creative highlight
MEMBER from our community
D'ANN ZICKAU
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My little home studio in Idaho is where I spend most of my days, creating new things, practicing old things, and dreaming up the next Big Thing. I have been working with calligraphy since 2014. My watercolors embellish my calligraphy artwork and my graphic design skills help me in composition. My interests and skills have led to many projects for weddings, dinner parties, corporate events, baby showers, certificates, memorial books, family trees, as well as menu sign and chalkboard lettering. I am inspired by the phrase, “Truth, Beauty, and Goodness,” and I have a soft spot for a bit of whimsy in everyday life. I love working with clients who want to honor someone special in their lives with a hand-crafted gift of art. My passion is to encourage others with my art that is colorful, balanced, meaningful, and joyful.
Website: www.diannzletters.com
Instagram: @diannz_letters
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.diannzletters.com
Instagram: @diannz_letters
Email: [email protected]
Can you tell us about your introduction to art? How did you know you had a creative gift?
I wasn’t the kid in school who doodled all over my papers and notebooks, at least not visible to anyone. I loved pencils and crayons (markers were considered quite valuable and to be saved for important work. Mine usually dried up waiting on me). I was the kid, however, who checked out every book on Things to Make and Do. My parents ordered a fair share of that genre from the scholastic books, every month, from school. I loved craft books, how-to books, and improvising with things around the house to make my creations. We call it upcycling now. I would save tiny boxes, bits of ribbon, clear plastic from packaging, and sticks and rocks. I would build all kinds of things, doll houses out of cardboard boxes, anything for my Barbies, even clothes. I wasn’t much of a reader, but I was always drawing and making things. I loved to make floor plans of houses too. How did I know I had a creative gift? I guess when I realized other people had different serious hobbies like reading and writing, I knew I didn’t have the same kind of interest for those as I did with art. I never entered any art contests (except once in high school) because I was painfully shy and never wanted to stand out. Ever. In college, I really wanted to take all the art classes I could, but my first art teacher terrified me. I studied technical drawing and architecture instead. I liked the technical side of art. My professional job, until I had kids, was that of a mechanical engineering drafter. After kids, I was a classical school librarian and teacher. I eventually learned to enjoy reading and writing along the way.
Did you ever think you'd be selling your art or teaching art?
I have always dreamed of owning a shop, selling gifts and art supplies. But selling my own art? Never did I think or plan to do it until I was in my mid-50s.
What are your favorite ways to express your creativity?
I love to improvise and think of other applications for a standard design or material. Making something new out the ordinary. I enjoy working out designs with clients, and brainstorming ideas.
I wasn’t the kid in school who doodled all over my papers and notebooks, at least not visible to anyone. I loved pencils and crayons (markers were considered quite valuable and to be saved for important work. Mine usually dried up waiting on me). I was the kid, however, who checked out every book on Things to Make and Do. My parents ordered a fair share of that genre from the scholastic books, every month, from school. I loved craft books, how-to books, and improvising with things around the house to make my creations. We call it upcycling now. I would save tiny boxes, bits of ribbon, clear plastic from packaging, and sticks and rocks. I would build all kinds of things, doll houses out of cardboard boxes, anything for my Barbies, even clothes. I wasn’t much of a reader, but I was always drawing and making things. I loved to make floor plans of houses too. How did I know I had a creative gift? I guess when I realized other people had different serious hobbies like reading and writing, I knew I didn’t have the same kind of interest for those as I did with art. I never entered any art contests (except once in high school) because I was painfully shy and never wanted to stand out. Ever. In college, I really wanted to take all the art classes I could, but my first art teacher terrified me. I studied technical drawing and architecture instead. I liked the technical side of art. My professional job, until I had kids, was that of a mechanical engineering drafter. After kids, I was a classical school librarian and teacher. I eventually learned to enjoy reading and writing along the way.
Did you ever think you'd be selling your art or teaching art?
I have always dreamed of owning a shop, selling gifts and art supplies. But selling my own art? Never did I think or plan to do it until I was in my mid-50s.
What are your favorite ways to express your creativity?
I love to improvise and think of other applications for a standard design or material. Making something new out the ordinary. I enjoy working out designs with clients, and brainstorming ideas.
How do you encounter the Lord in your creativity?
I am more intentional about praying for the people whose custom work I am doing, for the names I am writing in calligraphy, the people behind the words and the people receiving my work as a gift. I think of their names, which are precious to the Lord. I frequently add a flourish or swirl to most of my art because I think it represents truth, beauty, and goodness.
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I feel like God is calling me to just trust that He is in each step as I grow my art business. He has called me to create and then trust that He has taken care of the details. As I trust the Lord, I know that He will continue to give me opportunities to grow and glorify Himself through my art.
Is it costly to be a creative/artist?
Creating works in calligraphy and watercolor is not necessarily expensive at all. But the iPad and computer are deadly to a budget. Also, the marketing and business end stress my budget. Even though they are expensive, I think investing in art instruction is invaluable whether you use it for business or not. Attending live classes and conferences is a superior way to learn, so those opportunities need to be put into the budget and looked forward to.
How do you juggle your business/family/social time?
Do you have a team of people that help you or you're just going step by step?
Because I work by myself, I do not have to work on others’ schedules. I am free to prioritize my projects (home and business) and I make time to schedule regular coffee/lunch times with my friends. I put everything in my Google calendar and Trello, color-coded, listed with check boxes, replete with reminders and alarms. Otherwise, I will be found doing something entirely different. My dear husband is my go-to guy for advice, especially business guidance.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
Know that you can do nothing without the Lord’s mercy and grace. Listen carefully to people’s stories.
Strive for excellence in at least one area of your creative discipline.
I am more intentional about praying for the people whose custom work I am doing, for the names I am writing in calligraphy, the people behind the words and the people receiving my work as a gift. I think of their names, which are precious to the Lord. I frequently add a flourish or swirl to most of my art because I think it represents truth, beauty, and goodness.
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I feel like God is calling me to just trust that He is in each step as I grow my art business. He has called me to create and then trust that He has taken care of the details. As I trust the Lord, I know that He will continue to give me opportunities to grow and glorify Himself through my art.
Is it costly to be a creative/artist?
Creating works in calligraphy and watercolor is not necessarily expensive at all. But the iPad and computer are deadly to a budget. Also, the marketing and business end stress my budget. Even though they are expensive, I think investing in art instruction is invaluable whether you use it for business or not. Attending live classes and conferences is a superior way to learn, so those opportunities need to be put into the budget and looked forward to.
How do you juggle your business/family/social time?
Do you have a team of people that help you or you're just going step by step?
Because I work by myself, I do not have to work on others’ schedules. I am free to prioritize my projects (home and business) and I make time to schedule regular coffee/lunch times with my friends. I put everything in my Google calendar and Trello, color-coded, listed with check boxes, replete with reminders and alarms. Otherwise, I will be found doing something entirely different. My dear husband is my go-to guy for advice, especially business guidance.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
Know that you can do nothing without the Lord’s mercy and grace. Listen carefully to people’s stories.
Strive for excellence in at least one area of your creative discipline.