Born in Hokkaido, Japan, Yamaguchi began her calligraphy training at the mere age of six, studying the basics under the guidance of Master Zuiho Sato. Having moved to the US in 2004, she now combines her art with performance, transforming its two-dimensional form into a 3-dimensional presence.

According to Yamaguchi, the practice of calligraphy is very much physical. “Calligraphy is like karate,” she explained in an interview with 99u. “Until you get the black belt, you have so many ranks to move through.”

“Studying calligraphy is really physical,” she went on to say, “and I was a perfectionist. I would look at my master’s work and try to write it exactly the same, following his brushstroke. My work wouldn’t come out the same, so I’d get frustrated. However, I’m really persistent, so I would strain my back over a sheet of paper, practicing for hours until I could write something nearly identical to my master.”

Her hard work paid off. Over the years Yamaguchi has won numerous awards, including the First Place prize from the Minister of Education at the 44th Asahi Calligraphy Nationwide School Exhibit and the Superior First Place at the 33rd National Students Calligraphy Exhibition.

And while her work is considered contemporary (exploring the meeting point between traditional Eastern classics and modern artistic expression), she still draws from her cultural upbringing, breathing new life into this all but forgotten art form.

The post Aoi Yamaguchi Explores the Physical Aspects of Calligraphy appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“A passion for art and calligraphy prompted me to start The Postman’s Knock in 2012 as a custom illustration, calligraphy, and graphic design business,” she writes on her website. “I called my business ‘The Postman’s Knock’ because of my love for beautiful snail mail!”

Her first and most important tip: have fun. According to Bugbee, as long as your practice is enjoyable, you’ll continue to hone your skills. “The best advice I can give about learning calligraphy is you have to enjoy your practice,” she further relayed. “Yes, use structured resources like an online course or a worksheet, but also let yourself have fun. As you start to get the hang of how to use a dip pen, take on engaging projects.”

Aside from calligraphy, Bugbee also teaches watercolor illustration. Some of her structured resources include 10 ‘Stuck at Home’ Project Suggestions and The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy. Follow her online for more information.

The post Learn Your ABCs With Lindsey Bugbee appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“This is an iterative process that includes several stages of refinement by illustrating, erasing, tracing, rinse, and repeat,” he explained in an interview with Talenthouse. “Once I’ve taken the concept as far as I can by hand, I scan the image and begin the digitization process.”

But, of course, it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly it is during this process that the magic happens. With thousands of followers online and exhibitions in cities such as London, Barcelona, Australia, and Dubai, it’s clear Black knows what he’s doing. A graphic designer, lettering artist, and typographer, Black says that his strengths lie in his ability to cross disciplines without the restriction of a fixed personal style.

This versatility has offered him the opportunity to work on a varied mix of collaborations with local and international clients of all business backgrounds, with his work being published internationally, in addition to regular features by online media. His work varies not only in style, but also in size and scope, ranging from small packages to massive murals and installations.

But his initial inspiration doesn’t come from the art scene but rather from the soccer field. “I absolutely loved football (soccer) growing up,” he says. “I was so fascinated with the design around the beautiful game such as colorful football shirts, team badges, football boots, and TV commercials and programs. This all contributed to my curiosity in design and made me wonder how things like that were made.”

We can’t wait to see what he’s up to next.

The post Versatility is Key to Craig Black’s Typography Art appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I have been working with type as a profession for a few years, but I discovered calligraphy when I was in middle school,” he relayed in an interview with We Heart. “Since then, I was always doodling on my notes — and graffiti has continued to be an influence.”

Having studied graphic design in school, sharpened his skills and gave him the opportunity to go to school for typeface design and attend workshops. “Some of the tools I use to create come back to graffiti and how it has influenced me over the years,” he says. “I also like to experiment with the combination of digital and analog; handmade and contemporary.”

Known for his tag, “It’s a living,” his direct approach to typography aims to produce a positive impact. So far, it’s been working out pretty good for him. Take a look for yourself.

The post Short and Sweet: Ricardo Gonzalez’s Typography Art is Rather Powerful appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“We need to be constantly learning and honing our skills in order for calligraphy to stay relevant, and to keep up with the changing times and client requests,” she explained her philosophy in an interview with The Pen Company. “I firmly believe that to be a good calligrapher, we need to study from the old masters.”

“Many practicing calligraphers are self-taught and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I knew early on that if I was to be serious about the art and craft of calligraphy, I had to learn it the right way, which is from professional calligraphers,” she explains.

Indeed, if nothing else, Yoshida’s Instagram page is a testament to the hard work she puts into her calligraphy practice. “Calligraphy is a life-long learning experience,” she stresses on her personal website. We recommend you follow her learning experience online.

