We recently connected with Simone Sloan and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Simone, thanks for joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

After I decided to do calligraphy professionally, I posted an ad on Craig’s List offering my services. As soon as I hit “publish” i started to hyperventilate. My exact thoughts were “what if someone calls me??!”. While that was the whole purpose of the ad, the mere feeling that my biggest business venture to date was now out in the world was terrifying. My work would be out in the open for all to see. About a month later i did get a call. It was a request for envelope addressing for a Bat Mitzvah, and I was so lucky that was not only a small party (26 envelopes to address) but the client was the sweetest human ever. This definitely helped calm my nerves (oh, the nerves!), because i was so worried of doing it wrong.
Mistakes were definitely made, but little did I know they were mistakes that even seasoned calligraphers make, and I all needed was a double check on names, and some extra envelopes. This was definitely a special order, and one that did not come from any friends or family who took pity on me LOL.

Simone, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a calligrapher and engraver and I started this journey when I got engaged to my husband. I wanted to make and address my own invitations so I set it out to learn the craft. I practice for a almost a year every single day. I lived for the craft and it was my therapy. Then a friend asked me to do a couple of cards for her daughter’s birthday, then another friend, and another. That’s when my husband said I should get a website and some business cards. One thing led to another and now that’s what I do, adding some engraving since 2021 which I absolutely love!
I used to described myself as a multidisciplinary artist since I also do letting, chalk and watercolor, but i focus on my main craft which calligraphy. I still do all of those things though, I’m just that curious about all types of mediums.

I’m self taught. I spent hours upon hours perfecting what I do, and I do it because i love the work. My favorite part of the business is seeing my clients faces when they first look at their envelopes, and thankfully I never had a less than excited one.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish i had taken more advantage of social media sooner. Instagram was so much more powerful back in the day. All the creatives that focused on that early one (back in 2014-2016) were able to build a following and grow their audience in a more solid way. Now things are very different and you have to dedicate a lot more sweat, blood and tears to make it work for you. You still can, of course. But I miss the good old days when IG was more organic, and I missed the boat on a business level.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

to create with no expectations. people create a lot of art as children, but then a lot of it gets lost when you have to grow up. I enjoy the non commitment, non serious, and very playful art. We were never afraid to show our imperfect drawings and painting, and now everyone is so worried about not being perfect. I don’t care how it comes out, I just want the joy of playing with my art supplies. And that’s usually when you end up with a really nice work of art.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thevintagenib.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thevintagenib
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thevintagenib/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-vintage-nib-calligraphy-san-diego?osq=calligraphy

Image Credits
Natalie Bray