The ULTIMATE Calligraphy & Lettering Services List
It can be overwhelming to determine just how you are going to monetize your calligraphy talent. When I started doing calligraphy seriously back in 2007, it was hard to find a lot of information regarding the hand lettered arts. It was considered a cottage industry and commissions and projects heavily relied on word of mouth referrals.
Fast forward to the digital age of 2023 with multiple social networks and you can find everything pertaining to calligraphy from tutorials to apparel to custom signs and stationery. The possibilities are seemingly endless.
Below you will find specific segments of calligraphy services that you can possibly target/offer/focus on. Calligraphy obviously has a big tent and some of these services sometimes overlap. This is typically the way I have them grouped together however. Once you decide what you enjoy you can focus on becoming known inside this category/grouping.
• Envelopes & Place cards
I kept envelopes and place cards separate on purpose as these two services are usually standard and found on most calligrapher’s service lists. There are obviously exceptions but these services are broad and both event and corporate entities have this need.
• FINE ARTIST: WATERCOLOR ARTIST, SPOT CALLIGRAPHY, INVITATION CALLIGRAPHY, INVITATION SUITE ART, WAX SEALS, CUSTOM MAPS
Traditional calligraphy is under this umbrella. Pointed pen, copperplate, english roundhand, engrosser’s script, etc. Writing out full invitation suites and having them either prepared for press by the stationer or yourself. Watercolor painting mixed with pointed pen. Custom monograms, wreaths, maps, borders, etc.
• ENGRAVING: ON-SITE ENGRAVING, CORPORATE EVENT CALLIGRAPHY, ENGRAVED GIFTS, WOOD BURNING
I’ve been finding exclusive engravers lately and its so popular that I can see why. Liquor bottles, plaques, acrylic, cologne bottles, jewelry, agate slices and more. In store brand activations usually occur seasonally and you can find yourself booked for popular holidays with the 4Q perhaps being the absolute busiest…
• SIGNAGE: MIRRORS, ACRYLIC, WINDOWS, CHALKBOARDS, WOOD, WEDDING EVENT CALLIGRAPHY
Around 2010-11, signage became extremely popular in the wedding/event world. You had to decide if you were going to offer these kinds of services or not (which usually require you to draw letters vs. using a tool). If you are comfortable drawing letters there is still, after all these years, a high demand for this kind of work.
• CHILDREN/KIDS: CHILDREN’S PARTY DECOR, MILESTONE CHALKBOARDS OR PAINTED BOARDS, BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT BOARDS
The children’s space is fun and full of wood, color, chalkboards and lettering.
• MODERN CALLIGRAPHY EXCLUSIVELY USING BRUSH PENS
Think both fine line brush pens and Tombows. Bouncing baselines, color, blending and decorative elements.
• PRODUCT CALLIGRAPHY: JACKETS, T-SHIRTS, PHONE CASES, HATS, MAKEUP BAGS, ETC.
A lot can be done with digitized calligraphy. If you are comfortable turning your written letters into digital files, you can look into getting products created from them to sell and also perhaps selling the files themselves as SVG files which are uber popular.
• EDUCATION SERVICES: MARKETING TO OTHER CALLIGRAPHERS AND BUDDING LETTERING ENTHUSIASTS
Similar to a resource like this one, you can use your knowledge to educate and sell products and services to colleagues and calligraphy newbies. Social media triggered a high interest in the hand lettered arts and you can provide calligraphy and lettering worksheets, online courses, etc. for the newly curious to consume.
Let me know in the comments what you are thinking about offering or if you are already under one of these categories!
Til’ next time,
—ct
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