Swetha Shenoy

Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist

Swetha Shenoy is a Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist based in New Jersey. She is the founder of The Paisley Corner, a creative hub that provides art workshops & team-building activities for individuals and corporate teams alike. Swetha created The Paisley Corner to spread the joy of creating through her art workshops. She teaches multiple lettering techniques, including hand lettering, brush lettering, and watercolor lettering. Since founding The Paisley Corner 5 years ago, she has taught 2500+ students (adults and kids) at over 200 workshops. Notable corporate clients include Adobe, Shapeways, Rituals, Confetti, MixLife & the New York tri-state area public libraries. Prior to her career as an artist and small business owner, Swetha worked as a Software Engineer at multiple companies.

Education

University of Illinois Chicago, MS, Computer Science
Visvesvaraya Technological University, BE, Computer Science

Certifications & Organizations

Instructor, Skillshare
Featured Instructor, Creative Retreat Live, 2022
Workshop Leader, CreativeMornings
Teaching Artist, Confetti

Favorite Piece of Advice

A favorite piece of advice I give my students is: "Focus on progress, not perfection." I encourage them to immerse themselves in the creative process, letting go of the outcome. This approach helps reduce stress and anxiety, allowing creativity to flow more freely.

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Forum Comments (2)

How do I start writing a diary?

The first thing that you need to do, which is the most exciting part about journaling, is pick your supplies. You can get a blank, dotted, or lined notebook — whatever kind you like! Then, buy a couple of pens in colors that you like. My favorite brand is Tombow pens. The basic idea here is to get you excited about the process of journaling.

Next, you want to keep your prompts simple because you don't want to get overwhelmed, especially if you want to get into the habit of daily journaling. To keep things really simple, you could try writing three things that you're grateful for. Another prompt that I like is a simple affirmation, like "I am strong" or "I'm enough." One more could be the top three things that you want to accomplish today.

If you're journaling at the end of the day, you could write about one thing that you enjoyed the most today or what brought you joy. You could also write about what you're looking forward to tomorrow. The simplicity of these will help make it a routine!

How do I improve my handwriting?

Much like calligraphy or lettering, if one wants to improve their handwriting, it is about practicing. You can get handwriting worksheets on Etsy or for free online. Download a couple of worksheets that you like.

Start by tracing over the writing initially to build some muscle memory and to learn how to move your pen or your pencil in those shapes that you like. Then eventually, learn to let go of the tracing paper and try it on your own, really slowing down. Whether it's calligraphy or handwriting, I think it's important to be mindful, slow down, and focus on one letter at a time or a couple of letters at a time to improve your skill.

Practice does not mean you practice for 30 minutes every day. Start small by doing 5 to 10 minutes a day, working on a few sets of letters every day. Again, have a little bit of structure and just practice, practice, practice.

Q&A Comments (10)

How do I improve my handwriting?

Consider adopting calligraphy style by slowing down, taking your time, and focusing on each letter. Treat each letter as a small piece of art, paying attention to its shape and structure to create more consistent and aesthetically pleasing handwriting. For a particular style, use worksheets to trace over the letters repeatedly and build muscle memory that will help you naturally replicate the style. Consistent practice is key—rather than practicing sporadically for long periods, aim for shorter, daily sessions of about 10 minutes and improve on that.

How can I make my handwriting more elegant?

Start by finding a style you admire and browse platforms like Pinterest or search for worksheets that showcase the styles you want to emulate. Study these styles and choose elements from each of them that appeal to you. Practicing is crucial, remember to dedicate time each day to hone your chosen style. Be prepared for initial results that may not meet your expectations; this is a natural part of the learning process. Embrace the imperfections of your writing, as these are essential for your improvement.

Where can I find inspiration for creating my own signature?

Explore various platforms and resources like Pinterest and Etsy, where you can see worksheets that can guide you in developing a stylish signature. Creative Market is another excellent platform offering a variety of lettering worksheets. Additionally, visit your local library, which likely has numerous resources on lettering and signature creation. If you prefer physical books, Amazon offers an extensive selection. However, if you're not inclined to make a purchase, the library remains a valuable and cost-free option to gain access to several resources and pick something up.

