The cell phone is almost empty, the children are about to leave school, the hasty lunch left a grease stain on the blouse and then a traffic jam: In everyday madness, many long for deceleration, for digital detox and time for themselves.
These are all reasons why people want to learn hand lettering and brush lettering at Karin Reichert. The beautiful writing with the felt pen, fineliner or brush is booming. Regardless of whether on greeting cards, posters or place cards: If you like it decorated and colorful, your course at the Volkshochschule Oberhaching is the right place for you.
But lettering is much more than just calligraphy. Karin Reichert is not about improving your own handwriting. In their courses you learn to write slowly for the special occasion. Lettering has its roots in the creation of speech bubbles for comics. Today is from “ZACK!”, “KEUCH!” and “BUMM!” its own art form emerged. Individual words and sentences become small works of art. None of this has anything to do with the school subject “calligraphy” – it was about legibility. She also has a completely normal handwriting, says Karin Reichert. And besides shopping lists, she hardly ever writes anything by hand in everyday life.
Individual words and sentences become small works of art – for example for greeting cards or letters on special occasions.
(Photo: Sebastian Gabriel)
Flawless greeting cards, banner slogans or information signs are quickly created on the computer. But the result is often impersonal and interchangeable, says Reichert. Many of their course participants wanted to leave this digital perfection off the shelf behind. The course instructor believes that it is important to take time for loved ones, especially when it comes to gifts.
As a publishing clerk, Karin Reichert was in charge of illustrated books and art prints, but she did not get enough of the creative side of the job. So she decided to turn her childhood passion into a profession. Reichert attended calligraphy courses, turned over books and practiced diligently. The now 51-year-old has been working as a course instructor and calligrapher since 2015. “I love to pass on my knowledge. I give away everything I know,” promises Reichert.
She takes a lot of time for her participants, often advising them beyond the course in personal e-mails on their current projects, for example when anniversaries or special birthdays are pending. It is almost exclusively women who register for Karin Reichert’s workshops. In seven years there were just two men.
True art: calligraphy is much more than calligraphy.
(Photo: Sebastian Gabriel)
Anyone who comes to Reichert’s course doesn’t have to bring anything with them – “just a good mood,” she says. All participants receive a starter set in which all materials and tools can be combined with one another so that they can get started right away. Hand lettering delivers a sense of achievement faster than classic calligraphy, Reichert knows from experience. Spring and pointed nibs – the tools of calligraphers – are simply more difficult to use than pens. So it’s no wonder that her lettering courses are usually fully booked, while a few places remain free in calligraphy.
Karin Reichert organized online courses during the corona lockdown. All participants received the starter set by post – that cost time and money. “None of us earned anything last year, not the organizers, and neither did I,” says Reichert.
This year things are going better again and she has expanded her portfolio: At Ecoprint, the calligrapher works with leaves and other organic materials. Next year she might want to try watercolor painting. In November Karin Reichert then gives another course at the adult education center in Oberhaching: Christmas hand lettering for advanced learners.