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BERNICE VAN OVERBEEK | The Butterfly's Day
ARTIST | Bernice van Overbeek
BASED IN | The Netherlands
TITLE | The Butterfly’s Day
SIZE | 205 x 105 x 25 (mm)
The butterfly signifies the different phases of my life; in working with children with autism and in growing as a calligrapher. This piece brings together the past and present, and represents my growth and development as a person and artist. As the book unfolds, it reveals the poem The Butterfly’s Day written by Emily Dickinson. With Copperplate in the center, the script that was the start of my calligraphy journey, and Italic written at 2mm letter height for the poem. Watercolour illustrations of a caterpillar and butterflies complement the writing and are inspired by the Mira Calligraphae Monumenta.
MEDIUM | Arches Velin 130gsm, Saiboku Aya Trisha (Burnt Sienna) and Saiboku Aya Kuro (Black) sumi ink stick, Daniel Smith watercolors, Mi-Teintes cardstock brown, Lokta paper
ARTIST | Bernice van Overbeek
BASED IN | The Netherlands
TITLE | The Butterfly’s Day
SIZE | 205 x 105 x 25 (mm)
The butterfly signifies the different phases of my life; in working with children with autism and in growing as a calligrapher. This piece brings together the past and present, and represents my growth and development as a person and artist. As the book unfolds, it reveals the poem The Butterfly’s Day written by Emily Dickinson. With Copperplate in the center, the script that was the start of my calligraphy journey, and Italic written at 2mm letter height for the poem. Watercolour illustrations of a caterpillar and butterflies complement the writing and are inspired by the Mira Calligraphae Monumenta.
MEDIUM | Arches Velin 130gsm, Saiboku Aya Trisha (Burnt Sienna) and Saiboku Aya Kuro (Black) sumi ink stick, Daniel Smith watercolors, Mi-Teintes cardstock brown, Lokta paper
ARTIST | Bernice van Overbeek
BASED IN | The Netherlands
TITLE | The Butterfly’s Day
SIZE | 205 x 105 x 25 (mm)
The butterfly signifies the different phases of my life; in working with children with autism and in growing as a calligrapher. This piece brings together the past and present, and represents my growth and development as a person and artist. As the book unfolds, it reveals the poem The Butterfly’s Day written by Emily Dickinson. With Copperplate in the center, the script that was the start of my calligraphy journey, and Italic written at 2mm letter height for the poem. Watercolour illustrations of a caterpillar and butterflies complement the writing and are inspired by the Mira Calligraphae Monumenta.
MEDIUM | Arches Velin 130gsm, Saiboku Aya Trisha (Burnt Sienna) and Saiboku Aya Kuro (Black) sumi ink stick, Daniel Smith watercolors, Mi-Teintes cardstock brown, Lokta paper
Details
Closeup of butterfly detail (1)
Closeup of butterfly detail (2)
About the artist
As a psychologist specialised in autism, Bernice worked in her own practice until she had to quit her daytime job in 2012 due to serious health issues. In search for a way to cope with chronic illness and pain, she became intrigued by some calligraphy work while scrolling through Instagram. She ordered a beginner calligraphy set and from that first moment, in May 2018 when she picked up a pointed pen, she instantly fell in love with this art. Starting with Copperplate, Bernice soon began trying different other scripts and tools, and a new passion was born. Calligraphy turned out to be life-changing. Being homebound, Bernice found new fulfilment in calligraphy during the day when the children were in school.
Bernice’s urge to constantly learn and grow in this art shows in the many courses she has taken, and the various scripts she has assiduously studied. When the Covid pandemic hit the world, learning from teachers all over the world became easily available, and turned out to be an amazing way to learn from home, at her own pace. Bernice soon discovered that this art is a life-long learning process!