creative highlight
MEMBER from our community
LILLIE FERREIRA
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I’m a college student from Massachusetts that’s hoping to spread encouragement through calligraphy. I began practicing calligraphy in 2016 and it took a few years for me to truly find my unique style. After a while, I began experimenting more and desired to share my gift with others through my Instagram account. I mainly work with acrylic, pens, and markers.
Instagram: @lillies_lettering
Instagram: @lillies_lettering
Can you tell us about your introduction to art? How did you know you had a creative gift?
Ever since I was young, I have always loved arts and crafts. I have consistently been fascinated with creating things, whether it is through drawing, painting, or building. I was first introduced to calligraphy as an art around 2016. I fell in love with the calming process videos and beautiful results. I knew that I wanted to learn, so I began to look at different styles of lettering the alphabet and practice copying what I had seen. After some time, I was able to develop my own style of connecting the letters and adding flourishes.
Did you ever think you'd be selling your art or teaching art?
No, I never thought that I would be sharing my creations with others! Calligraphy started more as a skill for myself. Not only was it a good, productive form of relaxation for me, but it also allowed me to create things for myself and friends. I was able to make my own signs for my bedroom and birthday cards for my friends. I knew that my friends and family always enjoyed my creations, but I never dreamed that others around the world would as well
What are your favorite ways to express your creativity?
I think my favorite way to use my skill is making things for others. Whether it is a name tag, or a birthday card, people truly feel loved when they receive something that has been personally crafted for them. There is always a look of amazement and excitement when someone sees their name written in beautiful lettering, and I found that giving a person something that is personalized and handmade makes them feel cared about.
Ever since I was young, I have always loved arts and crafts. I have consistently been fascinated with creating things, whether it is through drawing, painting, or building. I was first introduced to calligraphy as an art around 2016. I fell in love with the calming process videos and beautiful results. I knew that I wanted to learn, so I began to look at different styles of lettering the alphabet and practice copying what I had seen. After some time, I was able to develop my own style of connecting the letters and adding flourishes.
Did you ever think you'd be selling your art or teaching art?
No, I never thought that I would be sharing my creations with others! Calligraphy started more as a skill for myself. Not only was it a good, productive form of relaxation for me, but it also allowed me to create things for myself and friends. I was able to make my own signs for my bedroom and birthday cards for my friends. I knew that my friends and family always enjoyed my creations, but I never dreamed that others around the world would as well
What are your favorite ways to express your creativity?
I think my favorite way to use my skill is making things for others. Whether it is a name tag, or a birthday card, people truly feel loved when they receive something that has been personally crafted for them. There is always a look of amazement and excitement when someone sees their name written in beautiful lettering, and I found that giving a person something that is personalized and handmade makes them feel cared about.
How do you encounter the Lord in your creativity?
Typically, I love to practice my calligraphy skills by lettering Bible verses. I like to first read a passage and then pick out a verse that I find very meaningful and letter it. It takes many trials to practice what I want the layout and flourishes to look like to make the work look the most balanced. Repetitively lettering the verse like this forces me to memorize it and reflect on it, making the final creation even more meaningful. I find that lettering verses like this gives me time to reflect on God’s character and deepens my understanding of who God is.
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I believe that God is calling me to continue to use my gift for the encouragement and benefit of others. I believe that this means that I will be continuing my lettering account and creating for those around me. Perhaps in the near future, I will also be creating prints to sell to others.
Is it costly to be a creative/artist?
Concerning calligraphy, it is not very costly to actually begin your creative journey and practice. All you really need to begin is a pencil and paper. However, once you begin to create for others and start a business, the creative process is very costly. Not only does it take a lot of designated time to continue to create new designs, but it also does take some money to create for others. Supplies like paints, markers, quality paper, and packaging can be expensive and trying to price items based on the costs and time spent on the work can be challenging.
Do you have a team of people that help you or you're just going step by step?
I am just working by myself at the moment, but I have many friends and family members who continue to encourage me on my journey and push me to continue sharing my talents even more.
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?
I believe it is most important to reflect and ensure that you enjoy what you are doing with your gifts. Doing too much too fast can make you feel so overwhelmed that you don’t even enjoy what you’re doing anymore. I think it is important to reflect in times like these and try to find the balance between creating because you enjoy it and because you want to share it with others. You will create your most meaningful and abundant work when you enjoy every moment that you set aside to create.
Typically, I love to practice my calligraphy skills by lettering Bible verses. I like to first read a passage and then pick out a verse that I find very meaningful and letter it. It takes many trials to practice what I want the layout and flourishes to look like to make the work look the most balanced. Repetitively lettering the verse like this forces me to memorize it and reflect on it, making the final creation even more meaningful. I find that lettering verses like this gives me time to reflect on God’s character and deepens my understanding of who God is.
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I believe that God is calling me to continue to use my gift for the encouragement and benefit of others. I believe that this means that I will be continuing my lettering account and creating for those around me. Perhaps in the near future, I will also be creating prints to sell to others.
Is it costly to be a creative/artist?
Concerning calligraphy, it is not very costly to actually begin your creative journey and practice. All you really need to begin is a pencil and paper. However, once you begin to create for others and start a business, the creative process is very costly. Not only does it take a lot of designated time to continue to create new designs, but it also does take some money to create for others. Supplies like paints, markers, quality paper, and packaging can be expensive and trying to price items based on the costs and time spent on the work can be challenging.
Do you have a team of people that help you or you're just going step by step?
I am just working by myself at the moment, but I have many friends and family members who continue to encourage me on my journey and push me to continue sharing my talents even more.
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?
I believe it is most important to reflect and ensure that you enjoy what you are doing with your gifts. Doing too much too fast can make you feel so overwhelmed that you don’t even enjoy what you’re doing anymore. I think it is important to reflect in times like these and try to find the balance between creating because you enjoy it and because you want to share it with others. You will create your most meaningful and abundant work when you enjoy every moment that you set aside to create.