11.04.20 – 01.16.21
The words in this calligram come from Luke 5, which tells the parable of Jesus and the fishermen. In the story, Christ not only helps the fishermen catch fish, but also instructs them to become “fishers of men,” or evangelists who spread the Gospel. I chose this verse as a nod to the Gaudiosa Auction, where sponsors become fishers of men by supporting the school’s mission to form young students into mature, devoted adults.
I chose a primarily blue design on white paper to represent water, a prominent motif in the parable. I also designed the calligram to feature concentric circles of text, similar to the ripples of a drop of water.
I created this calligram on 18 x 24 in. paper, the largest size paper on which I had ever written calligraphy. Writing on such a large scale required more planning and patience than I had previously practiced, but I’m grateful that my preparations resulted in a clean final design.
I plotted the concentric circles of text using a pencil and string, which I revolved around the center point of the paper at different lengths. This gesture resulted in a series of equally-spaced concentric circles, between which I wrote the lines of the parable, beginning from the center and expanding outwards circle by circle.
I mixed a light and dark blue ink at four different proportions to create four distinct ink colors. I used these colors sequentially between the circles of text, resulting in a calligram with a subtle range of blues undulating throughout.
This calligram was my first professional commission. While I’m not as active as a calligrapher anymore, I’m proud that this piece represents the beginning of my design career. I’m still happy with how cleanly the calligraphy was executed, as well as the dedication and patience that the project required.
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Luke’s Gospel Calligram
2021