Meet Emily Pellegrino | Calligrapher & Engraving Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Pellegrino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, why did you pursue a creative career?
Since I was a kid I have always wanted to be an artist. My childhood muse were horses. All day long I would draw, paint, color, mold with clay–albeit badly, but enthusiastically create. I always did it for fun and because I loved horses. I never seriously considered the idea of being a professional artist. I felt that I would never be good enough to charge for my work let alone make a living doing it. So much of what I saw in the world and in media said that I could never compete in the art world. So for a long time I didn’t even try.

I learned calligraphy as a hobby, and similarly did it just for fun. I started following other calligraphers, and saw them being successful in a way that challenged what I thought about professional artists. They weren’t having their work shown in a gallery or inventing new techniques they’d be known for, working with high profile clients.

Everyday people wanted calligraphy too. Along with businesses, big name luxury brands, and brides wanting something elegant to add to their wedding day– because words matter to them. As an art form, I think calligraphy is the most personal. Your name is your identity and has meaning, but in calligraphy it becomes art. As someone who is deeply sentimental when it comes to words, I knew as soon as I found this art form that it was going to be what I do for a living.

It wasn’t until I opened up my mind to the possibility of a creative career that I let myself explore whats out there now and how there’s actually a huge variety of niches in art. It wasn’t until then that I realized that creatives aren’t all starving artists.

Once I saw that other hobbyists like me were able to not just make a living but build a life around their craft. I was all in. I was going to take action, build the skills, the portfolio, live outside my comfort zone and make it happen. At that moment I decided to believe in myself and pursue a career as a professional calligrapher.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I specialize in live calligraphy & personalization for events, in-store activations, and luxury weddings.

Clients hire me to help add a unique and elegant touch to their events. This usually looks like me coming on-site to customize event favors for guests, or as part of an in-store activation where personalization is offered as a gift with purchase. There’s so many way to incorporate live calligraphy and customization into events and experiences. There really is a lot of room to get creative with how you use it– which is what I find so special about it.

Most of the challenges to get to where I am were my own limited thinking and fear of not being good enough. Impostor syndrome was a near insurmountable obstacle in my journey for a long time. It still makes an appearance now and then. Each step of the way I had to remember just how far I’ve come, and how many times I’ve had this conversation in my head where I’d think, “I’ll never be able to do that. I’m not good enough” and sure enough I’d manage to reach that made up goal.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day One Lazy beach day with Taquiza tacos (and a spicy marg or two)

Day Two
Spend the day in the Design District, tour the Contemporary Art Museum and visit the Wynwod Walls

Day Three
Tour the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens then stop for lunch in Little Havana at Versailles

Day Four
Start the day off at Neverland Coffee bar for lattes and brunch, then shopping at Aventura Mall

Day Five
Explore Fairchild Botanic Garden and have a picnic

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out my coaching group Curated to Create and coach Irene. I’ve been able to build the confidence to really go after my goals and clients that I’d otherwise feel intimidated by.

My accountability group has been a huge part of my journey as well. We meet once a week to check in and share wins and encouragement. Being a small business owner with such a variable schedule its hard to plan time with friends who have 9-5 jobs generally, but our little group has been great for motivation, bouncing ideas off each other, and being a consistent connection to other people in an otherwise lonely job.

Website: www.calligraphybyemily.com

Instagram: @emilyrpellegrino

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/emily-r-pellegrino