Meet Lauren Heath | Hand Lettering & Calligraphy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Heath and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Taking big risks is not something I do on a regular basis, especially with big life decisions. I married my high school sweetheart. I chose accounting as a career at the age of 15 and have stubbornly stuck with that profession to this day. I have had the same position at my church for 10 years as the financial administrator. When I discovered that I indeed have a creative side to my personality, I was hesitant to make any sudden moves. I made my discovery in an unlikely place: bullet journaling. I stumbled across this creative way to plan and dream, and soon started watching all the YouTube videos I could find on the subject. This led me to lettering and calligraphy videos as many bullet journal influencers make their journals artistic as well as functional. As someone who has always been complimented on my “pretty handwriting,” I found it easy to pick up on the skills I found in the many, many videos I watched. Thanks to Facebook, sharing your hobbies and interests is easy, and before I knew it, I had several friends asking me to letter things for them. These were small-scale projects, and I eventually had enough of these projects to start a little lettering page on Facebook and Instagram showcasing my work. My business is very project-based, and mostly fueled by commissions. The lovely part of my journey so far is that it has been perfectly suited to my risk-averse nature in that it has been gradual and slow. I have a few orders on my plate at all times. If the order is not time-sensitive, I feel like I have breathing room to get it done. If the order is more time-sensitive, I am able to make margin for that project. The timing of my journey has also been perfect. I have four children who are all very close in age. I discovered my love for art and design as my children were exiting the toddler age and entering school age. Without the need to change a million diapers or pick up a million toys, I was able to make space for my new endeavor. As the kids get older, I have more time to make my dreams a reality. The great part is that they get to see their normally anxious and cautious mom try new courageous things and become a better version of herself. That is the magical part of my business to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my artistic journey with cautious optimism, but I have found myself going through a transformation of finding confidence in who I am, and courageously stepping forward into new artistic territory. I have loved trying new creative techniques and art forms. I started out with calligraphy, but I quickly found that I am pretty good at hand lettering and painting letters on a large scale (canvases and even stage design). I have worked with water color, acrylic paint, dip pen calligraphy, and chalk board lettering. I purchased an iPad two years ago and started digital lettering, and have even worked on several logo designs. Once I discovered the life that art brings to me, I made a shift from an “I’ve never done that, so I can’t do it” mindset, to an “I won’t know until I try” mindset. Almost 100% of the time, I have been able to make an experimental project a reality. None of this would have happened if I didn’t have friends in my community believe in me enough to ask me to try something I’ve never done before. Since a majority of my projects are commissions, customized art is my specialty. Do you want a specific quote on a specific color background in a specific style of handwriting? I have you covered. I have lettered a lot of various mediums, from tattoos to clothes hangers to toy boxes, and even a casket! I can tailor my design to suit your exact wishes. A big part of this process has been my iPad. I can work up a proof of the general direction of the design, and my customer can make changes and confirm that this was what they had envisioned. This has given me so much more confidence when I am actually working on the piece. My newest foray into the artistic world has been non-lettered art. One of my best friends asked me to paint a large landscape piece for her living room last year. This was a daunting request to me at first. It took a very long time for me to complete it, but it has become a meaningful piece of art that my friend has loved looking at every day. Finishing this large canvas has given me a fresh burst of artistic momentum. I love when the hard work that has been put into a piece brings energy and life into my whole being. Art has become a healing breath of fresh air to my soul.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Columbus has a vibrant community life – there is always something going on and something to do. I have lived here my whole life, even graduating from Columbus State University, so it has been a joy to watch our town transform into a place where people want to go. One of our biggest attractions is our whitewater rafting course. I had the pleasure of rafting with our church staff a few years ago, and it was one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had in this town. On my day off, I try to take time to go downtown and visit my favorite coffee shops and walk on the River Walk. This ritual is something I look forward to every week. The Riverwalk extends for miles, so it is a great place for long-distance walking, running, and biking. I love the running community here. Many races take place on the River Walk, so it’s a sweet spot for me. I even take advantage of the hammock posts by the river on a mild day and hang out in my hammock for a while. One of my favorite activities is attending our Columbus Symphony Orchestra concerts. I have always loved classical music, and there is nothing like a live performance. Our city is also home to some amazing prolific artists. We are so blessed to have world-renowned artists that call our city home. There is no shortage of artistic inspiration here. In fact, Columbus is home to Creative South, a conference dedicated to the creative community where thousands of artists and designers gather for community and inspiration. I hope that 2022 will bring this amazing gathering back to our town. And when there isn’t a big conference or concert to go to, there is always food! I am a big fan of our local restaurants. My favorites are the Salt Cellar and the Loft.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am completely surrounded by friends and family who believe in me and my dreams. Some of my closest friends are artists and designers, and these friends are also my biggest cheerleaders. My best friend Haley Borin is the Director of Communications at the church where we both work. She includes me as a part of the creative team, and often asks me to participate in the creative process through digital lettering for graphics and art projects around the church. In 2019, we both attended a conference here in Columbus called Design Revival, which is a conference for church creatives. This was my first creative conference experience, and the seeds were planted for me to expand my vision of what I wanted my creative journey to look like. Haley continues to inspire me by always giving me feedback on my projects, and being one of my most loyal “customers.” I am so thankful that she is not just an encouraging coworker, but that she also inspires me with her consistent and diverse gifts in design, photography, and writing. I look up to her professionalism and intuitive design skills, and her ability to do so many things well. People who pursue excellence in more than one way are the people I want to be around! It is so nice to have that in your best friend.

Website: laurenletters.co

Instagram: @_lauren_letters_

Facebook: @LaurenHLetters

Youtube: Lauren Letters

Image Credits
Haley Borin