As I was writing in my journal a few days ago, I thought about my handwriting. It started as uniform, traced over block letters made with pale dotted blue lines on exercise sheets. I then reproduced the letters on my own, on printed lines, making sure each hump of an m met the middle line and each mast of an L spanned all three lines. I wrote each letter hundreds of times, copying and practicing the same printed letter that all of my classmates were copying and practicing. There was a sameness as we were all learning, and then, once the dotted examples and three lines were removed, we each found our own hand.
I remember working on my handwriting to find my distinct voice. I went through a bubble-over-the-i phase and a double-story-a phase. Sometimes my ts had tails, and other times they didn’t. Sometimes I wrote my cursive Ss in the traditional style, and other times I printed them. My 8s have always been two independently-drawn circles, and 7s have always had a line through the middle as the Europeans write them.
We all start at the same point – tracing, copying, practicing, and then our writing evolves (or devolves in the case of my eldest son). Some people are intentional about that evolution, while others develop a style through repetition and habit. Either way, we all move on from the classic kindergarten handwriting worksheets. We find our style, point of view, and unique flair whether we intend to or not. Through a lifetime of writing, we develop our own signature.
Over the years, I’ve often been asked about discovering a style, whether it refers to furniture refinishing, writing, photography, decorating, or art. I’ve often thought about my own style, how it came to be, where it’s going next, and how to find those parts of it that feel elusive.
I don’t think your style or mine is discovered by looking. I know from experience that it is found in the doing. In the practice, in the struggle, in the finished pieces we’re proud of, and just as equally as the ones that end up in the trash. It’s found with intentionality and just as equally in repetition and habit.
Finding your style is also not a destination. It’s a journey. Through a lifetime of making things, creating things, we develop our own signature.
PS – We increased the font size of the blog posts, so let me know if it’s big enough!
23 Responses
Thank you for the larger font size!! <3
Font size is great for my phone! Thank you!
Font size is much better, thank you!
Thank you for the larger font size!
Perfect size. Thank you.
Perfect size.
Font size much better! Thank you!
Font is good now! I remember a friend coming into my studio one day and looking around at all my paintings and saying, “Well, you definitely have a recognizable style in you paintings.” I was shocked. I didn’t see it then but eventually I did. My style keeps evolving and hopefully for the better as my painting years continue. My handwriting is what I would call eclectic. I have several styles depending on my mood or subject matter. I’ve always wanted to settle a style, but it hasn’t happened yet.
The font is perfect! And my handwriting depends on the pen I’m using. Ballpoint pens result in messy letters but those gel point pens are a dream!
Anyone reading your blog who finds the font too small can simply hit Control + to increase the size.
Thank you so much for larger font.
Love your work and admire so much your determination and work ethic. I admire all of your work. Thank you for blessing us all.
Hugs,
Judy Truex Reed
Love this post! And it’s even better because I could see it without eye strain!
Thank you!!!
So happy to read this post and discover the larger font size – so much easier to read than the last few posts! Thank you!
Font for the blog post is much better — thank you!
Font on the comments is still pretty small…
Bonjour! Is the still life peaches in pedestal bowl for sale in this post? And may I know the size?
Merci’
Cathy
Oh yes, font size is much better. Thank you!
Thank you for increasing the font size!
Hurray for the font size! Much better.
Font is great. Handwriting being a lefty has always been a challenge.
As someone who is just now embarking on a 30 year delayed journey back to art making, this analogy makes so much sense. I can tell that I am for sure in the stage of tracing the dotted outlines and want to skip ahead to the personalized masterpieces that I hope are still in me. Thanks for this post.
Great font size!
I still practice my handwriting! It was my favorite subject in school! I’m still finding my style and continue to see it change from when I first had my own home over 4 decades ago. This post also spoke to me about how practicing anything — is part of the process. For me, painting, lettering, etc.
Thank you, the font size is much better!