2025: My Calligraphy Year in Review

Even though calligraphy has been part of my life for more than nine years, 2025 was the year I finally allowed it to become official.

It started with a simple question a friend of mine asked: “When are you going to teach us calligraphy, Lala?”

Most of my friends have asked me this question over the years but I never really gave it that much thought. But lately, I felt like I have parted ways with my creative side and decided to give it a chance.

I didn’t expect much. I truly thought it would stay within my small circle. But then more people showed interest. And then more. And suddenly, what started as a way to get back into art, turned into something much bigger than I had imagined. So I did another workshop. And then another. And before I knew it, Calligraphy Curaçao had quietly found its footing.

There are a few people I need to thank, because without them, this year might have looked very different.

The very first person is Catalina, a dear friend of mine who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. I’m pretty sure that if it weren’t for her encouragement, I would not have launched my very first workshop. Sometimes all it takes is one person saying, “You can do this.”

I also want to thank Natasha from Tea Life Century. She welcomed me into her space with such openness and enthusiasm. Had she not trusted me with her location and been genuinely excited about the idea... I might have hesitated longer than I already did.

And then there’s Diego from Olas y Copas, and his brother Nico, who suggested we collaborate. That suggestion opened doors I hadn’t even considered yet, and the experience has been incredibly meaningful. Working together reminded me how powerful collaboration can be when it comes from a shared love for creativity.

What has surprised me the most is the amount of support and genuine interest there is in calligraphy here on the island. In a world where almost everything is done on a computer, where AI and digital tools can design in seconds, there is still something deeply irreplaceable about creating with your own hands.

There is no true substitute for something that comes from within you. From patience, care, repetition, and love. Calligraphy goes beyond aesthetics. It carries intention. It carries presence.

I don’t want calligraphy to be a dying art. Not only because I love it, but because of what it has given me personally. It has been a creative escape, yes, but also a mindful practice. I tend to overthink (A LOT) and perhaps that’s why it took me so long to start. But writing slows my mind down. It anchors me.

Unexpectedly, it also helped me in my studies. I realized that when I write things down by hand, I learn faster. I retain more. I connect differently. And that realization made me want to teach calligraphy not just as an art form, but as a tool. Something people can use in many areas of their lives.

Last year, I learned something important: I need to trust myself more. I need to go for the things I want without waiting for the “perfect” moment. Overthinking has never created anything. Starting has.

This year alone, over a hundred people signed up for my workshops. I also received private requests and hosted private events, something I’m deeply grateful for. Every single person who showed up, supported, shared a kind word, or picked up a pen alongside me... THANK YOU.

I don’t do this for recognition. I don’t do this just for myself. I do this for the love of calligraphy and everything that comes with it: sharing happiness, care, and connection.

And this feels like only the beginning.

— Lala Valentina