Personal Q&A With Katrina

Is this your natural writing or did you take lessons? How do you write so fast?

We all get a set of cursive lettering grids to follow in elementary school and all of us have different handwriting, this is just how mine naturally came out. While my handwriting has been inspired by many fonts, all my fonts are original to my evolution. They are like my children and I know how to do them very well.

Font names and history

I named all of my fonts after the people I love and inspired me. Most of my fonts are named after family members and friends. The curves and structure of the fonts are inspired by the personalities of the people that they are named after.

Do you have any templates and/or classes available?

Unfortunately, I do not offer any templates or classes at the moment. I recommend Anne Robin Calligraphy and Laura Hooper Calligraphy. For watercolor, I recommend Jane Gahng of Red Letter Day.

What kind of ink do you use?

Yasutomo - Sumi Ink is my favorite brand of choice

What kind of pens do you use?

My weapon of choice is Hunt 513EF Nib. I use it with a straight pen holder. Unfortunately, I don’t have any fancy pen holders. I have been using mine for over a decade.

How did you learn to flourish without “ruining” your calligraphy?

Sometimes, I look at it and pre-draw it in my head. Most of the time, I just go for it.

How do you write so straight?

It is honestly takes years of practice. When I’m doing projects, I use a grid that varies depending on the projects’ needs. I would make grid lines that I would on top of a lightbox that I can follow.

What do you use to clean your mirrors?

Windex with microfiber cloth and razor blade. You can purchase these items at Home Depot.

Do you make mistakes? How do you deal with them?

Yes, of course! I try very hard not to make mistakes, I am only human, even machines make mistakes. Our company policy requires a 10% to 15% overage in case I make mistakes. For acrylics and some mediums, we use paint thinner to erase mistakes.

What advice can you give someone who wants to start their calligraphy career?

Learn to evolve. Most people will tell you to just keep learning but you should already know that. I did not start with fancy pens or paper and for the most part, I don’t use them. I’ve learned how to use other nibs and they’re great, but you have to learn how to be comfortable with your own preferences. It is not about the expensive materials, it is about how you will control your mediums. For example, when you get a client, they might give you paper that might be different from your practice grids and you have you have to be ready for that. As far as the business is concerned, I started out with $10 and I just kept working and learning from peers.