FOR THE LOVE OF CALLIGRAPHY

Kristen at Tim Clarke Design Studio making workshop placecards using her calligraphy skills

By Kristen Gara

As an artist and designer drawn to all things visual and tactile, calligraphy had long been on my list to explore. Over the years, I collected pens, books, and good intentions toward learning it, but it wasn’t until I stepped into The Art of Lettering workshop at Soolip two years ago that something shifted. For the first time, the practice truly clicked with me, and I haven’t looked back.
 
Much of this is thanks to Aspacia Kusulas, a generous and gifted teacher. With her steady encouragement and wisdom, I’ve been able to deepen what has become a lifelong love. But it’s also the process itself that keeps calling me back. Calligraphy invites me to slow down, to breathe, to focus on the shape of each letter. And when I step back and see the finished piece, whether it’s a holiday card, a place card for a Soolip workshop, or a handwritten note for a friend, I feel a deep sense of pride.
 
Now, each time I sit down to practice, I see progress. The curves and lines, once unfamiliar, feel like old friends and the more I engage with this centuries-old craft, the more I realize it’s a living artform that continues to deepen as I learn more.
 
I’m so grateful to Wanda, Soolip and Aspacia for opening this door for me. They offered more than a workshop, but a creative path to a new and satisfying form of self-expression.
 
Register for November 15, 2025 workshop, The Art of Lettering: Copperplate Calligraphy here 

Kristen Gara is the Director of Graphic Design at Soolip  Along with the work she produces for clients, she also uses her talents at calligraphy to add a flourish to client’s work when applicable and to the keepsake place cards for each Creative Arts Workshop. At The Art of Gift Wrapping on December 6, 2025 she will offer custom calligraphered gift tags for attendees of that workshop.