A master of type, his direct approach of typography questions our ways of life with the aim of producing a positive impact. “I have been working with type as a profession for a few years, but I discovered calligraphy when I was in middle school,” he recalled in an interview with We Heart. “Since then, I was always doodling on my notes — and graffiti has continued to be an influence.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

As for his inspiration, he describes it as “a weird mix.” “Somehow I manage to merge my interests and draw inspiration from them,” he adds. “I started to do calligraphy on my own earlier on in life. I was lucky in Mexico that this was taught to us, starting in elementary school. I never thought it was a profession, so I just did it because I enjoyed it. I was also exposed to lettering through my grandfather — after seeing photos of his work in the 1940s and ’50s.”

Having studied graphic design in school, sharpened his technical skills and gave him the opportunity to go to school for typeface design and attend workshops. “Some of the tools I use to create come back to graffiti and how it has influenced me over the years,” he says. “I also like to experiment with the combination of digital and analog; handmade and contemporary.”

Take a look at some of his original artwork:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

The post This Typography Artist Is Wholly Inspired By Graffiti appeared first on PlayJunkie.

A hand-drawn type master, Taïeb (also known as Tyrsa) went from graffiti to graphic design and now works from his home in Paris. His work including both print and digital commissions, his creations range from murals, posters, and enormous installations to small, detailed packaging designs.

“I started in graffiti and moved into typography, so I brought that street style and energy into my work in a way that seems to connect with people,” said Tyrsa in an interview with Creative Bloq. “But of course, I know that I’m not the only person who’s followed this path. So I think one thing that helps make my work distinctive and different is that it’s underpinned by a proper understanding of the fundamental principles of typography, which I taught myself.”

According to him, it’s not just cool-looking lettering. Rather, his work follows the function of typography in an organized manner, matching each project with the specific client. “My parents were very unhappy with me doing graffiti originally,” he admits, “so every day I feel blessed that I can work as a designer and keep creating cool new things.”

Take a look at some of his cool designs:

The post Tyrsa Is the Hand-Drawn Type Master appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“The main message of my art is just to share my life and experiences,” Weaver further explained in an interview with SD Voyager. “I want to connect with others that have had the same or similar experiences while creating a beautiful finished product that is enjoyable to look at. I hope that my work is uplifting, funny, and sparks fun memories in people. I hope it makes them feel good.”

Her work is sometimes directed at other aspiring creators, with some including messages like: “If it scares you, do it anyway,” and “start right now”. “I hope people look at my work and get excited about it,” says Weaver. “I hope it sparks a drive in them to create something wonderful that they love and are passionate about. I hope it is motivating to other artists and connects with people who just love to look at art too.”

According to Weaver, her inspiration stems from human experiences. “I don’t want to just create a beautiful piece of work,” she stresses, “but I want it to connect with someone and mean something to them too.” With clients that include Healthcare, Juice and Wellness Bars, and Float spas, people are definitely tuning in to her positive messages.

And when she’s not drawing on her ipad or watching tutorials on all things design and lettering, you can find her traveling, painting with watercolors, reading, and hiking (or climbing) her way through National Parks. Here’s one Instagram account you’d want to follow these days:

The post “Don’t Be Perfect, Be Real” and Other Inspiring Messages by Taylor Weaver appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Combining her background in graphic design and fine art, Laderer aims to create positive change. “I think a burning planet, plastic straws, and social injustices suck,” she notes. “That’s why I choose to work with people like you who believe in a more eco and socially conscious future.”

With almost 20k followers on Instagram alone, people (and brands) are clearly tuning in to her positive message. But it took Laderer some time and courage to take the leap of faith necessary when launching a creative career. “I spent years exploring art, learning from mentors and teachers,” she recalled in an interview with Ever Made. “But, I got a little off track and took the responsible route, e.g. going to college for graphic design.”

According to Laderer, after graduation and the impending reality that this was it, she decided to return to her original passion – making art. “So I did it; I learned from everything I could get my hands on, put myself out there, and shared my work,” she says.

“My experiences, and personal journey have been integral to what my art has currently transitioned into,” says Laderer. You’d want to join in on her creative journey:

The post Kelli Laderer Pursues Positivity appeared first on PlayJunkie.

A wedding stationer (yes, this job exists), her thoughtful designs include anything from boho, vintage and rustic themes to more traditional and luxurious designs. Her design studio, Blush & Blossom, based in Leeds, Yorkshire, offers a variety of house collections available where you can fully customize your own wording. Alternatively, if you are looking for something a little more bespoke, Fisher offers private services, based on your very specific needs.

