FAQ

Can I link to your blog?
- Yup! A heads up would be nice so we could potentially collaborate!
What camera do you use to take photos and film your videos?
- I’m using just my iPhone 7!
What video editing software do you use?
- I use iMovie on my iPhone or my MacBook to edit the videos and add a watermark with my Instagram handle on it.
What do you use to hold your camera while filming?
- I use a gooseneck phone holder attached to the side of my desk (nothing fancy). I film most of my work at night so I rely heavily on pretty good lighting from a chandelier I have directly above my desk.
Why do your videos have a watermark?
- I didn’t use to have to include a watermark, but I was seeing my videos being reposted without being credited, sometimes people citing my work as their own (or at least implying it!). I’ve even seen my lettering being used to market someone else’s lettering guide. It’s an unfortunate reality that comes with putting your work in a public space but now I watermark to limit people taking without permission.
What are affiliate links?
- Links to some products may get me a small commission if purchased. This helps me continue to buy products to create content. All reviews are my own opinions and I would never recommend a product that I didn’t personally use and enjoy. That being said, I try to only include affiliate links to places where I buy the products myself. I also try to find prices that I think are most fair. Sometimes you may find them in other places at better prices so I do encourage you to shop around!
What are your favorite tools?
- Brush pens: There’s too many! You’ll have to see my blog post about pen reviews here.
- Nib: Leonardt 40 (but this changes on occassion)
- Oblique: Hourglass oblique
- Black Ink: Moon Palace Sumi Ink
- White Ink: Dr PH Martin’s Bleed Proof White
- Gold Ink: Finetec M600, Dr PH Martin’s Spectralite Gold, and Pearl Ex Brilliant Gold (more info in my review here).
- Paper for lettering: Rhodia notepads
- Watercolors: Winsor and Newton Professional Grade watercolors
- Watercolor papers: Arches 140 lb Cold Press
- Watercolor brushes: my favorite brands are Princeton Velvetouch, Blicks Master Synthetic
- Foil machine: Heidi Swapp Minc Machine
- Foil: Heidi Swapp Minc foil
- Paper cutting machine: Silhouette Cameo
For pointed pen, do you prefer a straight holder or an oblique?
- I originally purchased a straight holder when I was getting started but found that an oblique was much more comfortable for me to use. It let me hold the pen at an angle that allowed me to write for longer, much more comfortably. There are plenty of calligraphers that prefer straight holders so I would encourage everyone to purchase at least one of each and determine for yourself what you personally prefer.
Which iPad do you have and what app do you use for lettering?
- I have an iPad Pro 12.9″ with 128 gb of memory (I don’t think that memory size is available anymore). I use my Apple Pencil and the Procreate app (found in the App Store) to do most of my digital lettering. You can download a lot of free brushes online or create your own but the Procreate app also comes with a bunch to try out. You can also purchase really cool specialized ones depending on what effects you want to achieve. The iPad Pro is the only version of iPad that can be used with the Apple Pencil since it is the only version of iPad that is sensitive to pressure changes, therefore allowing you to create distinction in thin and thick strokes by varying your pressure.
Where do you get your inspiration?
- Before I answer the question, I think its important to draw the distinction between inspiration and plagarism (the stealing and using of another artist’s work and passing it off as your own). I follow a ton of Instagram accounts of some very talented artists. While I draw inspiration from these artists, I am very careful to NOT steal their ideas. I don’t think that many things are 100% original in content. Most things have already been done but the difference is making a piece of work uniquely yours. When I see a photo on my feed, I am able to immediately know which artist created it because it is distinctly in their style.
- That being said, I get inspiration from tons of different sources. Most of the time, its from random places. My geometric watercolor series was inspired by an email I got from an office supply company. I like to see cool patterns and reimagine them with different combinations of colors and designs.
Do you recommend any other art blogs or Instagram accounts?
- Yes, a ton. Please see my post about other accounts that I follow here.
Do you sell my watercolor works?
- I occasionally sell my work by request through my Etsy page. If you are interested in a piece that you’ve seen through my Instagram page, please don’t hesitate to contact me through Etsy to commission a work.