PHOTO GALLERY: Calligraphy artist hones skills in home studio

December 8, 2012 | 6:00 a.m. CST

Michele Keele, a professional calligraphy artist, owns The Artist’s Hand on West Broadway. Keele produces a variety of calligraphy work, including invitations, poetry, scrapbooking material, mailing addresses, wedding programs and reception items, certifications and more.

Michele Keele works on invitations for an upcoming wedding at her home calligraphy studio in Columbia on Nov. 19. Keele is a self-taught calligraphy artist and has been lettering professionally for about 17 years. | Kile Brewer

Michele Keele's pen ink sits next to the light table in her home calligraphy studio Nov. 19. Throughout her 17-year calligraphy career, Keele has worked primarily with black ink, but lately she has started to work more with colors. | Kile Brewer

Antique pen nibs sit in a drawer in Michele Keele's West Broadway calligraphy studio Nov. 19. Keele uses the antique tips because she doesn't like the new nibs. She worries about the day when her collection runs out. Pen nibs come in dozens of shapes and sizes to match styles of typography. | Kile Brewer

Samples of Michele Keele's calligraphy work sit on a table in her home calligraphy studio Nov. 19. Keele does custom orders and puts together multi-layer invitation packages. Keele creates invitations with pen, letterpress and stamps, all using her original hand-lettering. | Kile Brewer