Amongst her more original designs are DIY “Save the Date” tipis. “We are having a tipi wedding in the Lake District, so after doing a bit of research and various designs, that’s when the pop-up tipi came to life,” she explained the thought process behind her work in an interview with Printed. “I love quirky designs and a lot of color, and I also wanted something that people will remember and have some fun with.”

“I’d hate to think that print and stationery is dying out as it’s so magical to create designs, have these printed and have something tactile to hold and cherish forever,” she reflects. “I believe there is still a strong desire for printed stationery and my clients are keeping me busy, so that must be a sign!”

Follow her Instagram page for more:

The post Emma Fisher Wants Your Wedding Invitations to Really Pop! appeared first on PlayJunkie.

While Chalie is an illustrator and product designer, Gav, a graphic designer himself, is a more behind-the-scenes sort of guy, in charge of the artwork set-up, and managing print production as well as the technical side of the products and social media. They also have a cat, Mr. Miaow, who acts as CCEO (Chief Cat Executive Officer), involved in all elements of the business.

“Mister Miaow’s job is to wait till I’m working on something very important and launch himself ninja-style onto my desk,” joked Charlie in an interview with the Printed blog. “He’ll flump himself onto whatever I’m drawing or making.”

According to Chalie, though our world is fully immersed in all things digital, there is still a real need for stationery. “I’ve asked a lot of people to recall the last time they sent or received a lovely handwritten letter,” she says. “Hardly anyone could remember. There’s no getting away from the ease of an email, but I really hope that by selling these products I can get as many people as possible taking a little time out of their day to correspond to a friend or loved one with a letter.”

Sleepy Bee Studio’s products include notebooks, postcards, letter paper, envelopes, and gold-foiled logo stickers. They have also designed illustrated tissue paper that’s printed using soy ink and added in self-adhesive wax seals to the range to give it a lovely finish. The gift sets also come with little handmade faux-leather envelope pencil pouches. In other words: it’s all quite wonderful.

The post The Sleepy Bee Studio Will Encourage You to Handwrite Your Letters appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Seb is a designer and calligrapher from Lewes in East Sussex, England. He’s also a social media darling and a leader of an online arts community, thanks to his incredible calligraphic skills.

Seb’s craft, calligraphy, is as old as time. Writers and artists have been designing and decorating the texts they were writing ever since writing existed, and we can find examples of calligraphic traditions all over the world – from China and India to the United States. There’s something captivating in intricate, carefully-designed lettering – it’s as if the text is more than just a text, the ink on the paper itself is a type of art.

Unfortunately, like many age-old traditions, calligraphy has been a dying art in the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Today, most of us communicate via text messages and emails, not hand-written letters, and the interest in such thing is quickly waning. But Seb has brought calligraphy to the 21^st century, thanks to social media.

Seb has been documenting and sharing his work on Instagram for years, and the platform has helped him, as well as other calligraphers, find a new audience, in followers who enjoy seeing the writing process itself. In an age when our day-to-day is overwhelmed with stimulations, Seb’s slow, deliberate process is oddly soothing.  

Today, Seb has 1 million followers on Instagram, and he can keep doing what he loves – turning letters into art.  

The post Designer Turns Letters into Art appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Now working as a graphic designer, she treats calligraphy as her side job. A member of the Society for Calligraphy in Southern California, Yoshida has studied with masters calligraphers and has taken many classes and workshops to improve her skills.

“After attending various workshops and conferences, the best takeaway is that calligraphy is a life-long learning experience,” she writes on her website. “There are students who are already very skilled, yet still very humble and want to learn from the best. I find that extremely inspiring. I am a perpetual student and truly believe we should never stop learning to improve our craft. I have learned so much, but I have a lifetime’s worth of studying to go.”

“We need to be constantly learning and honing our skills in order for calligraphy to stay relevant, and to keep up with the changing times and client requests,” she added in an interview with The Pen Company. “I firmly believe that to be a good calligrapher, we need to study from the old masters.”

“Many practicing calligraphers are self-taught and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I knew early on that if I was to be serious about the art and craft of calligraphy, I had to learn it the right way, which is from professional calligraphers,” she went on to explain.

