THE MANY WAYS OF PAPER - A DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: with Lenka Bance, Northern Ireland

Working with handmade paper can go in so many directions. Each designer has their own style and each of their clients has their own vision. In our new series we want to feature (paper) designers that we love and their different approaches. To highlight the wonderfully diverse world of stationery designs. And to inspire you with the countless ways our handmade paper can look under the hands of a brilliant creator´s mind.  

Starting today: Lenka Bance from Lenka Calligraphy. She's based in Northern Ireland. 

What inspires you?

I am very much inspired by vintage illustrations, for example botanical prints, which feature beautiful illustrations and interesting combination of fonts. When it comes to calligraphy I love looking at old handwritten documents and letters.

Your dream design project?

My dream would be to receive an email from a client to create their full wedding invitation suite with a total freedom in design and material choice with no price limits. :)

If you had to use only one font on handmade paper for the rest of your designer's life, which would it be?

Garamond.

Are you secretly a serif or sans serif person?

Very much sans serif.

Colour combination that will never go out of style? Colour combination that will make a comeback?

Blush and ivory is/will be always a popular choice. Deeper and darker shades of blue and green.

Which three words best describe your style?

Clean, romantic, custom.

Did you teach it yourself or did you go to school for design?

I always loved art and even applied to study art history and aesthetics at university but then changed my plans and studied English language. After some years of teaching I had a chance to focus on calligraphy and rediscovered my passion. :)

How did you learn calligraphy?

I am a self-taught calligrapher. I first picked up a calligraphy pen in 2014 when still living and working in Austria. :)  I got a few books about calligraphy and started practicing and slowly improving.

Your guilty pleasure in design? (Anything, graphic, interior, fashion... something that's considered bad taste but that you really enjoy)

I love watching programs about interior design and people renovating their houses.

Why do you like working with handmade paper? 

Handmade paper looks and feels so different and special. I could go on about perfect imperfections, fluffy deckled edges and tactile qualities of handmade paper. They are best when combined with handwritten calligraphy or letterpress!

Lenca Bance
http://www.lenkacalligraphy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lenkacalligraphy/

Embosser: Heirloom Seals