A different kind of writer's block
Monday, January 30, 2006 at 10:49AM There is more than one type of writer's block. Calligraphers experience a form of writers block. Sometimes there is nothing more enchanting than the blank page. When the energy and imagination are engaged it is an invitation spend a day immersed in letters. But there are times when the blank page mocks you. "You're out of practice. You just don't have it anymore. Give up before you humiliate yourself."
I am working on my son's wedding invitation. It is slow going. I am out of practice. I am older now and I feel the effects of fibromyalgia and arthritis. I have lost my confidence. This is not just another project. It's important to me, to him, to my future daughter in law.
This is what calligraphers do when they have writer's block. They attack the blank page randomly; quickly and without a lot of thought to form and arrangement.
And if all else fails, they re-organize all their supplies and clean their desktop and decide to blog about it. . .
Karen, at Sower's Corner, has posted her wedding invitation, lettered in Calligraphy by her mother-in-law. Thanks for sharing that, Karen!
Reader Comments (13)
Kim, that top piece looks nice enough to frame! Calligraphy has not been one of my strong areas. I have always loved looking at calligraphy pieces. My Mother-in-law, is also an artist. She did our invitations. It was such a blessing to me. Maybe I can take a picture of it and show you on my blog. :o)
I'd love to see your wedding invitation! Please do post it on your blog! Maybe it'll give me the boost I need!
I have tried calligraphy a little when I scrapbook. Not very good yet. I think some instruction by someone who knows would benefit me.
Hi Kim,
Probably the most important steps to learning calligraphy are
1. buy the best set of beginner's pens you can afford (I recommend Osmiroid or Platignum)
2. invest a few bucks in your own copy of a calligraphy instruction book (I recommend Beginning Calligraphy or Using Calligraphy by Margaret Shepherd)
3. just keep at it.
Hold on to your earliest attempts--you will be greatly encouraged to see how far you've come when you compare them to more recent efforts.
I'll help you anyway I can. Sometimes it just helps to get some encouragement from another calligrapher.
Oh Kim, It's STILL gorgeous! Keep this in mind...your calligraphy will ALWAYS be better than most people's handwriting! (Even your own! HaHa!) (And especially my doctors'!!) Kath
My handwriting! Arggh! Now that IS another matter, isn't it? :)
I'm going to try to find Sam's Lord of the Rings bookmark I made for him and post it up someday when I need a filler. Have you seen it yet? You'll like it.
Miss you!
Dearest Kim,
You will do a BEAUTIFUL job on those invitations!
Love,
Anna
Wow,... if only I could produce such beautiful stuff under "writer's block". You definitely have a talent.
You're "out of practice"?
Well, it's a good thing then that you have natural talent!
Woah! That is so cool! I wish I could do calligraphy. I'm in the same situation as Kim in ON. Very primitive (and highly questionable) attempts in my scrapbooks.
You'll have to do my kids' invitations for me. ;-)
Calligraphy is beautiful! Even though it is taking a while I am sure your final piece will be wonderful! Honestly, the letters you have posted look great to me!
Thank you for your kind remarks everyone. :)
Kim, I remember when you did my wedding invitations for me back in 1986, and I treasure the memory (and the extra copies I still have!!) You have not lost your talent at all, after 20 years.
Love You!!