Calligraphy - What are the prices?
Calligraphy on envelopes - is it really expensive?
Is calligraphy expensive? This is a question that often arises when we think about the beauty and complexity of this timeless art form. And the answer is not as simple as one might think. Calligraphy, with its charming strokes and precisely crafted letterforms, holds a special place in the hearts of many. But its true value goes beyond aesthetics. Let's explore together why calligraphy is not cheap?
Calligraphic title in ornate Copperplate script.
Is it ordinary writing or art?
Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing. But sometimes it wasn't art. It was something ordinary. Of course, not all people were literate. Literacy was somehow reserved for scholars. But it was the only way of communicating in writing. Calligraphy was used to write down official documents and biblical texts. Even today, we should value this privilege very much. Everywhere in the world, children are already deprived of the opportunity to learn to write.
Today, calligraphy is an admirable skill that requires long-term learning and dedication. This is almost impossible to achieve in this day and age, when we expect an immediate response or reward for everything we do. "superpower".
Learning calligraphy requires quite a bit of perseverance, dedication, almost stubborn heartedness. Progress is slow, sometimes almost invisible. At this point, many give up. But with persistence, the reward is guaranteed. If we persevere with calligraphy, we reap many benefits:
Learning calligraphy requires a lot of practice. It is useful to practise the basic strokes before moving on to learning the full strokes. It pays to be progressive.
Creative expression
Calligraphy allows you to unleash your creativity and turn words into beautiful art. With Copperplate, you can create stunning and ornate letters that add a personal touch to any project.
Emotional relaxation
In a fast-paced digital world, calligraphy offers a calming escape. As you focus on each stroke and curve, you enter a state of conscious relaxation, reducing stress and improving your overall well-being.
Unique personal style
Developing your own calligraphic style separates you from a world dominated by digital communication. Your handwritten notes, invitations or even social media posts will stand out with a touch of sophistication and elegance.
Linking tradition with modern technology
Copperplate style has a rich history that connects you to centuries of skilled craftsmen. By learning this traditional craft, you become part of a timeless family that combines the past with its modern way of life. You can also create your calligraphy digitally, forging a link between an ancient skill and the digital world.
Improved attention to detail
Calligraphy sharpens your eye for detail and increases accuracy. It teaches patience and discipline, as each stroke requires careful thought. It also reinforces focus in other aspects of life.
Improving handwriting
Calligraphy exercises help you perfect your handwriting skills, making your daily writing more organised. You will effortlessly impress others with your legible and elegant writing.
Calligraphed title.
Calligraphed titles. But is there anything better than invitations?
Beautiful invitations invite special people, to experiences that we want to share with our loved ones and preserve in special memories. A wedding, a christening, a birthday celebration or something similar and so important. Our life milestones deserve the best, of course. We have special clothes for the day, a beautiful venue, musicians, the most beautiful decoration possible, gorgeous flowers and we want to immortalise it all so we hire a photographer. And why not make our invitations and other printed materials just as special?
Even if the invitations are printed, it's nice and sometimes etiquette to have handwritten addresses on the envelopes, but it's even nicer if they're handwritten on the envelopes. with real calligraphy. But the price for a single envelope with a calligraphed address may seem high.
Anniversary invitations.
How much does calligraphy on envelopes cost?
As a calligrapher, I am convinced that the prices are affordable. In my online shop current price EUR 6,90. This price also includes a high quality envelope, one that can be written on with a calligraphy pen without spilling ink. At the moment, quality envelopes of this kind are priced at Avon between EUR 1 and EUR 1,50. Of course, I can also write on envelopes provided by the customer. Well, let's look at the matter in a little more detail.
Calligraphed address for the invitation.
In Slovenia, invitations are mostly hand-delivered. Imagine my disappointed look when I design your wedding invitations or round birthday party invitations and then you tell me you would just like envelopes without addresses. I cannot tell you how disappointed I am when I cannot explain to you what an occasion you are missing. You're missing the "wow" effect, that I feel when I put a calligraphy in someone's hands or when they receive it in the mail.
My disappointment is mainly because I know that you are missing the opportunity to appreciate the art of calligraphy and the special enthusiasm of your loved ones, who would tell you that they have never received such a wonderful invitation.
The reaction when they receive a beautiful calligraphy envelope:
- What an envelope!
- And what is this handwritten?
- That is impossible!
- I didn't know anyone else was doing it.
Calligraphed address on the envelope.
You miss the excitement, even the surprise, that their address is handwritten, which of course confirms that you have done your best for them, and so of course they will be most happy to accept. And that feeling is priceless for me.
And what would the origin of the envelope be if it could speak in a fairy tale world? Surely it would whisper that it is disappointed because it will never live up to the mission for which it was created. Not only to hold the most beautiful invitation, but also to have someone write a name or address on it, to be touched by a stamp and to be carried to the addressee by a 'letter carrier'.
Yes, it looks great, but it's too expensive!
It's true that some things cost three times as much just by mentioning the word wedding or similar. Flowers are suddenly three times more expensive when we tell the florist it is for a wedding, and cakes are sometimes more expensive just for the occasion. This is not the norm, but it happens a lot.
Calligraphed address on the envelope.
Price of calligraphy on envelopes is, for the most part, even somewhat union-like, given the time and material invested. Especially since most calligraphers prefer not to offer it, precisely because of the time challenge it represents. Calligraphers do this exceptionally and only as a complementary service to round off their offer of designing invitations, seating charts and other printed materials for events.
What all influences the price of calligraphed envelopes and how are they made in the first place?
