Sunday, August 10, 2014

How To Commission A Calligrapher

By Annabelle Holman


Calligraphy is an ancient and beautiful art that adds lasting value to any item. You can commission a calligrapher to create anything from a simple place card to a decorated scroll. Awards, certificates, invitations, menus and many other items can be personalized in this way.

People may think the idea of spending money on calligraphy is a waste. They may think that they could do the job themselves or ask the designer to create the same effect by using specific fonts. This is definitely not the case. Such skills are not acquired quickly but come with much dedication and commitment. The effect can be imitated with typeset fonts but it will always be second best to the real thing.

Calligraphers have to know many different things such as writing techniques, lettering skills, page design and decoration skills like gilding. They have to understand about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations and many other things. They create artistically subtle effects in a way that mechanical methods cannot capture.

It is not difficult to find calligraphers as many of them offer their services online. When making a choice one has to consider factors such as level of expertise and what is charged. Examining a portfolio of working already completed is essential. Some may be fairly new to calligraphy while others may have spent many years perfecting their craft and take great pride in producing work of an extremely high caliber.

Calligraphers use different materials too and this can also affect the quality of their work. Some materials may create inconsistencies in letter strokes or smudge easily. Many kinds of papers, pens and inks are used.

After making a choice of a specific individual to do a project, all the details need to be communicated and discussed. If a person has been selected online, this may involved sending emails back and forth. Some projects are larger than others such as producing artwork for a wedding involving addressing envelopes and designing and laying out invitations, place cards and thank you cards. The style and colors of the occasion have to be discussed as well as deadlines for completion.

Once all the details have been agreed upon, an estimate is given, usually without any obligation. If it is accepted, a contract is signed by both parties. Some calligraphers charge per word and others charge by the hour when determining the cost of a project. They usually require a deposit up front which may be up to 50 percent of the total amount and the balance is paid on completion.

When choosing to use calligraphers offering their services online, email is often used as a means of communication. Once designs have been worked out, a full size working layout showing the color scheme may be emailed to you for approval. The finished work will only begin once this layout has been approved. A scan of the finished work may also be emailed for approval and only then is the finished work delivered. You are likely to be very impressed with the finished product if you have chosen someone with expertize and artistic skill.




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