Be an Artist

Sometimes you just need to put pen to paper and write. There was a time, early in my calligraphy journey, when I could not have imagined being able to execute this beautiful, elegant script with precision and fluency, yet here I am (more than ten years and thousands of hours in study and practice later) - so proud of how far I've come and still somehow feeling ever farther from that elusive goal named "Perfection". That distance always grows in direct correlation to my acquisition of knowlege on the subject. Just as I've learned in my medical career - and I'm certain it's a universal truth - the more you know, the more you realize you don't know.

In our modern, tech-driven world, one might wonder, "why bother?". Why toil to master an outdated artform like calligraphy, or even cursive penmanship? My answer is multi-faceted. First of all, this skill (or hobby, or whatever you want to call it) is a dying art. In 2026, only about half of US states still mandate cursive instruction. I fear the ability to read historical documents could be lost by humans in as few as one to two generations. If this happens, we lose a direct connection to history. I'm glad I have the ability to pour over old census records and understand what they say and what that means for my own family tree. On a greater scale, the stakes are much higher - these are skills we don't want to lose! Personally, my love for penmanship has brought a strong sense of connection to the past as I study historical scripts and the men and women who developed and mastered them a century or longer ago. I also think of my Granny's journals - a series of yellowing, spiral notebooks dating from the 1970's to 1990's - her thoughts and prayers in her own handwriting, showcasing her spirit in a way a typed or dictated document never could - and now preserved in a tangible form for generations to come.

I also think of the human connection. Something that could never be replicated by AI. Just in sitting and writing this piece [originally written pen to paper] I've used skills learned from world-class calligraphers and tools crafted by "pen friends" from around the world. I switched from pointed pen calligraphy to fountain pen cursive when the thoughts started flowing faster than the ink, but just in the first half page I represented a half dozen or more wonderful people I've had the joy to know personally, and to be influenced by as both an artist and a human. My Engrosser's Script journey was very early on inspired by the crafstmanship and excellence of a great calligrapher and artist named Jake, as well as the beautifully elegant script of my dear friend, Chantelle (my greatest encourager). My skills were challenged and honed through lessons and (mostly kind) rebukes from teachers like Bill and Kalo. The influence and investment of these people in myself and in the greater calligraphy community has made me the calligrapher I am today (despite still having a long way to go!). And on a more tangible level, the teal ink I wrote it in was handmade by my lovely Scottish friend, Jenni. It sat on my "Ink Me This" ink stirrer, the brainchild of business and calligraphy guru, Kestrel. My penholder is a treasured, exquisitely crafted and meticulously engraved work of art made from deer antler and brass by Hoang from Vietnam. More than names, I know and have interacted with each of these people personally and value each and every one of them (and so many more!).

This human connection I've found in the calligraphy and penmanship world extends far beyond the scope of this short essay, and the people I've met and friends I've made along the way are too numerous to list. Honestly, I just thought tonight that I would sit and write for a few minutes - practice makes progress as they say - but the weight of the AI world has been sitting heavy on my heart the last few weeks and the words just came. If I could narrow this down to two points it would be these:

First of all, never be afraid to start something new and especially don't be afraid of failing. You never know what an amazing journey could be awaiting you and what friends you will make along the way.

And lastly - art is human. Whether or not you believe as I do that we are made in the image of the great Creator - we can all agree that creativity is a core trait of humanity. AI can't replicate that. Preserve humanity - preserve creativity - go be an artist!