1. Calligraphic materials
Traditional calligraphy requires specialised she wrote. High-quality handles can fetch a high price, up to €200.
2. Ink
The ink used in calligraphy is often made from natural pigments, which can be expensive to produce. In addition, certain types of ink, such as gold or metallic versions, can add to the cost. Here you can see how Sumi ink is made.
3. Choosing the right paper
Choosing the right paper is crucial for optimum calligraphy results. High-end acid-free or handmade papers are considerably more expensive. Most calligraphers do not want to write on papers that they do not choose themselves. The paper must be of good quality to prevent the ink from spilling and spreading outwards through the fibres (feathering). Unfriendly to calligraphers are metallic/clear envelopes on which the ink runs/scratches and instead of a beautiful stroke, a puddle is formed. The calligrapher must then add a few drops of gum arabic to the ink to the correct consistency to prevent this bleeding.
Preparation of the tools for making the lines on the envelope.
20 lines for the three-line address on the envelope.
4. Learning and experience as a calligrapher
The price of calligraphy is, of course, based on the skill, which requires long-term learning and regular practice to be at a high level. A high level of attention to the smallest details, perfect alignment, the same slope over the whole product, and the composition of the title according to the shape and size of the envelope are also important. While an inexperienced eye may not notice beginner's calligraphic mistakes, the calligraphy of an experienced calligrapher will already be more appealing in appearance.
Calligraphed address on the envelope.
5. Length of the title
Titles also play a key role. I can only write your names on the envelopes if you are going to deliver the invitations in person, but for snail mail, I write out the full addresses. When the addressee has several names or surnames, or when I include an academic title, the address takes much longer as the alignment is more complex. You also need to take into account the postal rules in each country and choose a registered settlement depending on where the envelope will be going. In the USA, they have a centre alignment of addresses. I even prefer this, as it leaves a lot of room for creative decoration. Postmen are probably a little less enthusiastic. Only a skilled calligrapher can do all this, and of course the price is commensurate with that. Calligraphers charge very different amounts for envelopes.
Calligraphic pens and inks.
Prices for calligraphy on an envelope also range from €4 to €9 abroad. It also depends to some extent on geography and the local standard of living. Of course, calligraphers who are just starting out in the business, or who just want to earn extra money on top of their regular job, tend to pay lower prices. Calligraphy by a beginner and by an experienced master is, of course, very different to the eye. Everyone is a beginner once and prices accordingly.
Calligraphed address on the envelope, Copperplate font
6. Timing
The key to pricing is, of course, the time the calligrapher spends on a single address on the envelope. Let me explain. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to write a 3-line headline - just to write it. Only one line for the title in Copperplate or Engroser´s style calligraphy requires 4 horizontal lines, and in the second and third lines an extra line for the height of the numbers, so + 2 extra lines. In addition, there are some slashes for the slope of the typeface as it is written at a certain angle (52° to 55°), I usually make 6 slashes on a C5 envelope. So 20 lines in total for a single heading of three lines. For four-line headings, this is 25 lines. Of course, everything can be written with a dash, you will say! This is rarely the case.
The LED light bar in combination with a marker is the perfect tool for calligraphers. When writing on dark envelopes, you need to draw lines as the light does not penetrate the paper.
The lines across the light plate are clearly visible through the thin white envelope.
The use of a highlighter and a light bar is only possible on very transparent white envelopes. But such transparent envelopes are usually not of such high quality or are too delicate. As the paper is thicker this is not possible. I mostly write on very dark envelopes, where line drawing is essential. Remember that these lines need to be lined once the ink has dried thoroughly. Before the lines are graded, it is necessary to assess correctly whether the ink is completely dry. The percentage of moisture in the air also has a great influence on the drying time and I can be too quick.
The calligraphically written title is waiting for me to line up the lines. I will do this only when the ink is well dry.
Before writing, I always check the headings to see how many lines I can write them in and decide the correct height for the first line on the envelope. This is to ensure that all the headings are uniformly written and consistent with each other in terms of font style, font size and the positioning of the heading on the envelope. In the list of addresses, I first look for those with the longest address, double first names or surnames. This makes it easier to create a template or foundation for all the other headings. I want the first line to be just the right height, because otherwise all the shorter headings will hang too high on the envelope.
Calligraphic title on the envelope - Sumi ink has a slightly shiny appearance even when dry, so it is easy to misjudge if it is already dry.
7. Calligraphic writing requires a break
Calligraphy is also a physical challenge. Let's take a concrete example of my commission. The client ordered 250 calligraphed addresses on their envelopes for the greeting cards they had already produced. Taking into account the 20 minutes of writing time for one envelope mentioned above, that's 5,000 minutes (these were 4-line addresses for foreign countries, so even more attention is needed because of the foreign names.
For 250 envelopes, I need a good 83 hours of writing time. Just writing. This time does not include communication with the client and other administration. This is purely a writing time.
Of course, this requires pauses. No matter how much calligraphers observe the correct posture and the correct grip of the calligraphic handle, it is necessary to take breaks in between work. I did not take into account the handling of envelopes during the writing time. After writing, they must be put away in a suitable place to dry and space must be made for new ones. This is all part of the organisation of work and the layout of the working areas, so this time is not included in the 20 minutes.
A final thought
The appeal of calligraphy lies not only in its enchanting beauty, but also in the dedication and craftsmanship required to master this art. From the initial investment in tools and materials to the relentless pursuit of perfection, calligraphy requires time, perseverance and even financial commitment. However, for those who appreciate the precise elegance of this ancient art, the price becomes secondary to the immense joy and satisfaction of creating something truly remarkable.
Different calligraphic styles on envelopes.
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