Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Reasons 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.

Some people may be inspired to produce their own calligraphy and rush off to buy a calligraphy set. However, this skill is definitely not acquired overnight and it is preferable to hire someone with experience, especially when expensive paper is involved. Asking the printer to use a particular font to produce the effect of calligraphy is possible but the effect does not approach that of using calligraphers with experience and artistic flair.

Refining these skills is something that takes much time and effort. Some calligraphers have spent many years practicing their craft. You can receive the benefit of all this experience. They can offer expert guidance with regard to factors such as which writing style best suits which project and what kind of paper to use.

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.

Examining samples of work already done is one of the best ways to go about making a decision. These portfolios show the level of expertise and type of work capable of being produced. Calligraphers have many different ways of going about their work. Their styles vary from modern and informal to formal and traditional with many offering a wide variety of styles. The materials used are also varied and the work should exhibit a harmony between paper, ink and nib.

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.

A client will need to approve a working layout which usually includes a design showing colors. Once this is approved, work on the actual project commences. Some calligraphers also email scans of finished work for approval before final delivery takes place. If an experienced calligrapher with an innate sense of design and artistic flair is selected, the finished products will often exceed expectations.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment