The Colleagues of Calligraphy Board of Directors

Our current board members' stories are much like those of many before us: calligraphy somehow captured our attention, became a part of us, and now includes service to our organization.

We hope they will inspire you to volunteer with the organization.

Board members serve a term of three years, and no more than two consecutive terms in the primary positions of president, vice president, treasurer and secretary.

Colleen Mlecoch, President

president@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com

How did you first become interested in calligraphy? When I was seven years old, I watched my uncle Billy — a graphic artist who always had fun art projects for my sisters and me — writing names, places and dates in our family bible. He was using a curious and wonderful pen, dipping it in a bottle of ink and lettering in something he called “Gothic script.” I thought it was beautiful and asked him to teach me how to make letters like that.

How did you first learn about the Colleagues? Fast forward 20 years…just out of graduate school and excited to have a bit of unscheduled time available, I took a calligraphy class, “The Foundational Hand,” from Diane von Arx. It was from her that I first learned about and joined the Colleagues.

Do you have a favorite hand to work in? I have a favorite tool to work with, the folded pen, and enjoy applying it to a variety of hands.

What hand/hands have you never studied but would really like to? Roman Capitals, in a very serious way.

What application(s) of your calligraphy do you like the most?
Broadsides, wedding certificates, cards.

What is the best calligraphy advice you ever received? Master Roman Capitals.

What advice would you give to people who are interested in learning how to do calligraphy? Master Roman Capitals.

What made you decide to join the Colleagues? Diane von Arx introduction to the Colleagues.

What does being a member of the Colleagues of Calligraphy mean to you? An opportunity to engage with folks who share a love of making lovely letters.

How did you decide you were willing to become a board member? We needed a Treasurer and it's a job I can do.

What is the future you would like to see for the Colleagues of Calligraphy? PERSIST!

Julie Cardozo, Vice President

vicepresident@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com

How did you first become interested in calligraphy?

How did you first learn about the Colleagues?

Do you have a favorite hand to work in?

What hand/hands have you never studied but would really like to?

What application(s) of your calligraphy do you like the most?

What is the best calligraphy advice you ever received?

What advice would you give to people who are interested in learning how to do calligraphy?

What made you decide to join the Colleagues?

What does being a member of the Colleagues of Calligraphy mean to you?

How did you decide you were willing to become a board member?

What is the future you would like to see for the Colleagues of Calligraphy?

Marion Greene, Secretary

secretary@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com

How did you first learn about the Colleagues? I first learned about the colleagues when I got married and was looking for an artist to create Bart's and my Quaker wedding certificate.

Do you have a favorite hand to work in? I go through phases, between Italics, Foundational, and Copperplate. Right now I'm in a pointed pen phase, dabbling in Italics in pointed pen.

What hand/hands have you never studied but would really like to? Spencerian - this seems to be a very American hand, and that intrigues me.

What application(s) of your calligraphy do you like the most? Place cards for dinner parties - mostly because it's a sign that I'm involved in a dinner party!

What advice would you give to people who are interested in learning how to do calligraphy? Dive in! I find it so relaxing - I talk about it the way people talk about golfing - that other cares fall away and it's just you, pen, ink, and paper.

How did you decide you were willing to become a board member? I get so much pleasure from being around calligraphy and calligraphers. Even though I'm a hobbyist, not a highly skilled calligrapher, this organization welcomes you wherever you are in your "calligraphy journey". I've appreciated that since I joined, and want to be part of keeping that tradition going.

Patricia Paolella, Treasurer

treasurer@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com

How did you first become interested in calligraphy? My Dad was a very good hand-letterer (surveyor/mapmaker) - so we were raised with an 'appreciation' for beautiful writing from the get-go.

How did you first learn about the Colleagues? Through Charles Pearce's friendship with Jo White (worked with him at American Greetings in Cleveland, OH).

Do you have a favorite hand to work in? Freeform brush lettering at the moment... (still striving to return to my 'traditional' calligraphic roots - it takes time to slow down and re-focus).

What hand/hands have you never studied but would really like to? Secretary hand.

What application(s) of your calligraphy do you like the most? I was very proud of creating greeting cards. I thought helping people 'find the words' to express their feelings in life situations was a calling.

What is the best calligraphy advice you ever received? "Practicing every day is the way to mastery." (like your scales on the piano)

What advice would you give to people who are interested in learning how to do calligraphy? If you START AT SQUARE ONE w/fundamentals - the 'fun stuff' you do later will be very, very good...

