Meet the Artist
Erica McPhee
I’ve been in love with letters in all shapes and forms since childhood. I love to write – stories, essays, letters, non-fiction – all of it. And I love to write – calligraphy, mostly with a pointed pen but also a broad pen or brush or on ProCreate. I ditched a corporate HR gig (as an executive compensation analyst) in 2001 to launch my wedding and high-end social invitation business, Paperwhite Studio. Since then, I have dabbled in various calligraphic endeavors designing invitations, envelopes, logos, greeting cards, magazine work, and stickers for such companies as Mercedes Benz, MTV, Sunrise Greetings (now Hallmark), American Greetings, Papyrus, Esquire Magazine, InStyle Weddings, and Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Company to name a few.
In 2013, I launched Flourish Forum – a free online community with almost ten thousand members from all over the world and a database of every calligraphic topic imaginable. In 2014, I edited, designed, and published Dasherie Magazine for letter lovers everywhere before taking a hiatus to tend to my family. For the past five years, I was editor emeritus for Maureen Vickery’s Calligraphy Crush online magazine.
Most recently, I created PuddleDuck Post, a printed, happy mail, newsletter for creative inspiration. It’s a little bit of love delivered to your doorstep.
My Vision
I wish to inspire others to create; to discover what makes them happy; to experience the thrill and pure joy of creating something from nothing. Dream things, make things. Move past practice to actually create. Do you write, knit, crochet, sew, bake, cook, garden, draw, paint, calligraph? Don’t know how? I’d love to teach you. Let’s do it all – together.
My Mission
I have two goals in life: make beautiful things & make other people feel loved. It’s what keeps me going day in and day out – this drive to create. And love, well, love makes the world go round.
Current Projects
I am currently preparing to launch PuddleDuck Post, a whimsical, illustrated, printed newsletter delivering happy mail to those who like to dabble in all things creative. I am also working on a book about advanced pointed pen calligraphy and my unique approach to flourishing. I recently designed, illustrated, and lettered the Moth Wings & Floral Things calendar – my largest illustration personal project to date. I hope you’ll join me on this magical creative journey we call life.
