My Calligraphy Practice
I began my study of calligraphy with a Lyceum class on italic calligraphy when I was maybe 11 years old. I have continued to improve my skill over the years, and I still use italic writing to make my watercolor greeting cards. However, about a year ago I discovered and became obsessed with flex-nib pens, the sort most famously used to create Copperplate and Spencerian script. I have been studying flexy writing ever since, and I recently received a fabulous 1920s flex pen for Christmas (thanks to my wonderful husband and Mauricio Aguilar of vintagepen.net). I am in love with this pen and would be happy to write out something for you using it. (Or another pen, I suppose, if you prefer.) Contact me here.

Letter to Rachel and Brian Goulet (detail)
Keiko O'Leary
ink on watercolor paper
(Written with my 1920s Wahl Eversharp flex nib fountain pen
and Pen & Ink brand's No Shellac India Black ink on Strathmore 400 series watercolor paper.)
11 x 14" (28 x 36 cm)
Note: I do not recommend this ink.
Happy Birthday Anthony
Keiko O'Leary
ink on paper
(Written with a Pilot Petite fude fountain pen
and Noodler's Heart of Darkness ink on printer paper.)
2 x 4” (5 x 10 cm)
Happy Birthday Liza
Keiko O'Leary
ink on paper
(Written with my 1920s Wahl Eversharp flex nib fountain pen
and Pilot Iroshizuku ink (color: Yama Budo) on printer paper.)
2 x 6” (5 x 15 cm)
Happy Birthday Betsy
Keiko O'Leary
ink on paper
(Written with a Noodler's Konrad flex nib fountain pen
and J. Herbin Rouge Hematite ink on printer paper.)
3 x 4” (8 x 10 cm)
Feliz Cumpleaños Capitán Córcoran
Keiko O'Leary
watercolor
(Painted with a round sable brush.)
22 x 30” (56 x 76 cm)
Palmeras, Berlines, Cocadas, Helado (detail)
Keiko O'Leary
graphite on kraft paper
(Written with a 4B pencil. The shading on "Berlines" is drawn and colored in by hand.)
14 x 11” (36 x 28 cm)