Prior to 2024, I’m not entirely sure if I’ve ever written a meme in calligraphy. Since I’ve now been asked three times in the space of a month, it seems fair to add this little string to my bow officially!
For context: I was born in 1976. There weren’t memes then, especially not calligraphy ones. People liked sonnets by Shakespeare and song lyrics by Bob Dylan. Memes weren’t invented until 1993, apparently – and I was into Soundgarden. I don’t think I saw the internet until the 2000s. I may have been unaware of memes until 2022, but I’m good at them now.
My first meme in calligraphy (officially) was a commission from a friend I’ve worked with before. She had a hilarious meme which she explained fitted her friend so perfectly that she wanted to give it to him for a special birthday.
I wrote the meme in pale gold metallic ink on some luxury grey card stock from G.F Smith. Flourishes and lots of empty space around the central calligraphy adds luxury. (In contrast, filling an entire page with lettering can look too cheesy even for a calligraphy meme. It’s not like I can throw in a cat photo.)
To make the meme presentable – it felt special after all, as I knew the recipient and had a clear brief – I found a grey gift box, added his name in hand calligraphy on the lid, and made a video which I still haven’t shared on social media. I will.
My second meme was very different. It had swearing in it, which I’m all for. (Big fan of language used to its full potential here!) This one went all the way to the US – a surprise gift bought from my Etsy calligraphy shop for someone who works in a call centre.
The message explains itself, but my customer did apologise for using the word ‘dickhead’ – and told me the context. Apparently dealing with customers over the phone on a daily basis is hard. Not all customers are pleasant. Some of them are…
I like that this calligraphy meme can apply in all kinds of life situations, from school to work to relationships, politics…
If you’d like me to write a meme in beautiful lettering, you can order from my Etsy calligraphy shop here.
For longer memes, sensible quotes or other, normal calligraphy commissions, this is where to order your calligraphy.