Take a look at some of her work on Instagram:

The post Practice Makes Perfect: Follow Linda Yoshida’s Calligraphy Journey appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“I think a lot of businesses are starting to see how, in a row of shops with neon or plastic signs, a nice piece of handprinted signage can set you apart,” Mackenzie-Gray remarked in an interview with Lecture in Progress. “There’s that tangibility to it. It’s human.”

Amongst his many happy clients are Honest Burgers and the Museum of London, with his painting surfaces also varying, to include brick walls, gloss, shop faces, and glass.

“There’s a few different ways of doing it,” he says. “You can draw a design, print it up on acetate, project it onto the wall, trace it onto wrapping paper, and then use the pounce, (or pounce-wheel), running it over the design perforates the paper, and then use a chalk pad. You put your design on the wall where you want it, bang the chalk pad through, take the paper off and you’ve got a dotted line. A lot of these methods are hundreds of years old; things haven’t changed much at all.”

“I’m so glad that I can do this job, that there are clients that will pay me to do it,” he concluded.

The post These Contemporary Hand Painted Signs Rely on Ancient Methods appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“I feel like lettering has added so much to my life and given me the balance it needed through some busy and tough times,” she gushed in an interview with Surely Simple. “It is amazing how adding just a few hours of a hobby for yourself can make you a better, all-around more effective person. I feel like I am currently the best wife, mom, and teacher I have ever been and I think much of that is allowing myself to take part in an activity that uses my creativity, relaxes me, and brings me constant joy and inspiration.”

Her first and most important tip to starting calligraphers? To have fun! “It is so important to have fun and find your own style through the process of practicing modern calligraphy,” she told Surely Simple. “My biggest tip is to find your own style through lettering. This takes tons of practice but will make your lettering unique and will make it so much more fun!”

Aside from using a pointed pen, she also works with gouache, Tombow brush pens, and watercolor brushes to write her calligraphy. “My favorite way to explore new styles is to pick up a pencil or brush pen and just start writing,” she says. “Yes, there are tons of inspiring people on Instagram and it’s ok to find things that you like in others’ work, but the best way to find your own style is to put down the phone, get out the pens, and just practice until you find what you love.”

Take note!

The post Improve Your Lettering Skills with This Lefty Calligrapher appeared first on PlayJunkie.

A master of type, his direct approach of typography questions our ways of life with the aim of producing a positive impact. “I have been working with type as a profession for a few years, but I discovered calligraphy when I was in middle school,” he recalled in an interview with We Heart. “Since then, I was always doodling on my notes — and graffiti has continued to be an influence.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

As for his inspiration, he describes it as “a weird mix.” “Somehow I manage to merge my interests and draw inspiration from them,” he adds. “I started to do calligraphy on my own earlier on in life. I was lucky in Mexico that this was taught to us, starting in elementary school. I never thought it was a profession, so I just did it because I enjoyed it. I was also exposed to lettering through my grandfather — after seeing photos of his work in the 1940s and ’50s.”

Having studied graphic design in school, sharpened his technical skills and gave him the opportunity to go to school for typeface design and attend workshops. “Some of the tools I use to create come back to graffiti and how it has influenced me over the years,” he says. “I also like to experiment with the combination of digital and analog; handmade and contemporary.”

Take a look at some of his original artwork:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IT’S A LIVING (@itsaliving)

The post This Typography Artist Is Wholly Inspired By Graffiti appeared first on PlayJunkie.

A hand-drawn type master, Taïeb (also known as Tyrsa) went from graffiti to graphic design and now works from his home in Paris. His work including both print and digital commissions, his creations range from murals, posters, and enormous installations to small, detailed packaging designs.

“I started in graffiti and moved into typography, so I brought that street style and energy into my work in a way that seems to connect with people,” said Tyrsa in an interview with Creative Bloq. “But of course, I know that I’m not the only person who’s followed this path. So I think one thing that helps make my work distinctive and different is that it’s underpinned by a proper understanding of the fundamental principles of typography, which I taught myself.”

According to him, it’s not just cool-looking lettering. Rather, his work follows the function of typography in an organized manner, matching each project with the specific client. “My parents were very unhappy with me doing graffiti originally,” he admits, “so every day I feel blessed that I can work as a designer and keep creating cool new things.”

Take a look at some of his cool designs:

The post Tyrsa Is the Hand-Drawn Type Master appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“The main message of my art is just to share my life and experiences,” Weaver further explained in an interview with SD Voyager. “I want to connect with others that have had the same or similar experiences while creating a beautiful finished product that is enjoyable to look at. I hope that my work is uplifting, funny, and sparks fun memories in people. I hope it makes them feel good.”

