We thought we’d pop in and say hello!  This is our launch week for our Photoshop for Lettering Artist class and Michelle and I are in a grand mood and thought this cause for celebration! We are going to be giving away 7 free spots to the class to those that are signed up for our mailing list, the winner’s will be announced on class launch day.  You don’t even have to do anything, just sign-up, heck if you want to unsubscribe right after, it is easy peasy (but we will miss you). You can sign-up here.

If you aren’t the mailing list inclined, but still would like to try to win 1 of 3 spots we are giving away then there’s a little, teeny, tiny bit of legwork involved, but nothing too daunting. Pin this image, tweet it, regram it from here, or follow fotorxco on instagram, just one will do (but if you’d like to do more..), you can use the hashtag #fotorxclasses if you like. We will be choosing 3 winners this week to join the class for free!

Is this class for you? Are you a lettering enthusiast but have zero to limited Photoshop skills? Do you desperately want to learn how to get your lettering from paper to pixel–social media, your blog, website, etc.? Are you taking hours to clean-up your lettering now, but think there could be an easier way?  If you answered yes to any of these questions this class is for you!

What a week it has been for us! We are still recording and editing for our class which we seriously thought we would have ready yesterday. In the midst of all our preparation we uploaded our video files and then found out that we had made a bitty (okay, big) error, you couldn’t see our screen clearly, kind of a big deal when we are trying to teach a massive program like Photoshop to complete PS novices, gah!  After much angst, research and dark chocolate we solved our mystery and are back in action, but a little behind on our anticipated deadline. Again, we are going to definitely go over all of the trials and tribulations about learning how to screen cast so if you ever decide to try it you won’t be flailing in a sea of contradiction like us.

And on to other lovely things!

We got the bestest mention ever from Shannon Eileen of Happiness Is blog. Her before and after’s are completely gorgeous (as witnessed by the photo above). We are thrilled to have such beautiful results and images to share.

We are also thrilled about these new dog haircuts, they are smile inducing.

Even though I am a die hard non-ficiton fan, so many of you mentioned this book and Michelle also offered the thumbs up. I finally gave in and started reading it and I am happily immersed in a most wonderful, magical and charming world, thank you!

I have been wearing this BB cream a lot because it’s pretty goof proof, I have mentioned it before but I think it’s a great little cosmetic for the extra lazy (the color comes out white and transforms magically on your face), no SPF but Michelle swears by this one. I just slap it on while I am doing something else like brushing my teeth and it still manages to look good.

We are going to be giving away 10 free spots to our Photoshop for Lettering Artists class 7 of those spots will be going to people that are signed up for our mailing list. We will will announce the subscriber winners the same day we  launch the class! If you would like a chance to win a free spot and be the first to know of the class launch you can sign-up here.

photo by shannon eileen

Warming up is key. There are some days where all I do is warm up!

I don’t remember how I happened upon Lisa Mavian’s Post Calligraphy, but I am so happy I did! I immediately was drawn to her beautiful hand. Lisa’s lettering is modern, ethereal and for lack of a better descriptive-floaty. If Lisa’s lettering was a fabric it would be gossamer–light, delicate, diaphanous. I am so happy to be able to share this interview with you, because I know many of you are fans too and there is so much great information shared . Without further ado…

Where are you located?

I am located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (I am, however, born and bred in Detroit).

How did you get started in lettering?

My start in lettering I think, followed a love for the written word; poetry specifically. As a teenager I practiced calligraphy in my own way- really just trying to make words look beautiful. I am “besotted” (good word) with words and letterforms and numbers. My education is as a graphic designer and I think my calligraphy is influenced greatly by my design “eye”.

What are some of your favorite supplies?

My favourite go-to nib is the nikko g. It is a workhorse, very dependable. And there is nothing like a fresh, crisp nib when starting out on a new project. I also use Hunt, Principal and Gillott 1950’s. I hoard my used nibs. (maybe that is an answer to the question below: what is a random thing people don’t know about you haha) My favourite black ink is Sumi. I especially like the one that comes in the brown bottle with the all-Japanese label. It is on Paper and Ink’s website and you can also get it at a great paper shop here in Toronto called The Paper Place. I use a cheap, plastic oblique pen holder. Nothing fancy. For brushwork I pick up lots of teensy pointed watercolour brushes. They don’t last and I am pretty hard on them. Rhodia blank paper always. For practice and for final scans. Super smooth and your hairlines look beautiful on it. With lots of warm up, I like to use handmade paper and watercolour paper, depending on the task at hand. Sometimes I like to use a nice watery ink like J. Herbin or the drop-dead gorgeous Shin-kai iroshizuku ink from Pilot, which I totally buy for the bottle. I love to experiment with folded pens and the old ruling pen from my father’s drafting supplies.

Can you name some of your inspirations? 

I am inspired by many and various things…Art. I just saw the Basquiat show here in Toronto and am inspired by his art on so many levels. Twombly, Rauschenberg, Jurgen Lehl, wire sculpture, the sublime calligraphy of Yves Leterme. So many. Music. Vivaldi, Miles Davis, Dustin O’ Halloran, Puccini, Michael Stipe, Nina Simone, the poetry of Ryan Adams and Elliott Smith, Patti Smith (her music as much as her devotion to her craft). Words chosen and used profoundly by Didion, Plath, Woolf. Ballet. Architecture. I could go on.

