found in books and workshops, I discovered that this skill is not just a way of writing, but an art form in itself. When I joined the San Diego Fellow Calligraphers I discovered what the modern calligrapher can do these days. Modern pieces are now more artistic. Lavish swirls of color and embellishments created by pen and brush cover the pages in letters and script as the artist sees fit.

We are lucky that we don't have to use the tools, nor prepare the animal skins like the scribes of old. The parchment was from sheep or goats, and the vellum used came from calves. The skins had to be soaked in vats of lime to clean them. They were stretched, treated and scraped clean before it could be cut to size and rolled up until it was needed. One only needs to study the huge hymnals, bibles and historical documents to see how clever these talented illuminators and scribes were.

Calligraphers today are able to purchase artificial vellum and parchment readily available in pads, rolls and large individual poster-size sheets. Parchment paper and vellum also come in a several shades and textures. When I was stationed in England, I found special stationery stores that sold reams and sheets of beautiful vellum paper. Carefully rolled up in their individual tubes carriers, they have survived many moves from Europe to America without any damage or deterioration.

Yes, we have it good these days. Medieval scribes had to cut quills from the flight feathers of geese, swans or turkeys in order to have the right tool to write with. Each feather was cut and shaped with a pen knife. It was also handy as quills needed to be trimmed often during use. Scribes used a sloping board that was usually propped by another piece of wood so that they could write comfortably. The Ink had to be ground and specially prepared. Today, a trip to the local art store is usually all we need to acquire the various pens, nibs, inks, paper and suitable drawing table that has an adjustable, slanting table top.

It's not an expensive hobby and if inclined, this creative skill can be used for profit. I was recently commissioned to do a number of certificates, carefully adding names, locations and dates in clean black calligraphic lettering. With the use of an inexpensive light box and my calligraphic pens, I was able to fill in the details on each certificate easily and in little time. I have also dabbled in embellishing quotes and lyrics into artwork suitable for framing and sold a few at shows and on commission.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a calligrapher, head to your local library, art store and do some research on the Internet. There are also calligraphy guilds all over the world that offer inspiration, training, workshops and assistance. Almost every major city has a calligraphers guild and those guilds hold exhibitions of their work several times a year. Good luck!