Washington Calligraphers Guild home Please note! 2020 Graceful Envelope Contest postponed until 2021 Download

Call for Entries flier Calligraphers and artists everywhere are invited to participate in the 26th annual Graceful Envelope Contest, conducted by the Washington (DC) Calligraphers Guild. The contest is open to all ages, with separate categories for children. There is no entry fee.



Postmark deadline has been extended until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you submitted an entry, we will hold it safely until the 2020/2021 contest is judged. Mail restrictions and school closures have affected the ability of artists to participate and we cannot host the contest itself due to social gathering restrictions. Postponing will allow more adult and student artists to submit entries. View winning envelopes from past years: 2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001 Scripsit magazine of past winning envelopes Themes of past contests This year's theme:

Double Vision The 2020 theme is inspired by the year itself. Only once a century does the year double up! On an envelope, capture something that’s double—whatever you see in your personal Double Vision. Make sure your submission reflects the artistic hand lettering and imaginative use of color and design that have been the hallmarks of the contest. And, of course, incorporate postage stamp(s) into your creation. Address it artistically to [NOTE NEW ADDRESS]:

The Graceful Envelope

1207 King Street

Alexandria, VA 22314 POSTMARK DEADLINE: 2021 [date will be announced] Winners will be chosen based on artistic hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s). In addition to promoting the art of calligraphy, the Graceful Envelope Contest celebrates the role of letters in binding people together and serves as a reminder that the people who deliver the mail are career government employees who take pride in their work and care about the communities they serve. The contest was created in 1995 by the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum, which administered it until delegating responsibility to the Washington Calligraphers Guild in 2001. From 2003 to 2018, the National Association of Letter Carriers partnered with the Washington Calligraphers Guild. Contest Rules

(Below: 2019 Best in Show by Christy Robb. Theme: Put Your Stamp On It) WHO CAN ENTER Entries will be judged in these divisions :

-- Adult

-- Grades 9-12

-- Grades 5-8

-- Grades 1-4

: -- Adult -- Grades 9-12 -- Grades 5-8 -- Grades 1-4 Only one entry allowed per person. HOW TO ENTER There is no entry fee.

Each entry must be a stamped envelope, either manufactured or handmade, delivered through the U.S. Postal Service. The envelope will not be opened.

Entries may not be enclosed in a separate envelope or in any protective covering (unless

multiple entries are coming from one class).

multiple entries are coming from one class). Size may not exceed 7x9 inches. Standard #10 business envelopes are also permitted. (Some envelope sizes require additional postage.)

Use calligraphy or hand-drawn artistic lettering to address the FRONT of the envelope to:

The Graceful Envelope

1207 King Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

[NOTE NEW ADDRESS]

On the BACK of the envelope, print your name, address and email, clearly labeled "FROM." Students must indicate their GRADE (international students: please provide your age). (Students may use their teacher's email rather than their own.)

Students must indicate their (international students: please provide your age). (Students may use their teacher's email rather than their own.) If your entry is returned to sender, contact Erin at [email protected] . All mail is sorted by machines, which can struggle with calligraphy.

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING Creative interpretation of the contest theme to transform an ordinary envelope into a work of art.

to transform an ordinary envelope into a work of art. Quality of calligraphy or artistic lettering used to address the envelope. Computer-generated or -enhanced lettering is not permitted.

used to address the envelope. Computer-generated or -enhanced lettering is not permitted. Effective use of color and design employing standard media such as paint, ink, markers and pencil. Not permitted: stickers or manufactured rubber stamps (hand-cut stamps and commercialy fabricated rubber stamps from a hand-rendered design are permitted).

Entrants are encouraged to integrate postage stamp(s) into the design.

See below for the advice of a past judge. TIMELINE The Call for Entries and theme are announced in the fall.

Entries must be postmarked no later than [2021, date TBA]. . The contest will not acknowledge receipt of entries.

. The contest will not acknowledge receipt of entries. Judging will take place in 2021 by three professionals from the calligraphic and arts communities. Only the front of the envelope will be judged (blind judging); the name, address and email of the entrant must be written clearly on the back. (If a class project, teachers should put their address and email on the back of each student's envelope.)

by three professionals from the calligraphic and arts communities. Only the front of the envelope will be judged (blind judging); the name, address and email of the entrant must be written clearly on the back. (If a class project, teachers should put their address and email on the back of each student's envelope.) Winners will receive certificates and their names and entries will be posted online. No ptizes will be awarded. Please note: Entries not selected by the judges will not be notified, displayed or returned.

All winning envelopes can be viewed online at www.calligraphersguild.org. Adult winning envelopes will be displayed at Penny Post, a stationery and lettering arts shop in Old Town Alexandria, VA. Winners may also be published or exhibited elsewhere. NEED HELP? If you have any questions about entering or if your entry is returned to you, contact Erin at [email protected] .



. To help the envelope reach its destination, make certain the zip code ( 22314 ) is easily readable.



) is easily readable. First-class postage is 55 cents for envelopes weighing up to one ounce. Postage for square, oversized or unusual envelopes starts at 70 cents. You can use stamps issued in any year. NOTE: If you reside outside the US, use your country's postage in the denomination required for mail going to the States. Postage for square, oversized or unusual envelopes starts at 70 cents. You can use stamps issued in any year. NOTE: If you reside outside the US, use your country's postage in the denomination required for mail going to the States.





One of the judges of the 2011 contest, Shane Perry, provided this insight into the judging process:



For the Graceful Envelope Contest, I look at a compelling design that grabs my attention and that conveys the theme, either directly or indirectly if it is cleverly done. The lettering needs to be well-executed and congruent to the overall design. Also, the use of the stamp needs to be well-considered, since it is part of the envelope, and therefore is part of the design. Envelopes that are expertly painted and/or drawn but contain lettering that seems like an afterthought would not be considered a winner. Expert lettering that does not produce a pleasing overall design that adheres to the theme would not be considered a winner.



But an envelope with a design portraying the theme in a unique way, setting it apart from the pack, with lettering that works well with the design and a stamp that looks like it belongs, would definitely be in the running.



Overall, I don't believe it is the best calligrapher that will always win, nor the best draftsman or painter -- it is the artist who is able to use both effectively to execute the theme in the most compelling way.



Themes of Past Contests 1995--no theme

1996--Mother's Day or stamp-related

1997--Pushing the Envelope

1998--National Postal Museum's 5th Anniversary

1999--The Beauty in Nature

2000--Significant Events from the Past Century

2001--25th Anniversary of the Washington Calligraphers Guild

OR Celebrating 200 years of Washington as the Nation's Capital

2002--Greetings from America

2003--The Written Word

2004--The Weather

2005--the letter P

2006--A Fine Line

2007--A Mailable Feast

2008--C's the Day

2009--Address the Environment

2010--A Stream of Letters

2011--Time Flies

2012--D-liver D-letter D-sooner D-better (the letter D)

2013--A World of Change

2014--The Superlative Letter S

2015--There's No Place Like Home

2016--Communication

2017--Pushing the Envelope

2018--Whatever the Weather

2019--Put Your Stamp On It

2020--Double Vision