Carla Harris, Calligrapher

Having encountered and overcome some personal challenges in my life, and feeling compassion for others who face troubled times, I have a deep desire to bring encouragement and hope to our world. The beautiful art form of calligraphy was the God-given means for me to accomplish that. Bringing comfort, joy and healing to others is what my work is all about.

I delight in the process of working with the specialty papers, vibrant watercolors, and finely crafted pens and brushes to create something that inspires faith, hope and love in others. I consider it an honor that I can share my talents with you, and enrich your life ... and provide a way for you to reach out in love to your own friends and family.

I wanted to start a company that focused on two key things: inspiring and encouraging others with products of exceptional quality; and developing long-term relationships with my customers. I envisioned a certain kind of customer:

My original artwork has been hand-created with rich watercolors and lively designs. I then scan each piece and use Photoshop to "iron out the wrinkles"--leaving enough of them there to underscore that this is an ancient and personal form of art.

The greeting cards are printed on a beautiful deckle-edge paper stock, giving them a hand-made look and feel. The hand-signed prints are museum-quality reproductions created through a process called Giclée, resulting in a frameable piece that looks almost like an original, but at a fraction of the price. They are environmentally friendly, utilizing acid-free and fade-resistant inks and premium art papers.

I want my customers to love the art they receive from me, so I offer a money back guarantee. This is one part of earning your confidence, and helps build the kind of ongoing relationship I look forward to with you. See my Customer Service Policy for specifics on my guarantee.

· Inspiring faith, hope and love in our world through the beauty of artistic words and images
· Creating uplifting products to meaningfully connect with and encourage each other
· Committed to excellence in creating these products, in customer service and in sharing profits to benefit the needy in my own community and throughout the world

I enjoy teaching calligraphy nearly as much as I love creating it! I discovered that new dimension when I taught Santa Barbara Adult Education in the 1990’s. Since then I have shared my knowledge of various calligraphic styles and watercolor flower painting through workshops and personal instruction. If you are interested in calligraphy instruction, please contact Carla.

Periodically my artwork has been featured in various galleries in the Santa Barbara, California area. If you are a member, you will receive an invitation to attend upcoming events. Become a Member.

Each year I hold a private sale of my artwork in Santa Barbara, along with my dear friend and fellow artist, Lori Coleman, a talented potter and jewelry maker. This is always a fun holiday celebration that customers look forward to year after year. It's an opportunity to purchase truly unique gifts and to visit with the artists. Members will receive an invitation to this event. Become a Member.

Art Alive! is a collaboration of two art forms, piano and calligraphy, performed on stage to create a worship experience. With talented local pianist Chris Call, I paint live while Chris plays hymns and worship choruses. These “duets” have brought to life the words of Scripture and songs in a dynamic way that captures the heart and spirit of those present.

An audience member at one recent performance said:

"As the beautiful piano notes were being played and Carla's brush dipped in the paint, the audience was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. We sat in anticipation of seeing what would happen when the brush touched the easel. The end result was a stunning work of art that was presented as a gift to the person we were honoring that evening."