Her work is sometimes directed at other aspiring creators, with some including messages like: “If it scares you, do it anyway,” and “start right now”. “I hope people look at my work and get excited about it,” says Weaver. “I hope it sparks a drive in them to create something wonderful that they love and are passionate about. I hope it is motivating to other artists and connects with people who just love to look at art too.”

According to Weaver, her inspiration stems from human experiences. “I don’t want to just create a beautiful piece of work,” she stresses, “but I want it to connect with someone and mean something to them too.” With clients that include Healthcare, Juice and Wellness Bars, and Float spas, people are definitely tuning in to her positive messages.

And when she’s not drawing on her ipad or watching tutorials on all things design and lettering, you can find her traveling, painting with watercolors, reading, and hiking (or climbing) her way through National Parks. Here’s one Instagram account you’d want to follow these days:

The post “Don’t Be Perfect, Be Real” and Other Inspiring Messages by Taylor Weaver appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Combining her background in graphic design and fine art, Laderer aims to create positive change. “I think a burning planet, plastic straws, and social injustices suck,” she notes. “That’s why I choose to work with people like you who believe in a more eco and socially conscious future.”

With almost 20k followers on Instagram alone, people (and brands) are clearly tuning in to her positive message. But it took Laderer some time and courage to take the leap of faith necessary when launching a creative career. “I spent years exploring art, learning from mentors and teachers,” she recalled in an interview with Ever Made. “But, I got a little off track and took the responsible route, e.g. going to college for graphic design.”

According to Laderer, after graduation and the impending reality that this was it, she decided to return to her original passion – making art. “So I did it; I learned from everything I could get my hands on, put myself out there, and shared my work,” she says.

“My experiences, and personal journey have been integral to what my art has currently transitioned into,” says Laderer. You’d want to join in on her creative journey:

The post Kelli Laderer Pursues Positivity appeared first on PlayJunkie.

A wedding stationer (yes, this job exists), her thoughtful designs include anything from boho, vintage and rustic themes to more traditional and luxurious designs. Her design studio, Blush & Blossom, based in Leeds, Yorkshire, offers a variety of house collections available where you can fully customize your own wording. Alternatively, if you are looking for something a little more bespoke, Fisher offers private services, based on your very specific needs.

Amongst her more original designs are DIY “Save the Date” tipis. “We are having a tipi wedding in the Lake District, so after doing a bit of research and various designs, that’s when the pop-up tipi came to life,” she explained the thought process behind her work in an interview with Printed. “I love quirky designs and a lot of color, and I also wanted something that people will remember and have some fun with.”

“I’d hate to think that print and stationery is dying out as it’s so magical to create designs, have these printed and have something tactile to hold and cherish forever,” she reflects. “I believe there is still a strong desire for printed stationery and my clients are keeping me busy, so that must be a sign!”

Follow her Instagram page for more:

The post Emma Fisher Wants Your Wedding Invitations to Really Pop! appeared first on PlayJunkie.

While Chalie is an illustrator and product designer, Gav, a graphic designer himself, is a more behind-the-scenes sort of guy, in charge of the artwork set-up, and managing print production as well as the technical side of the products and social media. They also have a cat, Mr. Miaow, who acts as CCEO (Chief Cat Executive Officer), involved in all elements of the business.

“Mister Miaow’s job is to wait till I’m working on something very important and launch himself ninja-style onto my desk,” joked Charlie in an interview with the Printed blog. “He’ll flump himself onto whatever I’m drawing or making.”

According to Chalie, though our world is fully immersed in all things digital, there is still a real need for stationery. “I’ve asked a lot of people to recall the last time they sent or received a lovely handwritten letter,” she says. “Hardly anyone could remember. There’s no getting away from the ease of an email, but I really hope that by selling these products I can get as many people as possible taking a little time out of their day to correspond to a friend or loved one with a letter.”

Sleepy Bee Studio’s products include notebooks, postcards, letter paper, envelopes, and gold-foiled logo stickers. They have also designed illustrated tissue paper that’s printed using soy ink and added in self-adhesive wax seals to the range to give it a lovely finish. The gift sets also come with little handmade faux-leather envelope pencil pouches. In other words: it’s all quite wonderful.

