Published on October 5, 2011
It can't get more offbeat than this! Calligraphy – the art of beautiful
writing – opens a unique career option to write words in different
stylish and creative ways.
Creating fancy scripts with various flat and oblique
nibs is at the least, a very expressive profession that offers a chance
to unleash your artistic potential. “The physical feel of writing is
such a joy to me. I get swept up in this process which is almost
meditative”, exclaims passionate calligrapher and professional trainer,
Cherrell Avery.
Calligraphers can do wonders with
their skills – impart a touch of class to written work and make even the
most basic words look interesting!
Career Possibilities
Take your pick from a wide palette of services like –
designing greeting cards, invitations, announcements, certificates,
business cards, menus and decorative books to logos, monograms, posters,
motivational art prints or even titles for magazines and films. The
increasingly diverse applications also extend to paintings, maps, and
legal documents, cut stone inscriptions, ceramics, memorial documents
and other handmade presentations.
Some professionals
make a living by just addressing envelopes while others choose to
propagate the art by conducting calligraphy classes and workshops. Still
others create and sell beautifully lettered artwork and other
merchandise. A wacky option is body art designing in conjunction with
tattoo artists!
You can work part-time, freelance,
start your own business, specialise in private commissions or obtain
employment in printing shops, greeting card companies, publishing houses
or even with wedding planners.
Many argue that
calligraphy is a dying art what with the almost ubiquitous use of
computers and digital media today. But noted calligrapher and graphic
designer, Rohan Rawat, argues: “Calligraphy has existed for centuries,
but is relevant even today. It has a rich heritage, yet is being adapted
to the digital media as well”.
Calligraphy now forms
an integral part of various other fields like design, graphics and
typography. Typeface (font) design, desktop wallpapers, manuscript
design, hoarding design, signboards, packaging design, illustrations,
fine arts and props and moving images for films, television and
advertisements use calligraphy for both pen-based and computer-based
variations.
What's more, this budding profession is being integrated into the fields of fashion and interior designing too.
Is it right for you?
Calligraphy demands an artistic mind with a creative
bend and passion for lettering. A steady hand, an eye for detail and a
vivid imagination is imperative. “In order to be a good calligrapher,
you must have the driving desire to create beautiful images, motifs,
symbols. An aesthetic sense and gauge of artistic balance is necessary.
While these skills can be cultivated over time, they are also partially
innate,” says calligraphy student Sonal Mathijia.
It
takes patience and perseverance to diligently hone and master this
artistic skill. Practising with concentration and determination alone
will perfect your serif, so to speak! You should also be comfortable
working with different mediums (paper, digital, merchandise), colours
and relevant designing software.
World renowned
calligrapher and master of modern calligraphy, Achyut Palav, elaborates,
“If you are interested in a creatively fulfilling career, have an
artistic flair and don't want to work at a regular 9-to-5 job, a career
as a calligrapher is for you!”
Entering the field
While there are hardly any university recognised
calligraphy courses in India, you can always opt for varied classes
(beginner to expert) offered by some institutes ranging from a few weeks
to a few months.
Online and distance learning is a
boon as you can easily access modules, watch demonstrations and scan
your works. In addition to this, there is a proliferation of hobby
classes (please check credentials), instruction books and
calligraphy-writing kits for those looking to getting started.
Even
Fine Arts students learn basics of calligraphy like scripts, styles,
fonts, strokes, depth, techniques and methods. Once ready, it pays to
maintain a portfolio of varied and experimental samples for client
approval.
With the growing demand for calligraphers,
this is a well-paying career - starting salaries as high as Rs. 15,000.
But earnings are bound to vary depending on the art form and project
commissions.
As Richard Tuttle, publications
director for the Association for the Calligraphic Arts (an international
association promoting calligraphy) remarks, “Payment can range from ten
dollars for making a little bookmark to many thousands of dollars for
creating a one-of-a-kind art piece!”
So, there is a long way to go as you bring your letters alive – the only limit is your imagination!
Payal Chanania
Where to study?
- Sri Yogeashwari Institute of Handwriting, Bangalore
http://www.handwritingaone.com/calligraphy.aspx
- Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi
http://ignca.nic.in/
- Calligraphy India, New Delhi, Noida, Haryana, Chattisgarh
http://www.calligraphyindia.com/
- Achyut Pallav School of Calligraphy, Mumbai
http://www.apsc.net.in/
- Vikrant Karia Institute of Art, Mumbai
http://www.vkart.in/
- New Learning Horizons – Artistic Calligraphy, Nagpur
http://www.nlhnagpur.info/
- Write Right, Indore
http://www.writerightindia.com/calligraphy.html
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