My 2027 has been happily filled with calligraphy poem work. Every year’s different: some are busy wedding years, where I’m writing place names and envelopes. Others have been busy with calligraphy family trees, or working for local businesses writing calligraphy for event invitations. But this year I’ve written poem after poem, and the commissions I’ve been asked to write have been creative, and fun, and colourful - and it’s all down to the people who reach out to me for calligraphy.
I love poets. I love people who have words in their head, who can conjure up a piece of writing with phrases that sound beautiful. I really admire that.
Creativity sparkles.
I’ve worked with published poets, but more often with lovely folks who write poems for their families - often poems to read at weddings. And with people who write poetry for pleasure - just to find enjoyment in stringing words together playfully and artfully. I love their confidence, their ideas, they way they tumble words into brilliance - and I LOVE words.
And the people who’ve asked me to write their poems in calligraphy have something else in common. It’s kindness, generosity, empathy. They’re thoughtful - both in the way they write, and the love that goes into their poetry, which is often about people they’re close to.
Writing poetry feels to me like a different way of thinking. My calligraphy customers this year have been above the ordinary. Inspired. Wonderfully creative.
And it’s contagious. I really do love turning people’s poems into artwork, simply by writing their words with my calligraphy pens. Often I’m asked to add flowers, a border illustration or some other really personal detail - and there’s trust, from one creative soul to another: I can play a little with colours and designs to create a piece of art that feels right for each poem.
I have calligraphy on my walls at home. Not for the shape of the lettering, but for the sentiment. I’ve written the last 3 paragraphs of my favourite book on the walls. They’re just so uplifting, positive, and relatable for me - and it’s genuinely inspiring to have these words in my little office, where I can read them every day.
Oh, and they look nice, of course.
And that’s the thing with poems, and calligraphy - you can print a poem in a nice font, frame it and put it on your wall. But having it written by a calligrapher gives it something a bit special.
I don’t think it’s gravitas - it’s something that feels a bit softer than that to me. Almost the fact that calligraphy is slow, thoughtful writing: it’s a process of caring while shaping each letter, that shows when a poem’s hung on a wall. Timelessness too I think - the use of an art form which has roots centuries-old, and which has faded to something we don’t often see in our daily lives any more.
So this is a thank you, and a hopeful welcome. To all the poets who’ve sent me their words to write in calligraphy this year, and to all those creative writers who find By Moon & Tide online and reach out for a calligraphy poem of their own. I’ve loved working with you, and if you’re new here, I’d love to work with you.