The post Linda Yoshida Love For the Written Word is Evident appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I mix graffiti, which is a ‘western’ medium (although I don’t like to use this term) and Arabic calligraphy, which is an ancient eastern way of expression,” he relayed in an interview with Art Radar. “Bringing both together is a way for me to bring together a picture that seems contradictory, but actually is not. I think that’s the power of calligraphy and art in general. [They] bring two worlds together and link them. That’s why I feel that my work speaks for me.”

“As a kid, I was into hip hop culture,” he recalled. “Graffiti was the natural medium for me to express myself in an artistic way. It became more and more a case of [me finding my] identity and reconnecting with my Arabic roots.”

According to eL Seed, his calligraphy is aimed at spreading a message of peace and unity, with his artwork found all over the world, both in exhibitions and public places. Some of his more striking works were exhibited in places like the façade of L’Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the favelas of Rio di Janeiro, the DMZ in between North and South Korea, the slums of Cape Town, and the heart of Cairo’s garbage collectors neighborhood.

The post This Calligraphy Artist Spreads a Message of Peace and Unity appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Indeed, his art takes him around the globe. A member of the “Calligraffitti Ambassadors,” over the years Lampas took part in group exhibitions and art projects held in Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Korea, and the UAE; and in 2015, he performed the world’s largest calligraffiti on the roof of a building in Moscow – an artwork that can be seen from a satellite.

Through his art, Lampas explores different directions of modern calligraphy by applying and combining his knowledge of street culture, design, and typography of different nations and generations.

“The Calligrafuturism is my self-developed style,” he explains. “We’re all living in a multi-cultural world and if I can help people to learn more about foreign calligraphy, they’ll learn more about other countries. So that’s why Calligrafuturism is so important for me, I don’t want to make something new just because I’m crazy, I want to create it because I can see a very big knowledge and that’s why I’m doing it.”

Consider following him on Instagram.

The post Pokras Lampas Takes Street Art to the Next Level appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I’m so glad that I can do this job, that there are clients that will pay me to do it,” he admitted in an interview with Lecture in Progress. Amongst these clients, he counts Honest Burgers and the Museum of London, with his painting surfaces including brick walls, shop faces, and glass.

Working both digitally and by hand, his business – Toucan Signs – now offers sign-painting services ranging from very small door numbers to large-scale murals, and everything else in between. His work isn’t only creative but it helps beautify his urban environment. A win-win situation if you ask us.

“I think a lot of businesses are starting to see how, in a row of shops with neon or plastic signs, a nice piece of handprinted signage can set you apart,” Mackenzie-Gray explained. “There’s that tangibility to it. It’s human.”

Follow his Instagram for more.

The post These Handprinted Signs Stand Out in the Sea of Plastic and Neon appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Her two most important lessons? Find your style through practice, and don’t forget to have fun! “It is so important to have fun and find your own style through the process of practicing modern calligraphy,” she explained in an interview with Surely Simple. “My biggest tip is to find your own style through lettering. This takes tons of practice but will make your lettering unique and will make it so much more fun!”

“I feel like lettering has added so much to my life and given me the balance it needed through some busy and tough times,” she added. “It is amazing how adding just a few hours of a hobby for yourself can make you a better, all-around more effective person. I feel like I am currently the best wife, mom, and teacher I have ever been and I think much of that is allowing myself to take part in an activity that uses my creativity, relaxes me, and brings me constant joy and inspiration.”

Scrolling through her Instagram page, one can’t help but be inspired by both her skill and her spirit. “Strive for progress, not perfection,” reads one of her posts. “Do small things with great love,” reads another. All carefully written and stylized. Take a look:

The post Lauren Fitzmaurice Will Inspire You to Write with Meaning appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Her bold type, expressive calligraphy, and detailed illustration can be seen in advertising campaigns, editorial publications and large-scale murals in galleries and interiors around the world. She has also collaborated with global brands and publications including Apple, Google, Adobe, and The New York Times.

“I know a lot of designers who think you need to have a style so that people know you for that, but I think that, especially within typography and lettering, the restraints of the alphabet are enough,” explained the artist in an interview with 99U Magazine. “I always wanted to show a different range of skills and styles within what I do, so that people were not pigeonholing me into one particular style.”

“Within the field of typography, you have such a diverse range of professions and people doing different things,” she added. “There’s a lot of type designers who are designing the fonts that we need to read efficiently. My work is more in this category of looking at words and thinking of them as art or bringing them into a picture as themselves. That can be to create a beautiful image or add new meaning to words – connecting people in a way that they might connect with illustration or art, as opposed to just the printed word.”

Check out some of her typography designs and murals in the gallery below.

