Divina Verba
Calligraphy & Illumination
traditional & Contemporary
These pieces are designed to look more "modern." Although some of the hands (fonts) I've used are actually centuries old, they are common today and familiar to a contemporary audience. Decorative elements are less "medieval-ly."
Traditional
To my eye, these traditional pieces look more 19th Century, both because I've used hand variations that keep within that aesthetic and because of the decorative elements.
Book Excerpt
Birthday Gift
Quote
Commissioned as a gift for a man who loved the books of Horatio Hornblower.
The classic, simple Copperplate script was done in iron gall ink. Writing is approximately 6mm high.
Ship illustration was done in a sumi ink wash. Arches Text Wove paper custom cut to 18 by 18 inches.
Commissioned as a gift for a man who loved the books of Horatio Hornblower.
A very simple text in a classic Italic hand. The calligraphy was done in black gouache.
Iris was painted in gouache.
Off-white Canson Mis-Tientes paper custom cut to 20 by 18 inches.
A very simple text in a classic Italic hand. The calligraphy was done in black gouache.
This commemorative quote was done in a classic Italic hand.
Some calligraphic flourishes added to the descenders and ascenders.
Arches Text Wove paper custom cut to 19 x 10 inches.
This commemorative quote was done in a classic Italic hand.
Various
Client wanted three, individualized 'thank you' cards, each with a different text and hand.
Calligraphy done in Italic, Uncial, and a modern Foundational.
Classic Italic calligraphy on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX.
Client wanted three, individualized 'thank you' cards, each with a different text and hand.
Contemporary
To my eyes, these pieces have a more modern feel. The hands are either 20th Century inventions or variations on older ones.
Funny Poem
Poem
Wedding Gift
Non-traditional lay-out for a non-traditional poem.
Text of the poem done in a Minuskillian hand and white gouache.
Title done in Killian Capitals. Title and accents gilded with 23k gold leaf.
Non-traditional lay-out for a non-traditional poem.
Lucille Clifton poem was done in a modernized version of Italic and hand embossed with a plant and moon.
Modern Italic calligraphy variation is designed with a more 'pointed' look. Black gouache.
Paper was hand embossed with decorative elements evocative of the poem's text.
Lucille Clifton poem was done in a modernized version of Italic and hand embossed with a plant and moon.
Poem
Bat Mitzvah Gift
Various
Gingko leaves and moon gilded with two kinds of gold and a variety of gilding techniques
Strips of repeated text in the Capitalis Quadrata calligraphy hand woven together
Gingko leaves and moon gilded with two kinds of gold and a variety of gilding techniques