Interview with Kathy Orf

Kathy Orf is a professional calligrapher and photographer. She combines calligraphy with photographs of found objects that represent letter forms. Her calligraphy work is featured in the Papercraft Exhibition, and is showing up until July 2009. I have had the opportunity to interview her. Read what she has to say about her love for calligraphy as well as tips and advice for calligraphy beginners.

I love how you combine calligraphy with found objects. How long have you been working in both calligraphy and found object photography?

About 5 years now. I'm not the only person taking photographs of found letters, but I'd like to think I'm the only one combining them with calligraphy and in so many formats.

I heard that you're struggling to make a living out of you're calligraphy work, is this true? And do you think that it is near impossible to make a living from being a professional calligrapher?

I'm not struggling to make a living because I have a wonderful husband who provides that. But I do think it would be hard to support yourself on what a calligrapher can make. But if you have the skills, confidence and ability to market yourself it could be done, especially if you can create typefaces from your lettering styles. I know that can be lucrative.

If you had to recommend one of the 'must have tool' for calligraphy, that is also you're favorite, what would it be? brand/design, and why?

I tend to get stuck on one type of lettering even though I can do many styles. Right now, I am doing alot of casual pointed pen lettering so my must have tool is a Brause EF66. My friends in the calligraphy guild all joke that it is the only tool I use. It is very flexible and just works for me. Plus it is great for wedding envelopes, although I don't do that many of those anymore.

What is you're least favorite calligraphy font and why?

I don't think I have a least favorite, just ones I don't use as often.

What calligraphy societies and/or groups are you a part of? And do you think that it is highly beneficial to be a part of calligraphy groups, or is it just distracting and a waste of time?

I belong to and am on the board of the St. Louis Calligraphy Guild: (stlcalligraphyguild). I also belong to the ACA (Association for the Calligraphic Arts: (calligraphicarts) I do think it is highly beneficial to join a group of people with similar interests. If you go to workshops, classes and meetings you can learn so much just by being around more experienced calligraphers. And calligraphers are very generous sharing what they've learned. I didn't really advance in my skills until I joined the guild and took workshops with visiting instructors.

What advice would you give to a person who said that they would love to do calligraphy, but they don't know how to go about it?

Try to find a class at a community college to start with. If that isn't available, get a really good book such as "The Art and Craft of Hand-lettering" by Annie Cicale or "Written Letters: 33 Alphabets for Calligraphers" by Jaqueline Svaren (this is the book I used back when it only had 22 alphabets!). They are both available from Paper and Ink Arts, a great supplier of all thing (paperinkarts) . Contact them to get a catalog for supplies as well as inspiration.

Start out using either a Mitchell nib in a pen holder and dip ink, or a Parallel pen (see Paper and Ink Arts), but don't use a felt tip marker. When you practice, and practice and practice, just make sure that you are always checking your letters against the exemplar and critically comparing them. Don't just letter on and on and create bad habits, it is as much about what your eye sees as what your hand does. You have to see the details.

One last thing, if at all possible, travel to nearby cities for workshops if you don't have access to any where you live. I traveled from St. Louis to Memphis one weekend a month for a year for a class by Reggie Ezell (reggieezell) , that changed my calligraphic life! Good luck!

Thanks again for your time, and i am sure a lot of people will benefit and be inspired by your answers and advice.

Visit Kathy at her website, blog and shop:
www.kathyorf.etsy.com,
http://kalligratographer.blogspot.com/
www.kathyorf.com

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