Dec 5, 2012 | Recent Posts

Calligraphy done with a ruling pen for Impressions Northwest. Rosanne Olson Photography.
Calligraphy for Lord & Taylor, full page ad in the New York Times. Illustrator unknown.

Quill illustrations for Starbucks holiday mug designs
Calligraphy and Illustration ©Iskra Design
Nov 27, 2012 | Journal: Wayfinding, Recent Posts
I've been reading a lot of poetry lately and thinking about how to approach words and symbols in new ways. I always go back to my journals for inspiration. You can spend all day making an absolutely perfect "x." Or you can walk out and find the letters in the trees and listen to what they tell you.


Personal work from The Wayfinder's Journal Photography and transferprint in Moleskine © Iskra Johnson
Nov 22, 2012 | Recent Posts |
Calligraphic Turkey Illustrations © Iskra Design Inc.
Since I am not a big shopper, this four day weekend always holds the promise of a stretch of wonderful uninterrupted time in the studio (for which I give thanks to The Pilgrims, The Indians, The Corn, The Earth and The United States of Creativity. Special thanks for the holiday language of kitsch and cliche, which is an endless source of inspiration.) For all those who love to make stuff, may your studio time be humming and bright!
Nov 16, 2012 | Recent Posts

Fourth of July greeting card for Portal
The most recent issue of Scripsit, the journal of the Washington Calligrapher's Guild, features my work on its cover and in an article inside. I am honored to be in this wonderful magazine, which is one of the best showcases for contemporary calligraphy today. Thank you to editor and designer Michael Clark for his wonderful work designing this issue. I am in great company, with Izzy Pludwinski, Carl Kurtz, Peter Thornton (who taught me how to use a William Mitchell nib and reservoir so long ago–) and Michael Clark himself.





All artwork © Iskra Design (Click each page to enlarge)
Nov 7, 2012 | New Work, Recent Posts
Pen and ink calligraphic illustration of the election © Iskra Design
Enough with the spotlights on buildings and ice skating rinks as blackboards, this is what the election results look like from the perspective of the dog. An Across-the-Aisle offering from Iskra Design.