Today we’d like to introduce you to Gillian Kelly.
Gillian, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
About two and a half years ago, I was struggling to connect with my day job and decided to do something I’d been thinking about for ages: sign up for a calligraphy class. I am always excited to learn something new – I’m a bit of a collector of hobbies, in fact. Although I have always had decent handwriting, it was definitely a slow start with calligraphy. It took me three classes, two online summits, and two years to get to a point where I thought someone might actually be interested in my work. Since I didn’t quit my day job, I only take on calligraphy work that interests me and fits my schedule. Calligraphy is a passion of mine, and I love watching my style evolve as I try new things.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Calligraphy is really challenging – and the best calligraphy hides those challenges to look effortless and flawless. That’s no small task! I’m constantly learning and my style is always evolving. I haven’t had any huge bumps in the road, but I didn’t get to where I am today without lots of hard work and practice. My dining room table is always covered in random practice pieces!
Kelly Calligraphy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I mostly work on commission pieces at the moment. I’ve dabbled in a little bit of everything, from wood signs to stationery to framed pieces. My style is modern, though I first learned copperplate – you have to learn the rules before you can break them! I’m most proud of my customer service. Because I’m a little picky about the projects I take on, I’m able to be responsive and provide excellent customer service to my clients. After all, I wouldn’t be doing this work without them!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I think my proudest moment was when my first client asked me to give her a quote for her wedding. I had just gotten married myself, so I knew what an honor it was to be asked, and it was such an exciting moment for me to realize that someone actually liked my work enough to want to pay for it!
Contact Info:
- Website: kellycalligraphy.etsy.com
- Instagram: @kelly.calligraphy
- Facebook: @kellycalligraphy
Image Credit:
Kayla Hembree, Tiffany Dawson, Renee Jael
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