What made you decide to join the Colleagues? It's been a touchstone throughout my corporate career (social expressions industry). The character as well as the supportive & sharing spirit of the membership is unmatched.

How did you decide you were willing to become a board member? Time to give back (with gratitude).

What is the future you would like to see for the Colleagues of Calligraphy? Somehow incorporating young people in this noisy, time-crunched, screen-distracted world... Could be the ideal cross-generational organization. I can dream...

Anne Kaese, Workshops Director

workshops@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com

How did you first become interested in calligraphy? At the age of 12 when my mother needed church certificates done.

How did you first learn about the Colleagues? When I arrived in the USA in 1997, I sought it out. I had been active in the guilds back home.

Do you have a favorite hand to work in? Uncial and Batarde

What hand/hands have you never studied but would really like to? I am into structure and shape and form so the unstructured stuff - while I have tried it with Yves Leterme, is a struggle for me.

What application(s) of your calligraphy do you like the most? Practical art - not just paper on the wall - but glass etching or stencils or painted glasses or trading cards - stuff that is useful.

What is the best calligraphy advice you ever received? Never give up - you are only wasting ink and paper. The time spent is an investment in tomorrow.

What advice would you give to people who are interested in learning how to do calligraphy? Buy as little as possible - and play. It is not about the tools only - it is about finding your lettering voice.

What made you decide to join the Colleagues? I like being in community with arty people who share a love of the history and modernity of lettering arts.

How did you decide you were willing to become a board member? I wanted to learn from certain instructors and it was easiest to become chair and invite them.

What is the future you would like to see for the Colleagues of Calligraphy? Finding ways to connect with the community and grow our participation.

Alyssa Tuma, Member-at-Large

membership@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com

How did you first become interested in calligraphy?
I was always skilled at penmanship. If I had a choice, it might have been more useful to be preternaturally good at math or science or the stock market, but penmanship it was! Teachers, friends, and family members often commented on my special little talent, but no one really knew what to do with it. This was the 90s, and already cursive lessons were being phased out of schools. But in 5th grade, my aunt gifted me a calligraphy starter set/book. Working with ink/nibs made me realize that having “nice handwriting” could actually be an art form. It was so totally eye-opening to me!

How did you first learn about the Colleagues?
Google! And word of mouth. This is a very well-respected and well-established community!

Do you have a favorite hand to work in?
Uncials (particularly Roman/artificial uncials)! Lately I've been trying to hone my foundational work.

What hand/hands have you never studied but would really like to?
I’ve never done much gothic/blackletter and would love to develop that! I'm also super interested in calligraphy work from different cultures/in different alphabets, e.g., Arabic, Japanese, Hebrew, Armenian, etc. Oh, and pointed pen! It intimidates me, but it’s so, so beautiful.

What application(s) of your calligraphy do you like the most?
I adore making place cards for weddings/receptions. There’s something so fun about playing with the unique letter combinations of various names. Each one is its own little challenge. I’m also a HUGE poetry reader, and I love to take snippets of some of my favorite poems and turn them into small pieces of art.

What is the best calligraphy advice you ever received?
Abandon aspirations of “perfection” (this one is hard for me, lol). PRACTICE!

What advice would you give to people who are interested in learning how to do calligraphy?
There are sooooo many resources out there, so make sure you are finding credible and relevant information. Seek out local resources if possible, e.g., guilds, lessons/classes, groups associated with art stores/museums, etc. Oh, and on an ergonomic note, make sure you have a proper (even if humble!) setup; nothing takes the wind out of a budding calligrapher’s sails like a stiff neck and sore back. Even simply a board propped against a stack of books will help immensely!

What made you decide to join the Colleagues?
I joined the Colleagues almost the second I found the website. Everything I saw/read confirmed that this was the type of group I was looking to support. I was very much drawn to the long history of the Colleagues and the value placed on fundamentals and “traditional” calligraphy methods. But I could also tell that it wasn’t a stuffy group. And that there was a really healthy balance between technical/traditional calligraphy and newer methods and viewpoints. I was also overjoyed to see the types of programming offered.

What does being a member of the Colleagues of Calligraphy mean to you?
It means I have a direct line to some of the best calligraphy resources available to me. Although I’ve been doing calligraphy since I was very young, I’m still in the earlier stages of my “serious” practice and it is so nice to have access to seasoned calligraphers. The wealth of programming offered is also so valuable.

