Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Pellegrino. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I grew up always wanting to be an artist. From a young age, horses were my muse. I’d spend hours drawing and painting them and ultimately wanted to focus my art on that. But even in elementary school I felt the pressure to find something else to do professionally. I didn’t believe that I was good enough or could stand out enough in a competitive art landscape and decided that I was going to let that dream die. After nearly a decade out of practice anywhere near a creative path, I picked up calligraphy. I took it on as a hobby and also kept my expectations low with how far I could take the art. Five years after learning calligraphy I finally took the first step of turning my skills into a business. I didn’t believe it was a profession or art that could bring in a liveable wage for me until I started following the journey of other calligraphers and artists in my circle. Once I realized that there was a HUGE need for the skill I had and it actually was possible to make it work for me, I was all in. This is what I wanted to do for a living. I’m still a ways away from showing off my horse drawing skills but the Emily from 18 years ago who dreamed of being an artist I think would be very proud of where she ended up.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Emily, a calligraphy and engraving artist focused on creating heirloom-worthy keepsakes for brides and brands.

I specialize in crafting unique experiences through calligraphy personalization for luxury brand activations, corporate events, and timeless brides. Some of my clients include Tory Burch, Dior, Chase, Glenfiddich, GH Mumms, Patrón, and many more.

Live calligraphy and live engraving are my primary services. Clients hire me to come on-site to personalize product or merchandise live at events or in-store as a way to elevate guest/customer experience.

Our studio offers live calligraphy, perfume & bottle engraving, leather embossing, and wood burning personalization as well as bridal stationery services.

I deeply believe in the power of calligraphy to effortlessly turn ordinary words into works of art. If you’re sentimental with love notes or old letters, then I’m definitely your go-to girl.

Working with multiple permanent art forms like hand engraving, leather embossing, or wood burning means designing with a style that reflects timelessness. The aim is to not just create something pretty, but to craft a classic design style that remains elegant and something that will continue being heirloom-worthy years after being customized.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing people’s reactions to receiving their finished product. A lot of my work is created right in front of the customer. They get to see the whole process start to finish, and each step becomes more and more mesmerizing. The final hand off is always exciting seeing the big reveal, but many times recipients are just as enthralled with the process itself too! I’m most happy when I’m on-site personalizing items for customers and when they’re fully engaged the whole time. When I can make the wait time enjoyable, that’s when I know I’m doing a good job.

Sometimes when customization events are slower and I have a single customer I can spend more attention talking to them as I work. I hear about their shopping experience, what they purchased, the meaning behind their chosen personalization. While I love working through a busy event, the most rewarding part about being an artist is being able to make someone’s day and being part of that positive experience.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My love language is words of affirmation which means I tend to hang onto little notes, old birthday cards, and reread messages from the people I love. Because of that, I deeply believe in the power of calligraphy to effortlessly turn ordinary words into works of art.

The written word is precious to me, and calligraphy is an art form that instantly adds elegance and importance to special occasions, wedding vows, love letters, or sentimental birthday gifts. The driving force behind my work is to continuously develop my style that it remains heirloom-worthy decades later, and reflects the permanence of the message written.

In essence, your words and special moments deserve to be remembered in a timeless art form, and I aim to provide that same experience and attention to each client.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.calligraphybyemily.com
• Instagram: @emilyrpellegrino
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-r-pellegrino/