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Co-authored Articles (39)

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Write in Cursive

Writing in cursive is a good skill to have if you’d like to handwrite a letter, a journal entry, or an invitation. Start by improving your writing skill by making adjustments. You can then practice lowercase and upperc...

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Draw an & (Ampersand)

The & symbol, called ampersand, means “and.” It started as a shorthand for the Latin word “et,” which had the same meaning as the symbol does today. Ampersands are a useful symbol that many find both aestheticall...

How to Get Better Handwriting (For All Ages!)

Easy ways to identify and fix problem letters for smooth, legible writingWe’ve all been there: you’re trying to read something you wrote and simply have no idea what it says. Yep, your handwriting is bad. But is ther...

How to Grip a Pen: Tips and Techniques for Improvement

Find the right grip for youHolding your pen properly is essential for writing and drawing with ease. An important part of this is how you grip the pen, which can be done with 3 or 4 fingers.. 2 May 2024. After you find a...

Handwriting Analysis: What Your Handwriting Says About You

What can your handwriting tell you about your personality and outlook on life? Graphologists would argue it can tell you quite a bit! Even though you might've been taught to write your letters in a certain way in school,...

How to Create Your Own Font

Follow these simple steps to create your own typeface Many fonts are available to , and various websites let you download additional fonts, often for free. The problem with these fonts is that you are limited to someone...

How to Erase Ink from Paper (Without Damaging the Page)

Plus, simple and creative ways to cover ink if it won’t come offMaybe you want to erase that bad grade on the top of your math test, or to remove annotations from the pages of a used book. Perhaps you're an artist usin...

How to

Hold a Pencil

Holding a pencil correctly is an important step in learning to write and draw well. The tripod holding technique allows you to use your middle and index fingers, along with your thumb, to hold and use the pencil with the...

What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?

Use handwriting psychology to reveal what someone is really likeIt’s no surprise that you can learn a lot about someone based on what they write. However, did you know that you can learn just as much about them based o...

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Mirror Write

Mirror writing is an easy and fun way to make your writing more difficult to read. To mirror write, write a phrase, sentence, or paragraph in reverse as if the text appears in a mirror. When learning how to mirror write,...

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Fill Fountain Pens

If you’re looking for that classic style, the ease of writing, or just a more intimate writing experience you may have purchased a fountain pen. There are so many types of fountain pens each with their own filling meth...

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Draw 3D Block Letters

3D block letters are great for headings, posters, and birthday cards. They’re not too tricky to learn how to draw yourself. Draw block letters by making rectangular outlines around regular letters. Make them 3D by addi...

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Use a Fountain Pen

Many people tend to use disposable ballpoint pens these days, but there are those who still prefer the grace, precision, and personality of fountain pens. Fountain pens have pointed nibs rather than circular tips, so the...

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Have Beautiful Writing

Handwriting can seem like an ancient relic in our modern world; some even claim that teaching cursive writing in schools is “obsolete” and a “waste of time.” But everyone needs to put pen to paper at least occasi...

How to Start an Art Journal: Entry Ideas, Supply Recommendations & More

Learn how creative art journaling can benefit you Art journaling is a fun, creative hobby that allows you to express yourself through visual art and the written word. If you’re new to art journaling, it can sometimes b...

How to Write Calligraphy for Cards, Letters, & Art Projects

Discover expert tips for supplies, practicing, & moreCalligraphy means "beautiful writing" in Greek and is a practice that spans thousands of years and countless cultures, including European, Islamic, and Eastern Asian. ...

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Copy Someone's Handwriting

Your handwriting is a representation of you, so you may decide that you would like to improve it or change the style in which you write. If there is a particular form of handwriting, or a particular person’s, you may ...

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Change Your Handwriting

Get neater handwriting with these easy steps If you always get comments on how sloppy your handwriting is, maybe you're ready to change it up. You can simply improve it with a few tips or by focusing on how you make your...

How to

Draw a 3D Box

Want to know how to draw a 3d box? Let's get started!

How to

Write in Gothic Calligraphy

Gothic calligraphy is a style of beautiful hand lettering that’s been around since the Middle Ages. The actual term for this type of calligraphy is “blackletter,” and while there are a number of variations, this fo...

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