Sometimes we just need a little pep talk to remind us that we are worthy of pursuing this art, working professionally and contributing to the calligraphy community. It may sound silly, but there are many ways we as artists doubt ourselves and on this episode we talk through some of these pain points so we can face them head on. Feel free to come back to this episode when you just need someone to cheer you on!

We asked YOU, our amazing listeners, about the small businesses who create your favorite inks, pens, papers and other supplies. We got an incredible response, and while we couldn't share every single maker on this episode, we created a spreadsheet with all of their info. View the spreadsheet at tinyurl.com/TCPartisans. 

Today, we welcome IAMPETH Master Penman Jake Weidmann on the show. Join us as Jake shares about his calligraphy journey, his favorite condiments and advice for calligraphers of all levels. Visit thecalligraphypodcast.libsyn.com to access links to Jake's website, YouTube and social media pages and learn about our sponsors.

Stay tuned for a special episode with artist and master penman Jake Weidmann. The full interview will be available July 6. Music credit: Meekness by Kai Engel, used under Creative Common license CC BY 4.0 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kai_Engel/Sustains/Kai_Engel_-_Sustains_-_02_Meekness

Ink stirrers, triangles, footballs, oh my! Pens and inks aside, tune into today's episode to hear about the  tools hat  help you do your best work. This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com for 10% off your online order. Discount does not apply towards shipping fee. One coupon code per order. Some exclusions apply see paperinkarts.com for full details on promotions.

Today we had the honor of speaking with Dr. Joe Vitolo, one of the most well known and humble calligraphy teachers and educators in our community. Dr. Joe shared about his experience in the calligraphy world and even gave us the historical answer to the great debate...is it Copperplate, Engrossers Script or English Roundhand? Grab your notebook because you'll be jotting notes down all episode long.

If you want to go on a calligraphy deep dive, The Flourish Forum is the place to be. We talk with Erica McPhee, the founder of the Flourish Forum, to learn about this welcoming and educational online resource. The Flourish Forum is open to anyone interested in calligraphy and has hundreds of conversations threads all about calligraphy. Visit theflourishforum.com to sign up. Follow Erica on Instagram @flourishforum. This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts.

Today's episode is about social media–not from a business perspective, but from a friendship perspective! Social media has opened up many avenues for collaboration, accountability and friendship amongst calligraphers. We're here to talk about how you can connect and nurture conversations and relationships with fellow calligraphers. Join us for our very first calligraphy exchange! Sign up at tinyurl.com/TCPmail. 

During a recent survey that we conducted, Suzanne Cunningham was one of the most requested guests. Well, we listened to you! In this candid and memorable episode, Suzanne shares how she found clients (and vice-versa), her process and favorite supplies, and some amazing advice for calligraphy beginners. For links to Suzanne's favorite tools, go to https://tinyurl.com/s2e3-suzanne Stay in touch with us on Instagram @thecalligraphypodcast!

Before the bells start ringing, take time to do some wedding planning of your own. In this episode, Christen and Ajab share tips on how to prepare for wedding season. From prepping pricing guides to setting up automatic systems, we’ll talk about ways you can plan for success in your business. This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com in April and May 2020 for 10% off your online order.

Maybe you took a break for the holidays, the summer or a busy season. Either way, sometimes it can be hard to bounce back and feel motivated to practice calligraphy. We asked you for your best tips for getting back in the saddle and progressing your calligraphy. This episode is sponsored by Paper and Ink Arts. Use code TCP2020 at paperinkarts.com in April and May 2020 for 10% off your online order.

The Calligraphy Podcast is coming back! We've been working behind the scenes to bring you another great season, starting March 16. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you can be the first to know when we are live.

We started from the bottom, now we're here. Less than a year ago, Christen and Ajab decided to venture into the podcast world with The Calligraphy Podcast. In this final episode of Season 1, we talk through each episode and share some of our favorite moments from the show. Stay tuned for more episodes coming in 2020. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram @thecalligraphypodcast.

Take a look at your calligraphy library–is the Speedball Textbook sitting on your shelf? In this last interview of season one, we sat down with Randall Hasson, the co-editor of the 24th edition of the Speedball Textbook. Randy shares about his own art and experience working on the book. You'll hear about show cards, the history of Speedball nibs and how the book evolved to the place it is today. You can find Randy at hassonstudio.com.

From Thanksgiving feasts to holiday cards, this episode is devoted to all the ways you can make calligraphy part of your holiday traditions. We discuss project ideas, client work and personal pieces that will make your home merry and bright.

With calligraphy on the rise, more and more penmen and women are turning their art into a business. We asked our listeners to help us get a grasp of what the calligraphy business climate is like. Are you full-time or part-time? How long have you been in business? What kind of work do you do? These are all questions we asked and YOU answered. We end the show by sharing listener submitted advice for those starting their own business. Follow us on Instagram @thecalligraphypodcast.

After practicing letterform after letterform, it’s time to put those strokes to work! Today we are talking about how to layout a calligraphy art piece. From centering, to learning how your eyes trick your mind, we talk about how we approach a blank page, set up our guides, margins and more. For show notes, visit tinyurl.com/ep16-calligraphypodcast Follow us on Instagram @thecalligraphypodcast.

We bring you our second international guest on the show–Houang Dao of Vietnam. Houang, a calligrapher, pen maker and artist, is a true inspiration to the calligraphy community. On today's episode, we talk about how Houang got started in calligraphy, how he approaches his practice and how he made the most of what he had when he started his calligraphy journey. Spoiler–Christen goes bananas when she hears Houang's tip for prepping handmade paper! You can find out more about Houang at...

Today we hear the inspiring story behind Kalo Make Art right from the source. From approaching new scripts to starting a business, we talk about it all from today's special guest Kalo Chu from Hong Kong. You can follow Kalo at @kalomakeart or @shop.kalomake art. You can visit her website at kalomakeart.com

Ajab and Christen get real about how often they practice (and how long their warm ups take!) We all know it is important for amateurs and professionals alike to practice calligraphy, but sometimes we need a little direction in how to set up an efficient practice session. Listen for tips and tricks for stepping up your practice game. Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher

We welcome Dave of Perfect Biscuits and The Posted Letter to talk with us about the cases for keeping cursive I school. As a tribute to calligraphy, Posted Letter is offering our listeners 20% off their order of the most recent letter. Visit postedletter.com/tcp and use promo code TCP20.

It all started with an Instagram survey. We polled our audience on Instagram and learned that like us, many of you keep your old nibs even when they are unusable. After the survey, we knew we needed to talk about the quirks we have as calligraphers. Follow us on Instagram at @thecalligraphypodcast Listen and Subscribe: iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher

Experimenting with new inks is a great way to branch out in your calligraphy journey. Whether you're a sumi lover like Christen, or an Ecoline fan like Ajab, you'll be sure to find the best ink that suits you. And if you're drinking wine or coffee while you write, your beverage can double as your ink pot! Show Notes and links to inks: tinyurl.com/dipping-in-ink