May 15, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Mt. Airy’s Ron Little very big in Calligraphy world
by LELA BETTS 

Ron Little, a Mt. Airy resident, creates extraordinary works of art using hand-lettering and calligraphy.

When Ron Little traveled the world as a student and Peace Corps volunteer, he did not expect his time in the library to lead him to a job as a calligrapher and artist. While he was studying in Spain, he was fascinated by the historic hand-lettered manuscripts he discovered in the library. These days Little, a Mt. Airy resident, creates works of art using hand-lettering and calligraphy.

After studying in Spain and earning a degree in the teaching of languages, Little felt his creative side calling. “I was always haunted by my interest in art,” he said. Living in Hawaii at the time, he asked a sign maker to help him learn calligraphy and basic sign- making. In the natural beauty of Hawaii his career as a calligrapher and sign maker was born.

Little, who grew up in Rochester, New York, studied art at Parson’s and the Art Students’ League in New York City. After living in the San Francisco Bay area, he moved to Chestnut Hill and has lived in Mt. Airy for the last five years. He makes signs and does calligraphy for local residents and businesses. His work is displayed in Chestnut Hill, where he hand-lettered the sign for the Candle Shop on Germantown Avenue. 

“I love the idea of craftsmanship, of making things,” Little said as he described his love of calligraphy. “I’ve always loved lettering. I’d go to the library in Madrid and look at the rare hand-lettered and illuminated books and manuscripts.” Little also does wedding documents, invitations and envelopes, but he has a strong interest in decorating with calligraphy. 

Some of his favorite work involves doing calligraphy work on walls in home offices and libraries. He does lettering as a freize, above the wall molding as a border around the edge of a room. He uses not just calligraphy, but also the detailed letters within letters and other artistic touches that can be found in historic hand-lettered books. His work has been featured in Metropolitan Home magazine and The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

While living in the San Francisco Bay area, Ron was commissioned to do calligraphy for the YWCA on the wall of a historic building designed by renowned architect Julia Morgan. He lettered part of their mission statement around the top edge of a wall. Viewers are immediately reminded of the long history of the YWCA as they read, “The YWCA is engaged in the struggle for peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.” Little remarked, ”People are so busy. Here is something that is meaningful for people on a daily basis, a prayer almost.”

Gifts are a specialty for Little. On one occasion he was commissioned to take 75 ideas about a grandfather from 75 members of his family and create a document for the man’s 75th birthday. He had another client who asked for a special quotation to be lettered around the edge of a wooden kitchen table for her husband on their anniversary. He has a collection of quotations he provides when a client needs inspiration. He has lettered tiles around fireplaces, plant pots, chairs and exterior house numbers.

Little also teaches a class every fall in calligraphy at the University of the Arts Continuing Education Program (www.uarts.edu/extension/continuinged.htm). He is passionate about other people using their skills to make things with their hands. “We’ve been educated to use only our minds (not our hands). It’s like going to the gym and exercising only our arms.”

He encourages all people to use their creative skills to make things by hand. “At one time everyone practiced a craft. Whether people are doing woodworking or knitting, I just love all of that handmade stuff.” Little says, “Heart, mind and hand. I like that.”