Calligraphy – Kathryn Darnell

Calligraphy is a huge part of my art practice. I have been setting pen to paper for over 40 years and watching a fresh inked letter form under my pen as I write still captivates me.

I work in both traditional and experimental expressions.

Whether you are looking for a unique written presentation of a poem, a unique company logo or simply a name added to an award certificate, this is what I do.

*I have hand-written decades of awards. Sometimes it is the entire text…*

*Sometimes you bring me a stack of certificates and I just add a name*.

One Text: Two Visions

Here are two takes on the same text by Gertrude Stein. The first was done in the late 1980s. The second revisited the poem about 30 years later. I might take either approach on something I do today. The newer concept lead to my work in animating calligraphy.

*Traditional calligraphic approach to a poem by Gertrude Stein*

*Calligraphic art interpreting poetry by Gertrude Stein*

Overlapping calligraphy inf washy black ink of word "write" — I like to make words dance on a page

Words working together in different ways

Logos

I begin every calligraphic logo design with pen on paper and convert it to vector art to edit and allow flexibility of size without degrading image quality. My illustrated logos, whether or not they include calligraphy, are created with the same creative and technical care

*This was a spontaneous prototype logo using the initials of a designer for race cars. It was never developed but I love visual puns and this is still one of my favorite concepts.*

*Calligraphy of a single name, repeated and converted to vector art*

*Used as fretboard inlay on a custom banjo from Seeders Instruments*

Font Design

Sweeney is my first type design. Sweeney has a simple uncial side and a set of alternate glyphs (Sweeney Linocut) that includes initial caps, some swashed characters and components for celtic borders. It is available from Monotype.

Fabric Design

Words that are repeated in a pattern take on new identity. I find this fascinating. You can find these and more of my fabric designs on my page at Spoonflower, an on-demand, digital printing company that prints custom fabric and wallpaper, .

Teaching

I began teaching calligraphy around 1980 and have taught at colleges, community centers and camps. I am a great believer in hands-on classroom learning and strong foundational skills.

If you are interested in taking a class, contact me to be put on my list. (classes will most likely be in the Lansing, Michigan area but I occasionally teach workshops out of town).

If you are interested in offering a class or workshop through your organization, I can develop a learning experience that fits most circumstances; from a short introductions to one-day intensive workshops or classes that meet for several sessions.