A Good Problem To Have: Balancing Lettering and Calligraphy

Mid-summer is here…

That means, the end of the summer is just around the corner. The back-to-school sales will be upon us any second, followed by the memes of teachers trying to run for the hills.

Well, I have a few more big plans to round out my summer…But, aside from them, the only other plan I have involves taking a pretty good breather before the school year kicks up again. Fortunately, keeping my hands warm with lettering and calligraphy still counts as a breather…

It’s said that you should focus on one discipline at a time. The general consensus is that it’s much easier to master a discipline when you choose to focus on one.

I just don’t think it’s going to be my way.

I’m sure it’s pretty obvious now that I got bit something fierce by the calligraphy bug. I blame that lovely Ink Me This Engraver. 🥰

Between engraving, Copperplate, flourishes, pyrography, foiling, florals and Spencerian script, I have plenty to keep my hands warm until my next event!

In my free time, at night, when everyone goes to bed, I’ve been playing around with Bleed Proof White, ink stirrers, guides and lasers to see which I enjoy working with most and to keep perfecting the letterforms.

Turns out, pointed pen is as relaxing as it is challenging. I really like it!

I’m also still building and using my awesome bottle collection for engraving…and while I am certain glass will be my mainstay…

…I’m just as certain the occasional alternative surface will keep finding its way to my desk.

Then too, I have my sketchbook and pencils that I’ve been anxious to get back to as well. Lately, I have been using my sketchbook mainly for floral drawing practice and thumbnails while I did most of my lettering on the iPad.

I definitely enjoy lettering on the iPad. But, I prefer to explore lettering more in my sketchbook before I get there. It’ll be nice to be able to get back to that as the summer begins to wind down.

All in all, I really think the most difficult work I’ll have cut out for me the rest of this summer will be answering the question, which medium am I working with next?!

Meh. It’s a good problem to have. 👍🏾