| By :
Mark Etinger
If you are interested in transforming your calligraphy hobby into a legitimate business venture, there are certain steps you may take to make a successful industry. Although a rather obvious tip, do make sure that your calligraphy skills are sufficiently sophisticated; a detailed understanding of at least one calligraphic hand in necessary, but more than one is preferable. if you are unfamiliar writing calligraphy on envelopes, practice using a guide (a slip of lined paper that you insert into the envelope) on a light table. If you do not yet have a light table, buy a large one that is angled for ease of writing. Obviously having the right pen is essential to the process, but having the right paper stock is equally important. You may choose custom stock sheets and custom paper sizes to use for different projects. Specialty paper, particularly parchment and vellum paper, which consist of only one to three layers, are popular because of their distinct texture. The size and thickness of the paper may depend on its intended purpose. Purchase your calligraphy pens, ink, and ground sandarac (to stop ink bleeds) from an art store. You may purchase a variety of colored envelopes and specialty paper of all sizes and densities from a paper supplier. Many such businesses sell their merchandise online, which makes selecting your materials, an easy task. Practice your craft on printable paper so that you do not waste your business supplies. Practice a variety of styles using different types of calligraphy pens; the bigger your repertoire, the more business you will be able to generate. Create a website to feature your work and attract customers. If you have previously done calligraphy for friends' weddings, etc., showcase it on the site. You may either create the website yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Remember the most basic tenet of starting a business: you have to spend money in order to make money. Promote yourself and your business on social media sites, in local papers, and through other print media. If you plan on catering solely to the wedding market, find wedding websites that offer free listing opportunities. You may also want to contact local wedding shops and stationary stores to see if they are willing to recommend you to customers. Make sure that you bring a portfolio of your work to each meeting. The most daunting part of this process will be getting your first customer. After you snag your first client, word of mouth and your continued advertising efforts will help take you from amateur to professional calligrapher.
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