Hand lettering launches a career
When Jan Kruger was 16 years old, she took a class in manuscript writing.
That triggered her lifelong attachment to the handcrafted word. She attended every art, design, and calligraphy class she could fit into her agenda. She’s had her own calligraphy business – Jan designs – since 1979.
“I think words are so important,” says Kruger. “They can affirm people and make them kind of fit in.”
Her most popular item is wall art of quotations and watercolors. She has about 150 different quotes, many of them revealing her Christian background. Then she unites her fondness of color and painting with letters to create her artwork.
“I try to pick sayings that touch my heart, because then I touch other people’s hearts,” says Kruger.
She also designs greeting cards, journals, dream diaries and photo albums. Her chosen quotes decorate candles, mugs and treasure boxes. She makes one-of-a-kind little books, journey books and prayer books.
The word calligraphy literally means the art of making beautiful handwriting. But it’s more than just great penmanship. There are many “hands,” or scripts. Kruger actually composes historical calligraphy, as she uses six different historical hands.
“I think it’s a real discipline, calligraphy,” says Kruger. “It’s something that you need to practice every day to be good. I’ve been working at it for almost 40 years. I’m really passionate about it.”
Kruger’s slogan is Hand Lettered with a Human Touch. Her basic steps are choosing the saying, the calligraphy style, and then illustrating by drawing or painting. After the writing she often adds some extra décor of ribbons or dried flowers. She does it all herself except for some assembly help with the greeting cards.
Kruger does a lot of custom work – invitations, certificates, and addressed cards are all popular requests. She mainly composes in English, although she once did write a half-German wedding invitation. Her handmade paper is imported from Europe and Asia, and her steel nibs are from Germany.
“I’m getting kind of close to retirement, but I can’t imagine giving it up completely because it’s in my soul,” says Kruger. “I love what I do. I’ve been so blessed to do this for 27 years. I always have more ideas than I have time to do them.”