Just describe what you do, Kerstin...
I offer creative time out in the form of workshops. The focus here is hand lettering, brush lettering and modern calligraphy.
Very interesting… Who are these workshops best suited for?
Most participants are female. There are participants ranging from 10 to 80. On average there are participants aged 35-40. Actually, they are all pure beginners. Here in Lower Bavaria, the hype surrounding lettering is hardly covered. There is a lot of access to materials, but people hardly have the opportunity to learn the whole thing on site. This means I get a lot of popularity for my workshops.
Are the workshops also online or are they all on site?
Everything on site (apart from Corona). Not online, because learning in a group and “looking over your shoulder” on site is far more effective. Due to the Corona crisis, the online component has of course increased significantly, which is also a good thing. Nevertheless, for a pure beginner, an on-site workshop is, in my opinion, the only effective solution.
Many beginners start in the wrong place. If the basics are not 100% correct, it will be difficult to get really good.
How did you actually get into lettering and calligraphy?
I've been in the creative field since I could walk. I've always painted and worked my way through all media... pencil, watercolor, oil, acrylic, etc. When I became a mother, I put everything on pause. In 2018 I realized that I definitely had to do something again. I discovered hand lettering in a YouTube video somewhere. For me, hand lettering was super practical because it doesn't require a lot of space and you can actually start doing it straight away. I started learning hand lettering through YouTube videos and quickly realized that my previous drawing experience would benefit me.
I then attended workshops and realized that there was actually nothing for it near me (Lower Bavaria). Munich or Rosenheim was the closest and both cities are more than 100km away. So I thought maybe that would be something for me... I'll try that.
It started with a friend who had a flower shop. It had “lettered” windows at Christmas time, which…well…didn’t look that great. So we started talking and she said she always wanted to learn how to do it properly, but she couldn't find anything nearby.
This is how the first course took place together with my friend in the workshop of her flower shop. We were hoping for 6-8 participants. Ultimately, we were so popular that we turned into three courses with 12 participants each. So the ball started rolling and I am now the only provider at five adult education centers in the Lower Bavaria area.
Are these 1-day workshops?
Different. We started with evening workshops but some customers also want a full Saturday. Here I am generally flexible and see how it best fits into the concept.
You say that you work a lot with beginners. What are your best tips for beginners who are just learning?
The best tip is to learn the basics. In brush lettering there are actually only 5 strokes that you have to master. Many beginners start in the wrong place. If the basics are not 100% correct, it will be difficult to get really good. I myself practice these basics over and over again.
A huge mistake at the beginning is working too quickly. Our hands are no longer used to the slow movements. But working slowly promotes the meditative process while working and muscle memory. In this way, the hand learns to work slowly again - extremely important when writing.
Due to the extreme range of possibilities and materials, it varies greatly in which area a beginner moves forward. That's why I have a fairly broad spectrum in my workshops. This makes it much easier for a beginner to decide in which direction he wants to go.
Why are these basics you're talking about so important?
Picasso once said: “Learn the rules like a pro, then you can break them like an artist” .
Many beginners often focus too early on the material, the perfect pen, etc. But if I don't master the basics in my area, then even the best pen is of no use to me. My works never really amount to anything and in principle I'm always just “painting”. For example, I have been doing practice sessions with my calligraphy teacher for three months now. It's the same thing every day, over and over again and it's really tedious. But if you don't struggle through it, you won't get any further and you'll get stuck.
Depending on which graphic eye you have, it's always a battle between eye and hand. The eye can see more than the hand can actually. You know which letter is nicer and better, but you can't implement it yet. In all areas there is a system behind it somewhere. If I don't have this system explained and understood, I can't use it and will always just copy it.
Only when I have mastered the basics and understand the system behind it can I really make something of it and add my own touch.
I saw you are very active on Instagram. Tell me a little... what is your Insta account about?
Instagram started as a creative diary for me. For me it was a great place where I can learn, get knowledge and tips and see what others are doing. Ultimately it has become a small creative family with people who are all on the same level. Today I show my work on Insta and document my development.
This all sounds very good. If someone would like to find out more about you and your workshops, where is the best place to do that?
The best way is via my website , Instagram or Facebook . Everywhere under the name “Kerafein” :-)
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How did you actually come across Skullpaper?
I was at a workshop and there was a Skullpaper pen in the goodie bag. During my workshops, I simply asked Skullpaper whether they were interested in collaborating. This is how I came into contact with the brand and the products.
How do you see the Skullpaper brand?
I really like the chalk marker. It’s “borderline genius” and the Blackliners are great too. The simplicity of use and what the pen can do are simply brilliant. What I think is great is the uncomplicated and easy contact with Ronny. Very courteous and quick communication.
I think the price-performance ratio of the Blackliners is great. I haven't used the shrink films and other films offered because I can't really do anything with them. I don't use brush pens that much because I mostly work directly with watercolor. But they are super popular with teenagers and moms because they are hard to break thanks to the tip. The skull logo is extremely popular with teenagers, and they are always fighting over the stickers.
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Images: ©Kerstin Rackerseder
