In a world dominated by digital communication, some of us haven’t physically put a pen to paper in years. As a society, our handwriting has gone down the tube. On Pinterest, humorists post “Why Did I Have to Learn Cursive?!”
Once upon a time, writing a letter had an art to it. A graceful pen and a beautifully turned phrase have all but become a lost art, but they shouldn’t be.
Which is perhaps the reason calligraphy is seeing a resurgence in popularity. Its name comes from the Greek for “beauty” and “writing.” A more modern definition might be “the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious, and skillful manner.” Calligraphy has many forms and traditions that make it a highly versatile hobby if you choose to pick it up.
Here are some of the reasons to pursue calligraphy.
It’s practical
Calligraphy is a beautiful way to personalize wedding details or any other kind of invitation. You may also create a piece of art for the home that incorporates the power of words with the elegance of calligraphy.
For the gifted individual who has an eye for entrepreneurial ventures, this skill is required for creating fonts/typography, original hand-lettered logo designs, cut stone inscriptions, religious art, announcements/commissioned pieces/graphic design and the like. There is even a call for talented calligraphy artists in the film industry, because it’s used for moving images and props.
It is art
Not only is calligraphy an art form, but it forces us to put technology away and create something with our own two hands. This can be a deeply satisfying experience. You can create, complete, and step back and recognize that even if it isn’t perfect, it’s more beautiful for its imperfections.
Across the centuries, calligraphy has played an important cultural role in Christianity, in Islam, and in Asian traditions. It would be difficult to argue that all the people from these varying backgrounds would have pursued the same art if it were not meaningful.
It’s clear that humans have a need to express ourselves. By creating meaningful sequences of words, music, art, or dance, our existence becomes more profound than the sum of our daily labors.
Today, we must balance these expressions with technology. It can help and promote these pursuits, or it can act as a major distraction that tempts us to do nothing or take an easier route. Pursuing the art of calligraphy is a rewarding way to focus the mind and the pen to create again.
