Answers to all of your burning questions
Often when I meet people and say I’m a Modern Calligrapher, their first response is “Whoa that’s so cool, what is that?”
And that’s totally ok! I didn’t know that calligrapher was a viable career option until I became one three years ago. There are a ton of things I can help you with, both personally and for your company. And it’s not even limited to calligraphy - I teach all sorts of creative workshops, illustrate on my iPad, paint with watercolors and gouache, do embroidery/cross stitch, crochet, edit photos, create logos and other branding, offer mentorship, and more. That’s the beauty of being my own boss, I get to define (and redefine!) what I do as I grow as an artist and entrepreneur.
Below are answers to common questions that I get about my work. If you want to learn more, or you don’t see your question answered here, please feel free to email me at danielle@rothbyrnscreative.com or call me at 516-375-7123. I look forward to collaborating with you!
What are your favorite art supplies?
I have a whole shopping list of my favorites all set up for you on my Amazon Influencer Page at www.amazon.com/shop/rothbyrnscreative. It’s organized by category and covers books, brush markers, pointed pen, embroidery, and more!
Where do you teach Your Creative workshops?
I primarily teach virtual workshops on Zoom, but now that the vaccine is more widespread, I’m beginning to open up availability for in-person workshops. I recently relocated to Charlotte, NC, but I’m open to travel and offer special rates for areas in and around NYC.
In addition to corporate and group events, I offer monthly open enrollment classes with Brooklyn Brainery (see Upcoming Classes for more info).
I also offer lifetime access to Recorded Workshops and I have 3 classes on Skillshare. You can use this referral link to get 2 weeks of free access to all of the thousands of classes Skillshare has to offer!
Do you offer private lessons? Can I buy one as a gift for a friend?
Yes, I offer private lessons live online for both one-on-one sessions and larger group classes. Virtual Lessons are $75/hour and I recommend scheduling 2 hours for the first session. I’ve taught lessons to both adults and kids ages 9+, and I’ve done them as both a standalone session and as part of a longer series of weekly or bi-weekly lessons. It’s all about what will work best for you! Topics are completely customizable to your interests, and can include brush calligraphy, watercolor lettering and florals, iPad calligraphy and illustration, editing photos in Lightroom, and more! Learn more and purchase Private Lessons here.
Gift Certificates are also available, and they’re valid for 1 year from purchase. I’d be happy to email you a personalized graphic with the recipient’s name on it that you can send or print and give to them. Email me to get started!
How much do you charge?
My pricing varies based on what services you’re interested in. In general, workshops are priced per person, custom work is priced by piece, and event services are priced hourly. Email me with a description of what you’re looking for and I’d be happy to give you a personalized quote!
What’s the difference between Calligraphy and Hand Lettering?
The short answer is that calligraphy is the art of writing letters while hand lettering is the art of drawing them. In general, the goal of calligraphy is to write beautifully, while the goal of hand lettering is to express ideas by combining different styles, colors, and patterns. While there may be some overlap in terms of style, they use different techniques, and hand lettering is more akin to illustration than handwriting. That said, I use both in my pieces, and there are a lot of ways you can combine them to create something awesome. In terms of workshop offerings, the main difference between my calligraphy and hand lettering workshops is that the calligraphy workshops are focused on technique and learning basic strokes while the hand lettering workshops are primarily about the drafting/layout process and helping students find cool inspiration for their final projects.
You offer a ton of different options, how do I pick which one is right for me or my company?
I am here to help! I’m very flexible and work with my clients to personalize their workshops and/or custom experience. Let’s set up a call to talk through your needs and brainstorm ways we can work together to meet them. I’m happy to combine topics and make recommendations based on what’s worked for my other clients.
Wait, if you’re Danielle, whY IS YOUR BUSINESS Name ROTHBYRNS CREATIVE?
Our majestic cat child Petey, aka: King of the Couch!
Rothbyrns Creative is a combination of my name Danielle Rothman and my husband’s name Brian Byrns. My friend coined the name Rothbyrns for us when we got engaged, and it’s stuck as our family moniker ever since! Although it’s my business, Brian is behind the scenes making sure the cat and I are fed, watered, and ready for action. We’ve been together for 10 years and I can’t think of a better way to honor him and our family. Even if it means that I get called Robyn all the time.