Joanne Fink loves letters… words… and writing inspiring sentiments.
After two decades as an art director, Joanne’s personal creative journey led her to explore putting pen to paper; Zenspirations is the outgrowth of her journey. “I love the interaction of ink on paper, and draw every day… it is a form of prayer for me. Zenspirations brings me such joy, and I am glad to share my art, and the techniques I use, in hopes that other people will experiment with patterning, drawing and sharing from the heart. I try to write sentiments which inspire, uplift, encourage, and bring people closer to God, and then I try to illustrate and letter my words to visually enhance their meaning. Zenspirations is my passion; I feel so blessed to be able to do something I love.”
Best known as a calligrapher, Joanne is also a teacher, speaker, designer, mentor and author. Joanne started her career as a greeting card designer, and is a six time Louie Award winner. She spent 11 years as the Design Editor for Greetings etc. magazine, and occasionally contributes to other industry publications. Joanne founded her studio, Lakeside Design (www.lakeside-design.com), after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. Lakeside Design specializes in developing inspirational and faith-based products for the gift, stationery, and craft industries. A popular seminar presenter, Joanne shares her product development, trend forecasting and art licensing expertise at numerous trade shows. She often coaches other artists, and helps them get their work licensed. She has taught and lectured internationally, and has written several books, including Greeting Card Design, The Speedball Textbook, Lettering Arts (with Judy Kastin). Joanne’s latest gift book, With God All Things are Possible, was published by Harvest House in 2013, and her illustrated memoir When You Lose Someone You Love will be available in the summer of 2014.
Joanne’s best-selling Zenspirations™ books– Zenspirations Letters & Patterning and Zenspirations Dangle Designs, paved the way for her new series: Zenspirations ‘Create, Color, Pattern & Play. The Zenspirations books complement the video series Joanne filmed for her favorite pen company, Sakura (www.sakuraofamerica.com). Look for Joanne’s Zenspirations™ designs on greeting cards, rubber stamps, stencils, t-shirts, wall decor and other gift and stationery products.
A passionate advocate for artist’s rights, Joanne has a long history of community service. She was the Founding President of the international Association for the Calligraphic Arts, and was one of the Founding Board Members of the New York-based American Guild of Judaic Art. She served on the Board of Directors of the Greeting Card Association from 2001 – 2009, and before that served as President of the Foundation for the Calligraphic Arts. She also co-chaired the Craft and Hobby Association’s License & Design Advisory Board for several years. When not at her drawing board, Joanne can be found chauffeuring her children to their various activities. She enjoys reading, singing, drawing, yoga, playing word games and spending time with friends and family.
