Calligraphy is more than just pretty handwriting and more importantly, it is a niche that can be actively sold in today’s market. It may seem impractical that calligraphy could make this transition, but it definitely can.
What is Calligraphy?
Calligraphy has a long history in societies across the world ranging from the far-east to Europe. The word itself may derive from the Greek for both beauty (Kallos) and to write (Graphein) and was one of the first ways in which holy scriptures began to be produced.
Once the printing press became widely used in the 15th and 16th centuries, clearer handwriting and easier-to-print writing became much more popular. Calligraphy vs handwriting is a battle that has raged for hundreds of years. Calligraphy began to fall out of fashion but was revived in the 20th century and is regarded now as more of an art form.
How to make money from Calligraphy
What is the market?
Versions of calligraphy are apparent throughout the world. Whether on greetings cards, movie titles, websites, or even book covers. Due to the nature of these materials, you can get artistic and make something truly eye-catching.
More in people’s homes, there is a trend to have inspirational quotes on the walls. As well as this, some people may even want personal gifts with specific messages to send to their friends and family. All of which you can provide with your wonderful calligraphy skills.
As you are hopefully beginning to understand, there are plenty of opportunities out there, you just have to find them and dive in!
Where to Start
Styles
Well, one of the first things to do is to learn and develop one if not more styles of calligraphy. It can be one you like, one you have invented, or one that you are really good at, but it is important that you can produce it effectively and repeatedly.
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Learn how best to take photos of your work and really make them a showpiece. Your market is based solely on the images that you can show people. It is no good having amazing calligraphy skills if the photo you advertise with is blurry.
Cost and Pricing
One thing that can be hard to forget is that you are trying to make money from this. Take into consideration the cost of your materials and postage and your time and effort. This can be a tricky to master straight away so investigate similar businesses to give you an idea.
The Marketplace
A crucial consideration to make is where are you going to sell your calligraphy. There are numerous websites out there that may be useful to you. Sites such as Etsy, not on the Highstreet, and Facebook all offer opportunities for selling items.
Tie this in with a lovely product description and you may well be on your way!
Calligraphy: A hobby or business
You do not want to get bogged down in calligraphy so much so that your hobby becomes a nightmare but there is no reason why, with a little preparation and inside knowledge, you cannot make money from it. Just remember to enjoy what you are doing and show everyone what you can do with just a pen and paper.
