"Find what you love and let it kill you."
Contrary to popular belief, I do not have the perfect penmanship. In fact, I was never elected (or even nominated!) Secretary in all our 10 years in elementary and high school. (To my classmates: seriously you guys, is my handwriting that bad?! haha!) But of course, I wont take it the wrong way because you guys always make it a point to elect me as our class Muse. Always. Hahaha. Okay, so self-serving but that's true, and at least I'm still a class officer.. of some sort. Hahaha. But you know, I secretly wished, hoped and prayed hard, that I be a secretary even for just one school year. Just ONE! That would have added more awesome points to my already crazy/beautiful high school experience. I mean, who doesn't love using the blackboard?! And having to write a whole T.H.E. book on it?! I don't know about you but that was one of my childhood dreams. But not all dreams can come true because, Kendi and D. hahaha! (Hi girls! miss you and love you!)
The closest thing I ever did in realising that dream though was when my 4th grade classmates elected me as our class Mayor (yep, still not Secretary) but that was okay because I get to write S.T.E.P.S. on our blackboard whenever our teacher was out. Standing. Talking. Eating. Playing. Sleeping(?!) and under each word/category, I'd write the names of those who I thought were being naughty. Hey, don't judge. At least I still get to use the blackboard. hahaha.
So because I thought my penmanship was awful, when our H.E. teacher introduced basic calligraphy in 1st year high school, I didn't really take it seriously. I'd dread making plates after plates after plates of letters written endlessly or until we filled out our Oslo sheet with basic drills. It was both tedious and boring and I hated it. Like, really hated it. I wanted that chapter to end so baaad so I can start making a doormat using abaca rope. hahaha.
That was the first and only time that I used a pen holder and a nib. The next few years of my college life were all about MyGels, G-Techs and Pilot ballpoint pens.
Fast forward to this year when Vania showed interest in painting, that I bought a few art materials for the both of us. It had me experimenting with a traditional brush and a Crayola watercolor pan for kids. If you're already an Instagram user, you will know that IG is the best place for Creatives. shopping-wise. hahaha. I followed a few calligraphers from Manila, tried to take inspiration from them using just a calligraphy pen but it didn't give me the kind of output that I wanted. So I bought my first ever Starter Scribble Set from The Craft Central and the rest was history. It's been 5 months since I dipped my toes into the sea of calligraphy and I'm glad I did. Some days are good, some days are bad, but like what they all say, practice makes progress and I've never been in love with a craft as much as I love calligraphy now. I love it too much that I stay up late at night until the wee hours of the morning just to, well, write and create something for myself, for family and friends, or for commission work. I just hope though that it stays that way for far longer than how I loved playing the piano back then. (Hi, Dad! hahaha!)
Follow me on Instagram @TONIPINO for all my calligraphy hits and misses!
Happy weekend, loves!
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