FAQ
All original work is under strict copyright of Jake Weidmann Artist and Master Penman © 2018. All rights reserved. No part of Jake Weidmann's work may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, or other electronic or mechanical methods.
Who is Jake Weidmann?
Jake Weidmann is a professional artist and only one of eleven certified Master Penman in the world today. With no formal training in his background, Weidmann has mastered several mediums. Weidmann’s work has a distinctive bent toward the classics as he works only in traditional techniques without the aid of modern technology.
Beyond being an accomplished artist, Weidmann is a certified Master Penman- a title given to those who are of the highest proficiency in multiple disciplines of calligraphy. Through this certification, Weidmann has sworn himself to the traditions of old through the fine art of letter writing.
Weidmann received his bachelor’s degree in psychology and his minor in Biblical studies from Biola University in 2008. He now integrates what he has learned about psychology and theology into much of his work to give his pieces profound meaning and lasting impact.
What is a Master Penman?
A penman is a vintage title that was given to someone whose career and professional skill sets were in the area of penmanship of various types. Art colleges were set up around the country to train men and women in the many disciplines of penmanship and hand-drawn letterforms. Before the typewriter, this was a booming career path, as nearly every major business needed a competent and proficient penman on hand to manage log books, keep records, write policies, and execute certificates. Many penman would become itinerate teachers of handwriting in grade schools around the country, teaching the fine art of writing to children eager to express themselves in written form.
A Master penman was one who was regarded by his friends and colleagues as the most proficient and prolific wielder of the pen. Such masters included Platt Rogers Spencer, who created the first American style of penmanship — the so-named, “Spencerian script”; Louis Madarasz, who was regarded as the greatest ornamental penman who ever lived and is credited with formulating the script that the Coca-Cola logo is written in; and Francis Courtney who was regarded as the “pen wizard” because of the “magic” created at the tip of his pen.
During the golden age of penmanship (roughly 1860 to 1930) there were several of these masters living and working around the nation. Today, there are only eleven who bear this title. Jake is the 11th master to be officially certified by IAMPETH.
Does Jake do commission artwork?
COMMISSION INQUIRIES ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
How do does my company contact Jake for a media feature?
Please see the contact tab above, or click here for media inquiries.
Does Jake do custom tattoo designs?
Jake kindly declines ALL and ANY requests for tattoo designs and does not allow his work to be used for tattoo designs. All original work is under strict copyright of Jake Weidmann Artist and Master Penman © 2012. All rights reserved. No part of Jake Weidmann's work may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, or other electronic or mechanical methods.
Does Jake take on apprentices or students? Does Jake ever teach?
Jake does not currently take on formal apprentices. JW Inc. launched Jake Weidmann Academy in July 2018 with the first release being Fundamental of Flourishing; the first class of many to come. Jake typically teaches in-person annually at IAMPETH conventions and sometimes teaches at other selective calligraphy conferences. You can keep updated on Jake's teaching/appearances by subscribing to the newsletter at the subscribe page.
Will Jake come visit my class of students?
Please email hannah@jakeweidmann.com for inquiries of this kind. Jake does have a fee for speaking/visitations.
Is the art available on Jake's website original?
All work available for purchase is high-quality reproduction art of Jake's original works, sold in limited edition series, unless otherwise noted. Original one-off work will sometimes appear in his online gallery for collection.
Please note not all art belongs to a limited edition series. You will find this information in each works' description. All works are reproduced using archival pigment inks on archival art paper, made to last for generations with the proper care. (See 'How to Care For and Conserve Your JW Art' below.)
What is Limited Edition Art?
You can expect the highest quality reproduction art from Jake Weidmann Artist and Master Penman. All of Weidmann’s work is reproduced on the highest quality acid and lignin free papers and canvases, as well as archival rated inks. All limited editions are carefully color-matched to the original work of art. Limited edition art bear a hand signature by the artist, Jake Weidmann, and a marked number within the series. Limited edition works also come with a certificate of edition. This ensures the authenticity of the art and expresses the rarity of this work that now belongs to you.
What happens if the art I ordered arrives damaged?
Please see Jake Weidmann's Return Policy. Also, see 'How to Care For and Conserve Your Jake Weidmann Art' below for more details.
Note: Jake Weidmann LLC strives to package each art order with the greatest care to minimize any damage that may occur in the delivery process and we strive to make sure you end up with a beautiful, quality Jake Weidmann art.
How to Care For and Conserve Your Jake Weidmann Art:
1. Please be sure to survey the outside of your packaged art for any damages that may have occurred while shipping. Once you remove the art from the tube (see below for careful instructions) please inspect the quality. We ship everything from our studio with the utmost care and want you to be the proud owner of a pristine Jake Weidmann art. We do not replace art that has been damaged in mishandling by the recipient. If there are any questions or concerns on the quality of your art, please email Hannah@jakeweidmann.com with photos of your packaged goods attached.
