chanaleh | I did a ketubah! (Reply)

About a month ago, I got an e-mail inquiry from a couple who wanted the calligraphy (Hebrew and English) done on their ketubah. They live in my neighborhood and found my web page through Google. They had ordered a very lovely print from someone online, but needed the text customized (it's an interfaith ceremony), so I agreed to do it.

Of course, I'm not all that up to speed on my hand work, so I spent a lot of time over the past few weeks scouring art-supply stores (with C's help and expertise), experimenting with pens, and practicing up. I ended up with a wonderful Staedtler Pigment Liner Calligraphy 2.0mm permanent marker for the Hebrew side. I desperately wanted a 1.0mm for the English side, but I couldn't track one down anywhere in black; the only place that had them at all was Pearl, and 1.0mm they had only in brown (!), so rather than try to convince Jay and Lisa they should want the text done in brown... I went with a Manuscript medium-nib cartridge fountain pen. But the paper for the print was Arches 140-lb cold-pressed, which is quite toothy, and though I eventually got a good ink draw out of the Manuscript, I found the metal nib tended to drag on the paper and I had trouble sustaining a nice smooth or consistent line, so the lettering ended up a bit uneven... to my typographer's eye, anyway.

But I finally finished the thing late Wednesday night (good thing, 'cause the wedding is this Saturday), and the groom picked it up from me this afternoon. I (spoiled by the flawlessness of electronic type) wasn't totally thrilled with the way it came out... but he was! and that's the important thing.

So... it's official, I have professionally calligraphed my first ketubah! He promised me a picture, so I'll put that up on my web page after I get it.

And now, perhaps, I can rest. :-) Cheesecake with