The Bride's Guide Blog

Posted by Shira Savada, Real Weddings Editor

We've long been fans of the calligraphy of Betsy Dunlap. We've worked with her on stories and featured weddings for which she calligraphed pieces, and I can guarantee you'll be seeing more of her fabulous penmanship in our pages down the line. I've been wondering how Betsy got started in the writing business, and she was nice enough to answer some questions for me and all of you Bride's Guide readers. Oh, and Betsy told me that her new website is being relaunched next year (thanks to Also Design), so stay tuned! And in the meantime you can see some of her styles and samples here and here.

Shira: How did you start doing calligraphy?
Betsy: My degree was in English, but I also studied Art in college, which was my first love. When I landed an office job right after graduating, I realized I was not cut out for shuffling papers and filing, so at night I started experimenting with calligraphy, using a nib dipped in ink. Though I had never tried it before that moment, I knew right away that it was what I wanted to do for a career. I started looking at the backs of old postcards and letters and was really drawn to the imperfect, lively quality of the letterforms, and I knew I wanted to develop a few styles that looked fresh and modern while drawing on that elegant, casual, everyday scrawl that was so common a century ago.

S: How many projects do you do at a time?
B: I’m generally working on about ten different projects at a time, but all in different stages. Some I am just in the initial planning stages, with others I am working on producing digital files and scanning them in, with other projects I am addressing hundreds of envelopes. It just depends on the week and season. I’m trying to get better about keeping up with all of the inquiries and emails I receive daily, as that could be a full-time job in itself. I’m sure everyone running a small business can relate!

S: What’s the largest project you’ve done for a wedding?
B: The project that seemed like the largest one ever was the one seating chart that I ever created. I kept messing up when I was almost finished, and so I would have to start all over again. It happened about six times until I finally got it perfect. I don’t offer seating charts as part of my services anymore. They frustrate me way too much.

S: What’s the most interesting piece you’ve ever done?
B: I’ve done a few tattoos for people, which is certainly an interesting project! It’s a lot of pressure—knowing you have to get the lettering perfect, as it is going to be emblazoned on somebody’s skin permanently.

S: Do you have any new styles of calligraphy in the works?
B: I've been doing a lot of lettering inside of elaborate ribbons and banners and garlands lately, so while those don’t really count as new styles, I hope to offer them as an official option on my new site when it launches.

S: What inspires you?
B: I’ve always felt that my calling is to create beauty in the world around me; I feel most inspired when I feel that I am fulfilling that purpose. I’m inspired by dark, stormy days (a rarity in Tucson!), family heirlooms and photos, old films, old letters, starting a new book, traveling to new places, long days of gardening, spending meaningful time with friends and family, and most of all, being with my husband, Nick, and our cat, Sebastian.

S: What about a favorite font or color combo?
B: I especially love scribing the “sofia” script. And my favorite color combo of the moment is white ink on kraft. I am drawn to pieces with a lot of different dimensions, such as a tiny envelopes mounted on the main invite with another card within, or separate tags attached with string or wire, etc.

S: Where (and how) do you do all your calligraphing?
B: I have a desk that is actually a collapsible dining table from IKEA (see the photo), with a comfy white leather chair. I mix all my inks in antique shot glasses, and keep all of my tubes of gouache and my nibs in pretty cigar boxes. As far as number of inks, I have dozens of different bottles of India ink, and dozens of tubes of gouache, and I custom mix almost everything. I generally use extra-fine pointed nibs for most of my projects.

And I have a little ritual that I employ every time I get ready to do a job: I have to make a cup of my favorite tea, and sweep up my bangs with these gorgeous barrettes, then lace up my shoes. For some reason I do my best work with my shoes on!

S: Anything in particular you’re itching to do?
B: It would be amazing to be able to incorporate more of my illustrations into the suites I work on, so I hope to be able to launch a line of invitations in the near future!

S:Where do most of your brides live?
B: Most of the brides I work with are from the coasts, primarily New York City, actually, but I have worked with clients from all over the country and even the world….I even had a client from Woolloomooloo, Australia. I had fun addressing those envelopes!

S: Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve done?
I have an amazing collaboration with artist Shanna Murray called Hello
Handmade, and we primarily create pieces relating to special holidays.
Last Valentine’s Day, Shanna designed and letterpressed these exquisite
cards inspired by foxes and antique lace, which people could order, then have me inscribe their message on the back and address the
envelope to send to their sweetheart. It was so amazing being
entrusted with all of those hundreds of sweet, personal
messages—getting to write them out and make them look beautiful was
such a delight and an honor.

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Posted by Shira Savada on December 2, 2009 in Expert Advice, Stationery