The post The Sleepy Bee Studio Will Encourage You to Handwrite Your Letters appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Seb is a designer and calligrapher from Lewes in East Sussex, England. He’s also a social media darling and a leader of an online arts community, thanks to his incredible calligraphic skills.

Seb’s craft, calligraphy, is as old as time. Writers and artists have been designing and decorating the texts they were writing ever since writing existed, and we can find examples of calligraphic traditions all over the world – from China and India to the United States. There’s something captivating in intricate, carefully-designed lettering – it’s as if the text is more than just a text, the ink on the paper itself is a type of art.

Unfortunately, like many age-old traditions, calligraphy has been a dying art in the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Today, most of us communicate via text messages and emails, not hand-written letters, and the interest in such thing is quickly waning. But Seb has brought calligraphy to the 21^st century, thanks to social media.

Seb has been documenting and sharing his work on Instagram for years, and the platform has helped him, as well as other calligraphers, find a new audience, in followers who enjoy seeing the writing process itself. In an age when our day-to-day is overwhelmed with stimulations, Seb’s slow, deliberate process is oddly soothing.  

Today, Seb has 1 million followers on Instagram, and he can keep doing what he loves – turning letters into art.  

The post Designer Turns Letters into Art appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Now working as a graphic designer, she treats calligraphy as her side job. A member of the Society for Calligraphy in Southern California, Yoshida has studied with masters calligraphers and has taken many classes and workshops to improve her skills.

“After attending various workshops and conferences, the best takeaway is that calligraphy is a life-long learning experience,” she writes on her website. “There are students who are already very skilled, yet still very humble and want to learn from the best. I find that extremely inspiring. I am a perpetual student and truly believe we should never stop learning to improve our craft. I have learned so much, but I have a lifetime’s worth of studying to go.”

“We need to be constantly learning and honing our skills in order for calligraphy to stay relevant, and to keep up with the changing times and client requests,” she added in an interview with The Pen Company. “I firmly believe that to be a good calligrapher, we need to study from the old masters.”

“Many practicing calligraphers are self-taught and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I knew early on that if I was to be serious about the art and craft of calligraphy, I had to learn it the right way, which is from professional calligraphers,” she went on to explain.

Take a look at some of her work on Instagram:

The post Practice Makes Perfect: Follow Linda Yoshida’s Calligraphy Journey appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“I think a lot of businesses are starting to see how, in a row of shops with neon or plastic signs, a nice piece of handprinted signage can set you apart,” Mackenzie-Gray remarked in an interview with Lecture in Progress. “There’s that tangibility to it. It’s human.”

Amongst his many happy clients are Honest Burgers and the Museum of London, with his painting surfaces also varying, to include brick walls, gloss, shop faces, and glass.

“There’s a few different ways of doing it,” he says. “You can draw a design, print it up on acetate, project it onto the wall, trace it onto wrapping paper, and then use the pounce, (or pounce-wheel), running it over the design perforates the paper, and then use a chalk pad. You put your design on the wall where you want it, bang the chalk pad through, take the paper off and you’ve got a dotted line. A lot of these methods are hundreds of years old; things haven’t changed much at all.”

“I’m so glad that I can do this job, that there are clients that will pay me to do it,” he concluded.

The post These Contemporary Hand Painted Signs Rely on Ancient Methods appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“I feel like lettering has added so much to my life and given me the balance it needed through some busy and tough times,” she gushed in an interview with Surely Simple. “It is amazing how adding just a few hours of a hobby for yourself can make you a better, all-around more effective person. I feel like I am currently the best wife, mom, and teacher I have ever been and I think much of that is allowing myself to take part in an activity that uses my creativity, relaxes me, and brings me constant joy and inspiration.”

Her first and most important tip to starting calligraphers? To have fun! “It is so important to have fun and find your own style through the process of practicing modern calligraphy,” she told Surely Simple. “My biggest tip is to find your own style through lettering. This takes tons of practice but will make your lettering unique and will make it so much more fun!”

Aside from using a pointed pen, she also works with gouache, Tombow brush pens, and watercolor brushes to write her calligraphy. “My favorite way to explore new styles is to pick up a pencil or brush pen and just start writing,” she says. “Yes, there are tons of inspiring people on Instagram and it’s ok to find things that you like in others’ work, but the best way to find your own style is to put down the phone, get out the pens, and just practice until you find what you love.”

Take note!

The post Improve Your Lettering Skills with This Lefty Calligrapher appeared first on PlayJunkie.