Everyone has a hobby that they have picked up – be it for fun or to better themselves. just for the sake of doing it. It may be something trivial, it may be something difficult and expensive.
For Kelly Lee, drawing words in fancy curls and strokes was initially meant as a way to pass the time, but now it has transformed into her profession.
How it began
In 2015, Kelly, who was then 17, came across several beautiful artworks on Pinterest that had artistic themes centred around words and alphabets.
Amazed by how one could do beautiful works of art with different fonts, she began venturing into the calligraphy world by creating her unique style and font.
“In the early stages of picking up this hobby, I would use food colourings and paintbrushes to draw my fonts.
“Later on, I bought lots of different tools but most didn’t achieve the results I wanted.”
After a series of trial and error, she realised that her forte was brush pen and copperplate art and focused on developing these two styles.
According to Kelly, each style has its distinctive effects and tones and can be used in various situations.
“Copperplate drawings are usually used for high end and stylish artwork, while brush pen art is suitable for a casual occasion.”
Window of opportunity
Despite not having any prior experience in calligraphy, Kelly never stopped practising and continued to acquire new skills by attending online courses.
She also accepted commissions throughout the few years of training by designing welcome boards for public events and businesses such as cafes.
News of Kelly’s work eventually reached the ears of Sin Ling and Jane Liew, two experienced florists who were launching a new floral business named L’Art Floral Designs.
“They invited me to join their team as they believed I was the ‘new blood’ they needed.”
“I was tasked with incorporating youthfulness and modernity into the shop’s identity. I was also in charge of designing the fonts for cards and posters as well as managing their social media account,” she said.
Besides selling flowers and cards, L’Art Floral Designs also organised floristry workshops, with Kelly contributing her knowledge on the calligraphy aspect.
Seeing calligraphy in a new light
To this day, Kelly regards calligraphy as a strong passion of hers as she finds it fun and exciting.
“Calligraphy is very fulfilling for me, especially when someone appreciates my work.”
One of Kelly’s fondest memories was her first calligraphy project, where her church requested her to design the cafe window.
“It was my first time drawing on windows, and I did not ask for anything in return. However, they loved it and rewarded me afterwards.”
“I felt that my creation was valued and appreciated, and it really boosted my confidence.”
Kelly thinks that the calligraphy industry is still budding in Malaysia on both the consumer and supplier’s end.
She also believes that it will continue to grow by leaps and bounds in the years to come.
“Most would choose hand-drawn calligraphy over print as it brings a nostalgic sentiment and adds personalized value into the design.”
“As our quality of life improves, there will be a higher demand for artistic designs and hand-drawn calligraphy,” she said.
Kelly also encouraged more people to give calligraphy a try while the scene remains a fertile ground for expansion.
“Don’t give up and grasp every opportunity to learn. Never lose sight of your initial passion too.”
Follow L’Art Floral Designs’ Instagram to find out more about Kelly’s work!
Sources: Kelly Lee
Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
