Write Here, Write Now | Newsletter
This month’s newsletter is about reading and writing, two powerful tools for learning and reflection.
At the beginning of 2024, I read a couple of books that have made a huge impact on my creative journey. The first is called Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, which I describe as the ultimate creative mental health guidebook.
“If you’re somebody who gauges herself on how well you’re doing compared to a former version of yourself, that’s a disaster.” — Elizabeth Gilbert
Coinciding with reading this book, I also joined a Substack page by the same author called Letters From Love, where you write a weekly letter to yourself—using different prompts—in the most compassionate, supportive, friendly, and kind way possible.
This practice has become very powerful for me, as I have been conditioned to be very hard on myself. So, finding a new voice in my heart—instead of in my head—that communicates with me using a different language has been challenging, but ultimately the most rewarding of all.
Gilbert also talks about the difference between a hobby, job, career, and vocation. This is something I thought I understood well after running my own creative practice for ten years, but her definitions were very helpful nevertheless:
- Hobby: A hobby is something you do for pleasure, and the stakes are low—like karaoke. You don’t have to have one, but if you do, it’s really nice because it shows that you are not just a cog in the machine of production. Some of your hours belong to pure pleasure, and your creativity can be rooted in that. Before television, everyone had hobbies; now everyone’s hobby is the screen.
- Job: You don’t need to have a hobby, but you do need to have a job. You need a way to get by in this material world. You need to feed yourself and have a roof over your head. Unless you have a trust fund or someone completely supporting you, you should have a job. I would argue that even if you have a trust fund and someone is completely supporting you, you should still have a job. It is a great point of honour, especially for a woman, to have a way to support herself in the world; to have the freedom of mobility; to be able to change your life if you need to; to take care of yourself; and to pull your own weight. Having a job doesn’t define you. It’s not who you are; it’s just what you do.
- Career: This is another thing you don’t have to have—just like a hobby. A career is something you should pursue only if you’re passionate about something and want to devote a lot of energy to it. It’s for those who want to pour themselves into advancing, growing, learning, shaping, and changing things. Having a career is like an accelerated version of having a job. You don’t have to like your job, and that’s fine. But if you don’t like your career, you’re in the wrong one, and you should just get a job. Don’t pour your life into something unless you truly want to.
- Vocation: This one however, is a sacred thing—it’s your calling. It’s the thing that makes you want to get up in the morning. Your vocation doesn’t necessarily have to be related to your hobby, job, or career. It’s uniquely yours. You can lose your job, someone can take your career away from you, but no one can take your vocation away from you—that is your sacred gift.
You can see Liz Gilbert elaborating further here.
The second book I read at the beginning of 2024 was The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. This classic has gotten me into the habit of writing three pages every morning before doing anything else—including checking my phone or having breakfast. It’s a private exercise where I meditate on the page, something I feel very comfortable with due to my already mindful calligraphy practice.
Over the years, I have kept a diary, written articles, and maintained these decade-long bi-monthly newsletters. These practices have helped me stay connected to my creative voice, track my progress, and share my experiences with others. In many ways, writing has been as integral to my creative process as drawing or designing, providing clarity and insight into my own journey.
Are you reading something interesting at the moment? Hit reply, I would looove to hear from you!!
If you are looking for inspiration, Dimitri Antonopoulos shares his studio’s reading list here, and I’m thinking of doing something similar for myself.
Much love, Maria xx
Below you’ll find my latest pair of skateboard deck designs; and my upcoming live online Copperplate calligraphy course in Melbourne.
On the third part of this newsletter, you’ll find a great talk by Jessica Hische; the newest font by Ceci del Castillo; and a fabulous conversation about Venezuelan graphic designer Karmele Leizaola with guests, Oriana Nuzzi and Faride Mereb.
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For those seeking a more emotive narrative of my last two months, you’ll find a personal video describing our nomadic life, plus a few extra links at the end of this letter.
16 | Skateboard Deck Design Anniversary
In July, I shared with you the design I created for our last year’s anniversary. And on this newsletter, I’m sharing with you my latest pair of skateboard deck designs with the message “sixteen/setze”. This time, the concept is “urban scribers” and their omnipresence around the streets of Barcelona, where we are currently located. You can learn more about the design process here.
Upcoming Live Course! w/ Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
This month, I’m teaching a live online course with Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. I’m reeeeally looking forward to this course and I hope you can join us! Details below:
Live online intro to Copperplate Calligraphy
Monday 23 September – 6pm – 8pm
Tuesday 24 September – 6pm – 8pm
Monday 30 September – 6pm – 8pm
Tuesday 01 October – 6pm – 8pm
Config 2024: Lost Found in the details by Jessica Hische
Jessica walks through her process for this highly specialised work, and talk about why sometimes fretting over invisible details can really matter and how this kind of work can not only be rewarding for clients in quantifiable ways but also deeply rewarding for the creatives who perform it. In a culture in which we are asked to constantly streamline and automate, there is still room for slow and considered craftsmanship. Watch her talk here.
Ánima Font by Ceci del Castillo
I met Cecilia del Castillo through my talented friend Gina Serret back in 2019 while giving a design presentation as part of Type Paris. Since then, so many things have happened! Cecilia is a very talented designer, calligrapher, and typeface designer who has just graduated from the renowned Master Type and Media program at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK), with her latest font called Ánima, which you can check out here. Congrats, Ceci! What a great achievement!
Women Designers You should Know: Karmele Leizaola w/ Faride Mereb and Oriana Nuzz
In this conversation, you’ll learn about the impactful career of Venezuelan graphic designer Karmele Leizaola with guests, Oriana Nuzzi and Faride Mereb, Venezuelan designers now based in Brooklyn. Both of them share their research and insights into Karmele’s legacy and discuss how her pioneering work continues to influence contemporary design. Listen this captivating exploration of Karmele Leizaola’s creative vision and enduring impact.
For over ten years, I’m the author and editor of a bi-monthly email newsletter announcing calligraphy courses, community events, type related matter and other topics which often include creative mental health and fostering women in the industry. Subscribe here and join my journey!