2. Immediately remove your print(s) from the tube. Start by uncapping the top end and carefully remove the packing material. Your art will be rolled in brown paper and thin paper/plastic covering over the print itself. Gingerly remove the tape from the brown paper and again on the plastic or thin paper covering. Be sure your art has enough space to uncurl. You want to let it uncurl on its own and depending on how long the art have been rolled (approximately 2 to 4 days).
** Please note if you are taking your art to a framer quickly following its arrival, you can return the art to its tube after carefully inspecting it to avoid any damage during transportation. We highly suggest arranging to get it framed as soon as possible. Do NOT keep your art rolled in its original tube as long-term storage. **
3. We highly suggest taking your art to a professional framer. They will know how to best care for and conserve your art and they will have great suggestions and options for how to best frame your piece. Ask your framer to inform you about different frames, glass, matting, and fillets. We suggest UV-protectant glass. The rest is up to you!
4. Handle the art only by the edges with clean hands (preferably with clean white cotton gloves). Be gentle. Do not touch the inked portion of your art. The oils from your hands can affect the PH of the paper and reduce the archival qualities. Images reproduced with darker pigments are more fragile, therefore, more susceptible to damage due to mishandling. Fingerprints on dark areas will show up as sheen.
5. Use two hands to support the art so it will not bend. A crease in the art is permanent. Do not use your hands to wipe off any dust, this can scratch the surface. Use a soft-bristled brush, if necessary.
6. Do not hang your art in direct sunlight or above heating elements. Long hours of sun exposure and heat will shorten the vibrant life of your art and will cause fading/discoloration over time.
Please send any and all further inquiries concerning the care and conservation of your Jake Weidmann art to Hannah@jakeweidmann.com.
Should I frame my Certificate of Edition?
Some people frame the Certificate with their works of art in the back but when a piece is professionally framed, you can't always open the back of the frame if ever you wanted to. For this reason, we suggest having the certificate on hand so that, years from now, people will know the authenticity of the piece, giving greater value to the limited edition.
I want to get into the art of calligraphy. Where do I start?
Jake's best advice: start from the beginning. Perfect your basics. Check out the Resources page for all of Jake's tip and tricks in the artform.
I purchased a JW Ergonomic Oblique Penholder. How does a nib fit into the flange?
The JW Ergonomic Oblique Penholder flange is made to fit almost any sized nib. (The nib pictured above is a Leonardt Principal EF.) If your nib is on the smaller side, you may find that you need to slightly adjust your flange. Do this very carefully. A pair of pliers may help you achieve the right adjustment.
What does Jake recommend for others looking to improve their handwriting? Children learning handwriting/cursive?
Jake's TED talk, ‘Why Write? The Importance of Penmanship in the 21st Century,’ has drawn the attention of many parents looking to ingrain the importance of handwriting- especially cursive- to their little ones.
We highly recommend the handwriting curriculum for young students from Zaner-Bloser. These books inform students on the proper letterforms using the Palmer Method. Your parents or grandparents most likely would have learned this in their schooling years, as it was the premier cursive handwriting method up until the 50's.
https://www.zaner-bloser.com/zaner-bloser-handwriting
When first learning cursive, it's important that it is made enjoyable. Another suggestion we have is the "Handwriting Without Tears" curriculum. We have not used this curriculum but we've heard positive things. https://www.hwtears.com/hwt
As for writing tools, a standard pencil should do the trick. You might find pencil grips to be helpful for little hands when forming the cursive letters.
What are all of the mediums that Jake Weidmann works in?
Jake Weidmann paints in oil, acrylic, airbrush, and gouache; draws in pencil,
colored pencil, pen and ink; carves in wood, antler, ivory, and stone; executes calligraphy in many European and American styles, including offhand flourishing. Jake also hand-makes his own calligraphy pens and has created his own JW Signature Ergonomic Penholder©. Like a good musician plays multiple instruments, Jake has the God-given ability to transfer from one medium to the next, combining them in ways that have never been done before.
How long will my art take to arrive? Domestic? Internationally?
Jake Weidmann will only ship priority USPS for both domestic and international orders. Domestic orders take 2-3 days USPS. International orders typically take 6-10 business days via USPS. For international expedited shipping services, please see options at check-out.
Does my international shipping rate include customs fees, tariffs or taxes?
When you place an international order at JakeWeidmann.com, there may be additional import fees or duty for merchandise shipments coming into your country. In some cases, couriers may also charge a brokerage fee for clearing your package through the local customs office. These fees can vary, and they are not covered by Jake Weidmann, Inc.
Please contact your local customs office for more information on duties or import fees.