The post Gemma O’Brien’s Typography Art is Giving Us Life appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Born in Hokkaido, Japan, Yamaguchi began her calligraphy training at the mere age of six, studying the basics under the guidance of Master Zuiho Sato. Having moved to the US in 2004, she now combines her art with performance, transforming its two-dimensional form into a 3-dimensional presence.

According to Yamaguchi, the practice of calligraphy is very much physical. “Calligraphy is like karate,” she explained in an interview with 99u. “Until you get the black belt, you have so many ranks to move through.”

“Studying calligraphy is really physical,” she went on to say, “and I was a perfectionist. I would look at my master’s work and try to write it exactly the same, following his brushstroke. My work wouldn’t come out the same, so I’d get frustrated. However, I’m really persistent, so I would strain my back over a sheet of paper, practicing for hours until I could write something nearly identical to my master.”

Her hard work paid off. Over the years Yamaguchi has won numerous awards, including the First Place prize from the Minister of Education at the 44th Asahi Calligraphy Nationwide School Exhibit and the Superior First Place at the 33rd National Students Calligraphy Exhibition.

And while her work is considered contemporary (exploring the meeting point between traditional Eastern classics and modern artistic expression), she still draws from her cultural upbringing, breathing new life into this all but forgotten art form.

The post Aoi Yamaguchi Explores the Physical Aspects of Calligraphy appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“A passion for art and calligraphy prompted me to start The Postman’s Knock in 2012 as a custom illustration, calligraphy, and graphic design business,” she writes on her website. “I called my business ‘The Postman’s Knock’ because of my love for beautiful snail mail!”

Her first and most important tip: have fun. According to Bugbee, as long as your practice is enjoyable, you’ll continue to hone your skills. “The best advice I can give about learning calligraphy is you have to enjoy your practice,” she further relayed. “Yes, use structured resources like an online course or a worksheet, but also let yourself have fun. As you start to get the hang of how to use a dip pen, take on engaging projects.”

Aside from calligraphy, Bugbee also teaches watercolor illustration. Some of her structured resources include 10 ‘Stuck at Home’ Project Suggestions and The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy. Follow her online for more information.

The post Learn Your ABCs With Lindsey Bugbee appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“This is an iterative process that includes several stages of refinement by illustrating, erasing, tracing, rinse, and repeat,” he explained in an interview with Talenthouse. “Once I’ve taken the concept as far as I can by hand, I scan the image and begin the digitization process.”

But, of course, it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly it is during this process that the magic happens. With thousands of followers online and exhibitions in cities such as London, Barcelona, Australia, and Dubai, it’s clear Black knows what he’s doing. A graphic designer, lettering artist, and typographer, Black says that his strengths lie in his ability to cross disciplines without the restriction of a fixed personal style.

This versatility has offered him the opportunity to work on a varied mix of collaborations with local and international clients of all business backgrounds, with his work being published internationally, in addition to regular features by online media. His work varies not only in style, but also in size and scope, ranging from small packages to massive murals and installations.

But his initial inspiration doesn’t come from the art scene but rather from the soccer field. “I absolutely loved football (soccer) growing up,” he says. “I was so fascinated with the design around the beautiful game such as colorful football shirts, team badges, football boots, and TV commercials and programs. This all contributed to my curiosity in design and made me wonder how things like that were made.”

We can’t wait to see what he’s up to next.

The post Versatility is Key to Craig Black’s Typography Art appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I have been working with type as a profession for a few years, but I discovered calligraphy when I was in middle school,” he relayed in an interview with We Heart. “Since then, I was always doodling on my notes — and graffiti has continued to be an influence.”

Having studied graphic design in school, sharpened his skills and gave him the opportunity to go to school for typeface design and attend workshops. “Some of the tools I use to create come back to graffiti and how it has influenced me over the years,” he says. “I also like to experiment with the combination of digital and analog; handmade and contemporary.”

Known for his tag, “It’s a living,” his direct approach to typography aims to produce a positive impact. So far, it’s been working out pretty good for him. Take a look for yourself.

The post Short and Sweet: Ricardo Gonzalez’s Typography Art is Rather Powerful appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“We need to be constantly learning and honing our skills in order for calligraphy to stay relevant, and to keep up with the changing times and client requests,” she explained her philosophy in an interview with The Pen Company. “I firmly believe that to be a good calligrapher, we need to study from the old masters.”

“Many practicing calligraphers are self-taught and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I knew early on that if I was to be serious about the art and craft of calligraphy, I had to learn it the right way, which is from professional calligraphers,” she explains.

Indeed, if nothing else, Yoshida’s Instagram page is a testament to the hard work she puts into her calligraphy practice. “Calligraphy is a life-long learning experience,” she stresses on her personal website. We recommend you follow her learning experience online.