Can you go a little into your process of how you work on a project?

When I start a project I take some time to open up to influences from absolutely everywhere and do research. Then I hone in on what resonates with the particular piece that I am working on and narrow down the visual mood board that is in my head. I take into consideration colour, size, materials, media etc. If I am collaborating with someone, this is a fun time, with ideas flying fast and furious. I like to do some pencil sketches until I come up with a design that I feel works. Warming up is key. There are some days where all I do is warm up!

Any tips for newbies on how to develop their own style?

Developing your own style is a process and an exercise in patience. Don’t rush it. Like any art form, I believe it is necessary to study and learn the basics and the classics and develop a groundwork that you will base your own style on. Practice and practice. Eventually you will take the leap and have confidence in your own hand.

Any recommendations of books or classes for lettering enthusiasts to further their studies?

There are so many different venues these days to learn calligraphy from. Take a workshop from someone whose work you admire. There are so many forums online to ask questions and learn tips and tricks from the pros! Your very own Besotted website has such a vast and useful assemblage of books, supplies, videos and workshops to recommend. I also found Dr. Joe Vitolo’s videos to be helpful. Eleanor Winter’s Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy is a great basic resource.

Do you have some favorite projects you would like me to mention?

My favourite projects have been the ones where the client has approached me simply because they really like what I do. Those are the most fun and satisfying projects. The ones where I get to be “me”.

Any advice on what ‘not’ to do?

Name one random talent you have that people may not know?

Random talent:  I remember all my dreams. Every word, every sound, every image. It’s nice.

//RESOURCES//

Calligraphy supplies: Paper Ink Art’s

Nibs: Nikko G, Hunt, Gillot 1950

Ink: Shin-kai iroshizuku ink from Pilot ,Sumi ink , J. Herbin

Nib Holder: Oblique nib holder

Paper: Rhodia blank paper

Artists: Twombly, Rauschenberg, Jurgen Lehl, Basquiat

Music: Vivaldi, Miles Davis, Dustin O’ Halloran, Puccini, Michael Stipe, Nina Simone

Books: Eleanor Winter’s Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy

Authors: Didion, Plath, Woolf. Ballet

Author / Miss Tristan B

I hate to be one of those people that resorts to weather for small talk, but it has been seriously gosh darn beautiful around these parts, we are feeling very grateful. I asked Michelle last week if she had anything to add to the ‘around here’ post and she sent me the items below, I told her they were too good to just be added on and wanted to save them for this week. I personally think I should always ask Michelle, because I loved everything she mentioned.

Admiring:

Bobbie Burgers – paints amazing giant florals (I’m following her on Insta now @ bobbieburgers )

I’ve never been (and will likely never be) an overnight anything. For the most part, I prefer the winding path because it affords time for creativity and contemplation, which are two of my favorite things (see Action over Analysis post for possible side effects). This is not to say that I’m content to be stagnant – far from it! My path is bursting with grand ambitions, hard work, and high hopes. So it should come as no surprise, that even from this happily meandering route, I am not immune to a twinge of envy when I read what seem to be overnight business success stories. Who wouldn’t? The meandering path can be a tough way to pay the bills, and a chubby bank account sure would make life easier…but I need to remind myself that those stories are few and far between – that’s what makes them remarkable and not mundane. If all it took to attract legions of followers and through-the-roof sales was putting up a website and signing up for Instagram, there would be nothing noteworthy about it and we’d all be millionaires, and easy street would be packed elbow to elbow, standing room only.

what a shame it would be to dim your own light because someone else’s is shining brightly.

Some humans are better at it than others (what ever that “it” may be), but what a shame it would be to dim your own light because someone else’s is shining brightly. The logical side of my brain understands these things, but sometimes logic is undermined by fluttering doubts and misconceived notions about how the path sounds like it’s a whole lot easier for this or that person (usually spurred on by an article about someone I don’t even remotely know).  I have to remind myself that there is no such thing as effortless success, and there’s certainly nothing effortless about sustaining success. Everything looks easier once it’s done – a finished product all shined up and neatly presented with a linen twine bow. We don’t see the late nights, the too much coffee jitters, the hair-pulling head-scratching problem solving messiness that comes with the execution of all great things.

So, if you have these green-eyed moments too, and are starting a blog, or have had one for years but have only attracted a handful of readers, or have an Etsy shop, or small product line that is paying for your supplies, but is far from paying the rent, take heart. Try not to get discouraged. Business, and life in general for that matter, is not easy for anyone. For every headline about seemingly effortless rapid growth, there is a mountain of preparation and sweat behind it. Remember that there’s always more room at the top – so what if it takes you longer to climb the mountain? Just keep plugging away, one foot in front of the other on your journey and your chances of success will increase astronomically, and every so often, take advantage of the slower pace, pause mid-hustle, and take in the view.

Referenced

Action over Analysis

This is part of our series documenting our journey with Foto Rx. It may seem like we are moving at 90 mph, with a whirlwind of product releases, classes, collaborations, – and we are right now, but we have been chipping away at this venture for 3+ years and hope to keep working on it for many more!