Niente Senza Gioia: Drawing Letters with Joy

Discover a letterform style that unleashes your creativity through playful contrasts and expressive drawing.

This distinctive hand emerged when calligrapher Julie, during a workshop, paired soft interior curves with angular exteriors—a subtle twist that sparked a whole new style.

She later refined it into the now-signature Niente Senza Gioia (“Nothing Without Joy”), which quickly caught students’ attention and evolved into a full workshop.

The hallmark of this hand is its contrast between curved interiors and sharp edges.

Built up through drawing rather than a single tool, it’s adaptable to a variety of materials and surfaces.

In class, you’ll learn the foundational shapes and expand into lively variations using pencil, colored pencil, inks, watercolors, and metallics—experimenting across papers to unlock this style’s versatility and joy.

Perfect for those who love drawing letters, exploring possibilities, and finding delight in every curve and angle.