One of the most common questions I receive is, "When are you going to offer a course on certificate design?"

The answer is that we already do, just not as a single course.

The journey actually began with Conquering Layouts, a course developed by Suzanne Cunningham, Master Penman Harvest Crittenden, and me. We wanted to address one of the biggest challenges calligraphers face when approaching an engrossing project: designing a page filled with a large body of text.

Layout is about much more than making a page look attractive. A professional calligrapher also needs to determine, quickly and accurately, how much text will fit on a page, what sizes the lettering should be, what size paper is required for the given body of text, and where the line breaks will naturally fall. Being able to answer those questions efficiently is essential when responding to client inquiries. No one wants to spend hours designing a layout for a commission that may never be booked.

Conquering Layouts was created to provide a practical, repeatable process that gives artists confidence in both the design and business sides of commissioned calligraphy. The best part of the course is that each of us teach a different approach so students walk away with choices to fit their own needs.

As students completed the course, another request surfaced again and again, "Can you teach certificate design?"

At first, creating a single certificate design course seemed like the logical next step. But the more we discussed it, the more we realized that a certificate isn't one skill at all. Certificate design is a collection of many different skills.

An engrossed piece brings together layout, lettering, decorative initials, borders, painting, color, and often gilding into a single work of art. Each of those disciplines requires its own techniques, history, and artistic understanding. Trying to teach everything in one class would mean giving each skill only a superficial instruction.

Instead, we decided to give each certificate design skill the attention it deserved.

The first course to grow from that decision was Illuminated Initials, which focuses on designing and painting the decorative capitals that often become the visual centerpiece of a certificate or manuscript page. And for people who want to dive deep into illumination, Gilding: Traditional to Modern Techniques was created.

Next came our Decorated Borders series: Repeating Pattern Borders, Renaissance Vines, and White Vines. Although they all frame a page, each style has its own structure, rhythm, and historical influence. Separating them into individual courses allows students to truly understand each approach rather than simply copying a finished design.

Eventually we turned our attention to one of the most recognizable motifs in traditional engrossing: the acanthus leaf. The acanthus has appeared in manuscripts, architecture, and decorative arts for centuries. Because it is such a fundamental element of illuminated work, we developed My Beloved Acanthus, a course devoted entirely to drawing and painting this beautiful, flowing form.

Looking back, I'm glad we chose this path instead of trying to build one all-encompassing Certificate Design course.

Breaking the art of engrossing into individual subjects gives students the opportunity to develop each skill thoroughly and at their own pace. It also recognizes that these techniques have value far beyond certificate work. Someone may have no interest in designing awards but still want to master illuminated initials, create decorative borders, or incorporate acanthus into other artistic projects.

The art of engrossing isn't a single technique you learn over a weekend. It's the gradual development of many complementary skills that, over time, come together to create something truly extraordinary. Every layout, every border, every illuminated initial, and every acanthus leaf adds another tool to your artistic arsenal.

By learning each discipline individually, you're not just learning how to create a certificate. Instead, you're building a foundation that can enrich every aspect of your calligraphy for years to come.

Cover image: Illuminated certificate from the Ziller's Studio archive
All other images are works by Kestrel Montes