I CHECK IN WITH...JO ELEANOR
#THESENSECHECK INTERVIEW SERIES 6 minute check-ins with smart, beautiful and interesting women who know a thing or two about what it takes to be successful.
JO ELEANOR, Bespoke Calligraphy & Art
I have admired the work of the delightful Jo Eleanor from Calligraphy En Vogue for such a long time. But even more than that, her approach to style, life and in particular, business. Jo has the most beautiful way of expressing her creativity on her Instagram account @calligraphyenvogue and explaining her thoughts along the way. She has worked with some of the world’s most recognised fashion and beauty brands; Chanel, Max Mara and Dior just to name a few, and consistently brings that certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to even these luxurious houses through extraordinary creations that are always centered in story telling.
So as you can imagine, I couldn’t wait to invite Jo to be part of #thesensecheck and share her advice on success. Thankfully, she graciously agreed and I hope you enjoy reading her words of wisdom as much as I have.
What do you do and how did you get to where you are today?
I create beautiful moments and memories through the art of calligraphy.
Through my business, Calligraphy En Vogue, I work closely with brands to design unique, artistic and personalised events to encourage a beautiful connection with their target audience. I focus on how my clients would like to make their customer’s feel and then how we can create a unique marketing campaign that results in awareness, loyalty and ultimately, increased sales via social media.
I also craft custom calligraphy for private and corporate clients. My handwritten designs can be converted into a digital print to add an artistic, personal element to branded stationary or table settings.
My path to calligraphy is a strange one! I spent the first ten years of my working life as a podiatrist, running my own private practice. While I loved what I did I wasn’t truly passionate about it. It wasn’t until I had three girls in two years that I had the time (ironically) to reflect on a working lifestyle that would suit my young family. And so, Calligraphy En Vogue was born.
What does a typical day involve?
A typical day always starts with strong coffee! I then look at my schedule for the day and determine what projects need to be completed next.
I like to do my emails first thing to make sure I’m on top of my correspondence with clients. I then get the creative juices flowing and do concept creation for new projects. At about 11am I photograph upcoming projects when the light is just right in my favourite spot.
If I’m not onsite for activations I will usually catch up on my in-studio calligraphy in the afternoon or do my pointed pen calligraphy work in the evenings after my girls have gone to bed. Even though I’m working long hours there’s nothing I love more than listening to audiobooks and getting in my quiet zone of doing my calligraphy. There’s something about the slow art and ink flow that just seems to calm me and so it doesn’t even feel like I’m still “working”.
What do you love most about your job?
I’m very much a visual and results driven person so having a project that involves my creative process from the beginning is my favourite.
I love seeing the evolution and creation from conception, to samples, to the execution of the event or artistic product. It’s so rewarding to see the positive reaction from my clients and then again with their customers onsite or via social media.
It makes me feel like I’m fulfilling my goal of weaving a story through my calligraphy and it’s so amazing I get to call this my job every day.
What does your morning routine look like?
I would love to be the type of person who has a consistent and structured routine but I find each day is unique depending on my projects for the week. I find that doing the administration side of the business in the morning allows me to be more creative for the rest of the day. I try to do my planning and emails first thing so I don’t have pressing issues that need attention cluttering my thoughts.
Who or what inspires you?
I am very much inspired by classic fashion designers who push the boundaries of creativity while creating something that stands the test of time.
I admire visionaries such as Karl Largerfeld (the late creative director of Chanel, Fendi & Karl Largerfeld) and current creative director of Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri, for their creative talents, implementation of art into their designs and unwavering work ethic.
I love the inspiration that I find in exquisite objects and texture. I love the feeling of magic that surrounds something beautiful and the happiness that it can bring to people’s lives.
I believe that words can be transformed into a thing of beauty while creating a deeper meaning and connection to everyone it touches.
How do you stay on top of trends in your industry?
Fashion plays a big part in my creative inspiration. Fashion to me is just another way an artist can express their artistic desires but it also allow those who wear their pieces to express themselves.
I look to magazines and social media for upcoming trends and then think about how I can reflect these in my work. It is an ever-evolving challenge that I love to immerse myself in.
Pinterest is my life blood and creating mood boards is my go-to for when I need to cement an idea in my mind and also communicate this effectively to my clients.
Colours and textures can reflect the mood and feeling of not just a person or object but play a bigger role in shaping our times; what is the current feeling of our society at that point in time and how can we create connection through the use of art.
What is your no. 1 piece of advice?
Business is so much more than just having a product and a service that people need. While it’s important to have a realistic and goal orientated business plan in place my biggest learning curve in a creative business was to recognise the beliefs and mindsets that I had about business and how they shaped me as a person.
Letting go of beliefs that artists cannot create a successful business through doing what they love was one of my biggest accomplishments. Focusing on why I do what I do rather than just how is really fulfilling.
Stepping away from a traditional career path as a medical practitioner allowed me to realise that there doesn’t have to be a qualification or set service offering in order to create a successful and profitable life. Many of us are so crippled by the negative reinforcements that we harbour from a young age around what it takes to be successful and what success should look like.
Learning to have a different mindset about our goals and achievements would be the number one piece of advice I would give to anyone looking to start a business or creative life. I truly believe that having faith in your passion will guide you to your calling and help with all the decisions you need to make.