GYOUNGHEE LEE

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved colorful things and admired handmade items. When I came to Australia almost 20 years ago from Korea, following my husband, I was very excited about the difference in culture. I started taking quilting and teddy bear making classes and developed my own color schemes. A few years later, I became bored (though I still loved them). One day, I saw a calligraphy book in a bookstore and thought I might give it a try. I was struggling and frustrated because I could not seem to create the beautiful letters I saw in the books. I looked everywhere for a beginner’s course, but had no luck. Then, I had to move to Sydney, where I began my calligraphic journey in 2003. In 2005, I met Olive Bull, a calligrapher, in a workshop and realized how little I knew about calligraphy. In 2007, I moved back to Melbourne and became an active member of the Calligraphy Society of Victoria (CSV). I have been fortunate to meet wonderful tutors not only in Australia but also from all over the world through the annual conference, Summer School in Winter (SSIW). People started asking me to teach, and teaching has become a great joy for me. I love to pass on what I have learned and continue to learn, not only from other tutors but quite often from my students as well. I also enjoy other art forms, especially those involving paper and inks, such as bookbinding, box making, printmaking, and botanical art. Currently, I am teaching through CSV workshops and conducting distance classes for my fellow Korean students and a few Australian students.