The post Linda Yoshida Love For the Written Word is Evident appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I mix graffiti, which is a ‘western’ medium (although I don’t like to use this term) and Arabic calligraphy, which is an ancient eastern way of expression,” he relayed in an interview with Art Radar. “Bringing both together is a way for me to bring together a picture that seems contradictory, but actually is not. I think that’s the power of calligraphy and art in general. [They] bring two worlds together and link them. That’s why I feel that my work speaks for me.”

“As a kid, I was into hip hop culture,” he recalled. “Graffiti was the natural medium for me to express myself in an artistic way. It became more and more a case of [me finding my] identity and reconnecting with my Arabic roots.”

According to eL Seed, his calligraphy is aimed at spreading a message of peace and unity, with his artwork found all over the world, both in exhibitions and public places. Some of his more striking works were exhibited in places like the façade of L’Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the favelas of Rio di Janeiro, the DMZ in between North and South Korea, the slums of Cape Town, and the heart of Cairo’s garbage collectors neighborhood.

The post This Calligraphy Artist Spreads a Message of Peace and Unity appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Indeed, his art takes him around the globe. A member of the “Calligraffitti Ambassadors,” over the years Lampas took part in group exhibitions and art projects held in Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Korea, and the UAE; and in 2015, he performed the world’s largest calligraffiti on the roof of a building in Moscow – an artwork that can be seen from a satellite.

Through his art, Lampas explores different directions of modern calligraphy by applying and combining his knowledge of street culture, design, and typography of different nations and generations.

“The Calligrafuturism is my self-developed style,” he explains. “We’re all living in a multi-cultural world and if I can help people to learn more about foreign calligraphy, they’ll learn more about other countries. So that’s why Calligrafuturism is so important for me, I don’t want to make something new just because I’m crazy, I want to create it because I can see a very big knowledge and that’s why I’m doing it.”

Consider following him on Instagram.

The post Pokras Lampas Takes Street Art to the Next Level appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I’m so glad that I can do this job, that there are clients that will pay me to do it,” he admitted in an interview with Lecture in Progress. Amongst these clients, he counts Honest Burgers and the Museum of London, with his painting surfaces including brick walls, shop faces, and glass.

Working both digitally and by hand, his business – Toucan Signs – now offers sign-painting services ranging from very small door numbers to large-scale murals, and everything else in between. His work isn’t only creative but it helps beautify his urban environment. A win-win situation if you ask us.

“I think a lot of businesses are starting to see how, in a row of shops with neon or plastic signs, a nice piece of handprinted signage can set you apart,” Mackenzie-Gray explained. “There’s that tangibility to it. It’s human.”

Follow his Instagram for more.

The post These Handprinted Signs Stand Out in the Sea of Plastic and Neon appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Her two most important lessons? Find your style through practice, and don’t forget to have fun! “It is so important to have fun and find your own style through the process of practicing modern calligraphy,” she explained in an interview with Surely Simple. “My biggest tip is to find your own style through lettering. This takes tons of practice but will make your lettering unique and will make it so much more fun!”

“I feel like lettering has added so much to my life and given me the balance it needed through some busy and tough times,” she added. “It is amazing how adding just a few hours of a hobby for yourself can make you a better, all-around more effective person. I feel like I am currently the best wife, mom, and teacher I have ever been and I think much of that is allowing myself to take part in an activity that uses my creativity, relaxes me, and brings me constant joy and inspiration.”

Scrolling through her Instagram page, one can’t help but be inspired by both her skill and her spirit. “Strive for progress, not perfection,” reads one of her posts. “Do small things with great love,” reads another. All carefully written and stylized. Take a look:

The post Lauren Fitzmaurice Will Inspire You to Write with Meaning appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Her bold type, expressive calligraphy, and detailed illustration can be seen in advertising campaigns, editorial publications and large-scale murals in galleries and interiors around the world. She has also collaborated with global brands and publications including Apple, Google, Adobe, and The New York Times.

“I know a lot of designers who think you need to have a style so that people know you for that, but I think that, especially within typography and lettering, the restraints of the alphabet are enough,” explained the artist in an interview with 99U Magazine. “I always wanted to show a different range of skills and styles within what I do, so that people were not pigeonholing me into one particular style.”

“Within the field of typography, you have such a diverse range of professions and people doing different things,” she added. “There’s a lot of type designers who are designing the fonts that we need to read efficiently. My work is more in this category of looking at words and thinking of them as art or bringing them into a picture as themselves. That can be to create a beautiful image or add new meaning to words – connecting people in a way that they might connect with illustration or art, as opposed to just the printed word.”

Check out some of her typography designs and murals in the gallery below.

The post Gemma O’Brien’s Typography Art is Giving Us Life appeared first on MobiSpirit.