The Story
I had no idea that I would be an artist. And yet here I am, living this enviable life in which I make beautiful things for a living... paintings, book art, sculpture, ornaments. What sets my art apart is this: calligraphy.
I suppose it must have started back in first grade. A teacher admonished my mother for allowing me to "write" when I should have been "printing" my words. My mother responded by sending the teacher a sample page of my careful (and quite legible) handwriting with her own notation: "How can I tell Holly that she isn't ready to write?" I was on my way.
I loved handwriting. In fourth grade I was completely jealous of Debra who could turn out row upon row of perfect "O's". Yes, in my school days we practiced the art of handwriting. It was something I never stopped doing. I drew bubble letters on my school notebooks. I noticed different letter shapes in signs or ads and I copied them. I changed my handwriting to suit my mood.
At twenty-one I began to master the art of calligraphy with a flourish. I already had an innate sense of design and an entrepreneurial spirit. There was no stopping me. I launched my part-time "calligraphic design" business and never looked back. Imagine the surprise Alf Ebsen (pre-eminent Toronto calligrapher/designer) must have felt when a cheeky young upstart called him up out of the blue. "Is it possible to make a living from calligraphy?", I asked. I don't remember his exact answer, but his tone was encouraging.
I was thrilled to later met Alf. He became my some-time mentor from afar. Occasionally I would come home to find a brochure I had designed rolled up in my door handle. His beautiful handwriting along the margins would praise my design and lettering, and suggest subtle improvements. He was a lovely man.
I suppose it must have started back in first grade. A teacher admonished my mother for allowing me to "write" when I should have been "printing" my words. My mother responded by sending the teacher a sample page of my careful (and quite legible) handwriting with her own notation: "How can I tell Holly that she isn't ready to write?" I was on my way.
I loved handwriting. In fourth grade I was completely jealous of Debra who could turn out row upon row of perfect "O's". Yes, in my school days we practiced the art of handwriting. It was something I never stopped doing. I drew bubble letters on my school notebooks. I noticed different letter shapes in signs or ads and I copied them. I changed my handwriting to suit my mood.
At twenty-one I began to master the art of calligraphy with a flourish. I already had an innate sense of design and an entrepreneurial spirit. There was no stopping me. I launched my part-time "calligraphic design" business and never looked back. Imagine the surprise Alf Ebsen (pre-eminent Toronto calligrapher/designer) must have felt when a cheeky young upstart called him up out of the blue. "Is it possible to make a living from calligraphy?", I asked. I don't remember his exact answer, but his tone was encouraging.
I was thrilled to later met Alf. He became my some-time mentor from afar. Occasionally I would come home to find a brochure I had designed rolled up in my door handle. His beautiful handwriting along the margins would praise my design and lettering, and suggest subtle improvements. He was a lovely man.
What happened next was William Morris's fault. When I discovered Morris, I found a kindred spirit. As a child he dressed up in a miniature suit of armour; a lone knight wandering the forest astride his pony. Déja vu! Well... apart from the armour. He loved romantic tales of chivalry, medieval manuscripts, gothic architecture and the beauty of nature – a man after my own heart.
Embodied in this one person was an artist, designer, calligrapher, writer and poet - to mention only a few of Morris's talents. He believed we should make "beautiful things" and surround ourselves with them. "Yes, yes, yes!", I thought and eagerly delved into the realm of fine art and craft.
I painted backgrounds for my calligraphic texts. I scraped words out of oil pastel, then out of wax. I experimented with any painting media I could get my hands on. The challenge was always "how to get the words in". It still is. Text may be nearly obscured in layers of paint, medium and imagery or it may be the focal point, but it is always there. So is the quality in my art described as "often medieval in mood" – a further nod to Morris's influence.
I wander through my world, capturing and altering images on my iPhone; seeing things not as they are, but as they could be. I make ornaments for Cirque du Soleil, filled with exotic fabric scraps from their costume workshop, and magical hand-painted gift boxes exclusively for Cirque's founder, Guy Laliberté. I paint, sketch ideas and hand-bind Muse Journals in the studio. I compose digital designs and write on my iMac in the studio loft.
Every day I follow my true passion - the act of creating. As an artist I get to make beautiful things for a living. How great is that?
Embodied in this one person was an artist, designer, calligrapher, writer and poet - to mention only a few of Morris's talents. He believed we should make "beautiful things" and surround ourselves with them. "Yes, yes, yes!", I thought and eagerly delved into the realm of fine art and craft.
I painted backgrounds for my calligraphic texts. I scraped words out of oil pastel, then out of wax. I experimented with any painting media I could get my hands on. The challenge was always "how to get the words in". It still is. Text may be nearly obscured in layers of paint, medium and imagery or it may be the focal point, but it is always there. So is the quality in my art described as "often medieval in mood" – a further nod to Morris's influence.
I wander through my world, capturing and altering images on my iPhone; seeing things not as they are, but as they could be. I make ornaments for Cirque du Soleil, filled with exotic fabric scraps from their costume workshop, and magical hand-painted gift boxes exclusively for Cirque's founder, Guy Laliberté. I paint, sketch ideas and hand-bind Muse Journals in the studio. I compose digital designs and write on my iMac in the studio loft.
Every day I follow my true passion - the act of creating. As an artist I get to make beautiful things for a living. How great is that?
