About The Lady's Writing
"HER even lines her steady temper show ;
Neat as her dress, and polish'd as her brow ;
Strong as her judgment, easy as her air;
Correct though free, and regular though fair :
And the same graces o'er her pen preside
That form her manners and her footsteps guide."
On A Lady's Writing, Anna Laetitia Barbauld
Calligraphy is more than just about writing words beautifully. Like languages, one of the media through which we express emotions through carefully picking and arranging words in accordance with established rules, calligraphy embodies the same intelligent fusion of sense and sensibility in its precise and discreet execution of strokes that altogether carry our emotions, feelings or messages. Calligraphy, therefore, trains not only the hand but also the eyes and the mind. So many invaluable attributes are cultivated in the process of calligraphy practice. While grace in writing is the common goal to pursue, perseverance, patience, passion, humility, calmness, etc. are the bonus treasures that we can often find in the journey. If you ask me what the best part about the art is, its rich and strong connection with character must be it. And it’s also because of such a connection, calligraphy is always growing, reshaping and improving with the calligrapher.
It all started with a TV programme regarding the preparation for the Shaw Prize presentation ceremony when I was first exposed to the art of western calligraphy while watching a lady’s hand elegantly slid across a prize certificate, leaving a name on it written in beautiful copperplate and me struck with awe in front of the TV. Too desperate to try writing, I decided to self learn it with the help of the almighty Google search engine, the lovely sharing platform Instagram on which I could check out how others did it and also the online calligraphy shops from which I have got so many useful materials and reference books. I reckoned that although it was going to be a long journey, it’d be a remarkable one after certain years when I check how far I have made so in November 2014, I set up this Facebook page and turned my Instagram account into one that’s 99% about my calligraphy journey. And of course, I came across the above poem randomly and instantly found it incredibly relatable, hence the name of my brand, The Lady’s Writing.
Copperplate is my first love and the first script that I befriended. I quickly moved on to engrosser’s script for I found its pace and rhythm were easier to grasp. Since 2016, I have had some opportunities to participate in calligraphy workshops conducted by accomplished overseas calligraphers to share their insights on various scripts. Currently, I am writing engrosser’s script, Spencerian and Italian hand and I hope in the future there are other scripts to add to this list. So this is the story behind The Lady’s Writing, I hope you enjoyed reading it.
Love,
Angie Fong
Founder Artist & Calligrapher,
The Lady’s Writing
meet the artist
Our Founder Artist and Calligrapher, Angie Fong, is a calligraphy enthusiast who embarked on her calligraphy journey through self-learning in 2014, with engrosser's script as her first love and forte. She also works in other scripts such as Madarasz script, and Spencerian. In addition to dip pen calligraphy, Angie also creates other types of art works such as hot foiling on leather and alternative surfaces, botanical illustration, brush lettering and gilding art. Over the years, she has worked with various brands and events such as Dior, Vacheron Constantin, Jo Malone London, Young Living, QRE Funtastic Festival, etc., rendering calligraphy services to customers and event participants.