The Art Nouveau Wedding Invitation & An Appreciation for the Handmade

I love to write. As in cursive. Or calligraphy. Maybe even a nice block alphabet. In eighth grade my Social Studies teacher, Mrs. McIntyre (who, by the way, wore a bouffant), had a post of the signatures on the Declaration of Independence. I would spend class period upon class period perfecting my proverbial John Hancock.

When I got to college, I would laboriously recopy notes as to both allow the knowledge to sink in and to practice my penmanship. Thus studying became a process to be somewhat enjoyed (and my notes became a much sought after commodity).

Now I create wedding invitations, many in an Art Nouveau or Art Deco style. Each and every letter I forged by hand from my own stylized Art Nouveau alphabet. Much to the chagrin of graphic design buddies, I do not draw my alphabets on the computer nor do I scan them in. Rather each letter is unique unto itself, an organic creation based on the letters both before and after and with special attention to the layout of the whole; an entirely holistic creation rather than a series of computer generated text.

Plus, I enjoy creating fonts (especially those from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. Please see the matching RSVP card for this invitation!). Although my labor would be cut down exponentially by using a computer for text, my enjoyment level would proportionally decrease. Many tell me that only I can tell if an alphabet is created entirely by hand, but I beg to differ. Although the average person may not be able to discern hand-wrought lettering, there is a human, organic, emotionally charged feeling emanating from only that which is handmade.

Art Deco Wedding Invitation

An Art Deco wedding. The bride came to me with a clipping from an old calendar and the idea for an oak leaf motif. Her inspiration for her wedding invitation included something in an Art Deco style, hence the clipping from an antiquated Art Deco cafe poster calendar containing a bit of letting she loved. And the oak leaf was symbolic of the San Francisco Bay Area, their home and the location of the wedding.

I developed an Art Deco style alphabet from the small example of about a dozen differing letters. For the oak leaf, I went for a more abstract, cut-out style illustration to offset the Art Deco calligraphy.

Designing, executing the calligraphy and illustration as well as working with the bride and groom was a lovely experience. Feeling truly part of the festivities, I was able to actualize their vision whilst creating my own.

Ketubah

I began my professional career as a Hebrew calligrapher. Asked by close friends to design and calligraph their Tanayim (an engagement contract between the betrothed as proscribed by Jewish Law) I taught myself the basics of watercolor and botanical illustration setting to work on my first ever commission. The Hebrew calligraphy came naturally; I had been practicing for years with a calligraphy set my great aunt Octavine gifted to me on my eleventh birthday. Calligraphy was easy and fun, albeit rather un-hip and definitely "old lady;" but illustration was more difficult and my perfectionist tendencies made for quite an exercise in tedium.

Following the wedding, word of mouth spread and over the years I have calligraphed and designed numerous Ketubot (Jewish marriage contracts). Adorning a Ketubah has recently made a resurgence among couples wishing maintain tradition and create a beautiful and meaningful objet d'art.

The illustration of a Ketubah tends to take me away from my French Art Deco leanings. Using watercolor, I seek to create a fanciful world for the bride and groom. Botanical illustration, biblical flora and fauna, and calligraphic adornment and various other classic motifs lend themselves best.

The Hebrew calligraphy is the final addition to the Ketubah. This is the most stressful aspect. It is very difficult to erase or cover up any mistake; and because it is on the final piece of art, the whole thing could be lost in one fell swoop. I have tried executing the calligraphy first but this is difficult as the Hebrew calligraphy has to fit organically into the image rather than the reverse.

Over the years I have had the honor to illustrate and or calligraph many Ketubot. Designing and producing a Ketubah is a labor of love indeed but brings immense satisfaction and pride.

A Little Attitude

This image is one of my most popular designs. Modeled on a conglomeration of old fashion photos, this was actually one of my first full size paintings. This print, available on my Etsy shop, favors the 1950s with an Art Deco flair. Modern yet restrained. Sophisticated yet sassy.

It was one of four illustrations I had silk-screened onto professional chefs aprons. The aprons are all gone but the images remain.

I do not sell my originals. Partly because I could never part with one, but mostly because I do not trust digital technology enough to ensure its survival. To me art must be real, something that can be touched.

I think it important that the origin of a piece of art also be organic (Of course that then begs the question "What is Art?". But I digress, I'll leave that to the academics.). There is something about purely digital art that is harsh on the eye. I have a difficult time watching CGI movies or cartoons drawn digitally as they have little natural flow.

It is no wonder I prefer Art Deco stylings, Art Nouveau decoration and Craftsman simplicity--crave the antique rather than seek the modern.

Just in Time for Valentine's Day

These Art Deco style cards were my first foray into card-making and they ended up being my favorite. Printed with my Japanese Gocco silkscreen press and then hand-painted with gouache. Many think me insane for hand-painting each card but I actually really enjoy monotonous yet creative work. Reminds me of the hours spent with all those coloring books.

Oh, and have I mentioned how much I love my Gocco? In fact, I dropped it down an entire flight of basement stairs where it landed and bounced twice on the cement floor. There was not even a chip in the plastic nor a crack in the glass. Fine Japanese workmanship. Wow.

These notecards can be purchased directly through my Etsy store just in time for you to send to your favorite chums.

Blank on inside.
Six per set.

Each card measures 4 x 6 and comes with matching envelope.
French Paper 100% Recycled Cardstock.

**Note: This is image is available in a wide variety of colors and sizes and can be mixed and matched in a set.

My Newest Endeavor--Silkscreened Bat Mitzvah Invitation

This past week I finished printing a Bat Mitzvah invitation which i also illustrated and hand-calligraphed using my very own alphabet. This was a Bat Mitzvah invitation that I also did the printing for. What a job. There were invitations drying all over the house.

I worked with both the mother and daughter to design the final Hebrew calligraphy image you see. The Bat Mitzvah invitation is three layers.

I loved combining an Art Nouveau sensibility with Hebrew calligraphy. The fonts I chose for both the Hebrew and the English were based on 1920s fonts I found whilst traveling in Morocco and France and then further developed.

The invitations were printed on my amazing Japanese Gocco silkscreen. I love it. Someday I will write an ode to the Gocco.