How did you decide you were willing to become a board member?
I attended a Colleagues workshop weekend in April (brush Romans with Janey Westin) and, wow, it was so totally beyond my expectations! The workshop itself was incredible, and I was blown away by the SKILL of the people in the room. I was a little intimidated, but everyone was so kind, supportive, open, and totally welcoming. The culture was fabulous. It was a really easy to decision to join the board!

What is the future you would like to see for the Colleagues of Calligraphy?
I would love to see continued support of traditional calligraphy fundamentals and hands. I think it’s so important for newer calligraphers to fully understand the technical artistry and craftsmanship behind beautiful letter forms. That being said, I’m excited to start embracing new visions, technology, and methods. I would love to continue to attract younger calligraphers to the Colleagues!

Sally Wightkin, Immediate Past President & Webmaster

webmaster@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com

How did you first become interested in calligraphy? When I was in high school, my mom took an 'adult ed' calligraphy class. I was fascinated by all the tools she brought home. I never looked back at that point. I was given a Schaefer fountain pen, found a couple of instruction books and played with letters all through college. I've been playing and practicing and learning ever since.

How did you first learn about the Colleagues? When I moved to Pittsburgh in 1989, I was fortunate to come across some beautiful calligraphy in a small shop. I contacted the artist and asked where I might take some classes. She (Myrna Rosen!!) insisted the best place to learn would be by joining the Calligraphy Guild of Pittsburgh - and indeed - it was! I spent almost 30 years a part of the CGP. It was there that I learned of this little thing called a calligraphy conference. I attended my first one in 1990 - which was held right here in the Twin Cities. When I moved to MN in 2017, I sought the Colleagues out and joined - I think I had sent in my dues in even before I managed to get the water bill in my name! So, I've known about this incredible organization for a very long time and it almost surreal that I have sort have come full-circle and it is now my 'home guild'.

Do you have a favorite hand to work in? My 'go-to' hand is probably Italic. It is the one I feel is most automatic and flows out of my head and hand onto the paper. But I also love playing with variations of Neuland. It is very forgiving.

What hand/hands have you never studied but would really like to? I want to study it all (again and again) but I think I would like to do some serious pointed pen study. I'm sort of self-taught in that area and I'm sure I have some very bad habits.

What application(s) of your calligraphy do you like the most?
I haven't done many lately, but I really do like doing envelopes! The repetition is very meditative and relaxing for me. I also find them to be the best way to practice. Lately, I have been creating a series of spontaneous pieces (no lines, not a lot of planning) and that has been very freeing and relaxing in its own way.

What is the best calligraphy advice you ever received? There are two things I would consider the best calligraphic advice I was given. And they were both given to me by the amazing, talented, and generous, Myrna Rosen. 1. Join your local guild. 2. Feed your brain (with the good stuff).

What advice would you give to people who are interested in learning how to do calligraphy? I always try to pass on the same advice to anyone else who expresses an interest in calligraphy. Join your local guild! Especially now when we often get overwhelmed with all that is 'out there' online. It is so hard to weed through it all and be confident that you are paying attention to the 'good stuff' and not wasting your time with the 'not-so-good' stuff. Feed your brain! There is such a wealth of knowledge in an organization like the Colleagues. We can share experiences, learn from each other, and make the most out of our calligraphy practice.

What made you decide to join the Colleagues? It's my local guild!

What does being a member of the Colleagues of Calligraphy mean to you? Being a member of The Colleagues is simply a gift I have given myself. I participate in programs and special events. Being a member gives me access to the talented people who lecture, teach or just 'hang out' at a program. Where else can you spend a half-hour talking to another calligrapher about how hard it is to make that serif on the bottom bowl of the Trajan Capital "S" ?

How did you decide you were willing to become a board member? I was schmoozed to run for a position on the board by Maura, the outgoing president before me - over some falafel one afternoon. But seriously, I decided to become involved because I wanted to be a part of planning and sharing and organizing my local guild. I wanted to get to know people in the group a little better and I thought I could contribute to helping The Colleagues remain a vital organization for all the Minnesota lovers-of-letters.

What is the future you would like to see for the Colleagues of Calligraphy? I would love for the guild to have regular exhibitions to highlight the full range of abilities of our membership - newbie to professional .

Maura Lynch, Tech Support

maura@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com