Today we’d like to introduce you to Raymond Ramirez-Manzo.
Raymond, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
How my brand came to be was a process that took years in the making. It was August 2013 back in the Philippines, when my Parents asked me to design the Invitation Suite for their Pearl Wedding Anniversary. It was my first time designing one so just like any project, I did my research. Scrambling through imageries from Pinterest and Wedding blogs that’s how I discovered calligraphy on wedding invitations and it was pretty snazzy! Looking back now though, I find it quite strange that at that time it never dawned on me that calligraphy can be practiced by someone like me. Given that I was in the marketing world with a Multimedia Arts degree, you would think otherwise right? I wasn’t able to do calligraphy on my parent’s invites but the next month I took a local Calligraphy workshop. It was a decent introduction for me to get started with the nib. The nib is very intimidating, a tiny remarkable thing but takes time to master. Soon after I was posting my works on Instagram under a pen name I created – KidGolightly, it was a wordplay of my childlike personality intertwined with my biggest fictional hero – Holly Golightly. I was accepting calligraphy projects since here & there but when I moved to San Diego that’s when the idea of having a Calligraphy studio began to flourish.
KidGolightly Calligraphy is a full-service organic calligraphy studio & bespoke stationery design house, that provides that effortless sophistication to brides with impeccable taste & small businesses in the U.S. and worldwide.
What sets me apart from others is my script, they’re delicate and unique. Like a cobweb in the wild nature. When I create pieces for my clients, I don’t overthink it as much as it seems. I approach projects organically and let it surprise me. Don’t get me wrong, of course I stick to the vision and what we discussed but I truly believe in spontaneity. Even in relationships, my connection with the people around me evolved in an organic way. Always letting fate be the driver. As romantic as that may sound it is the beautiful truth.
Every project done is invested with so much time & infused with passionate love for the craft. I collaborate with my client to create the perfect piece that speaks of the memory they wish for it to hold – be it an heirloom from a wedding day, a “just because” gift that comes from the heart, a custom piece they can imagine or a hand lettered logo that embodies the story of their brand. A KidGolightly piece represents quality work that is luxurious in feel to captivate their audience. I am known for that and I am proud of my brand because it is truly me and it is not limited for any kind of growth. I offer a Semi-Custom Suite Collection, it’s perfect for brides and grooms who wants a timeless wedding stationery – a classic style with a modern twist without going overboard on their budget.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
In this digital age, I believe that the handwritten word creates a feeling that allows one’s eye and mind to lull from the dizzying business of our lives. This what drew me to the romantic & elegant art of calligraphy and to be of service to the deeply-in-love brides and grooms by providing them fine art paperie that is meant to be the perfect heirloom keepsake of their celebration of love. I also guide creative entrepreneurs in creating type logos that will represent their brand’s story perfectly.
If I’m not curating invitation suites or vectoring logos – I usually write short self-empowering notes I share on my Instagram. I’m a statement type of artist, I want my work to evoke emotions. Whenever someone chanced upon my work I wish for my audience to feel empowered, to remind them to be confident in their own skin or to feel liberated in celebrating themselves. The things I write are downright sassy and it’s quite different from my other fellow calligraphers. Sometimes these are phrases I come up with or lyrics from pop songs – especially Christina Aguilera songs (who by the way just released her album Liberation and it is an absolute masterpiece so go check it out) that I just have the urge to write in my very classy calligraphy and share it to the world.
What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
Success for me is simple, as long as I get to do something I’m really passionate about and at the end of the day I love the person I see in the mirror then that’s good enough for me. Of course, there’s a level of success I want to achieve but I celebrate the small victories with so much vigor and I think that would eventually lead up to that dream one day. That dream is something I’m not sure yet but right now I pop that champagne whenever a client is really happy with the work that I did for them, especially when they say that it is what they’ve been dreaming of. My success is never measured by monetary value but rather how much I touched people’s lives and just to be part of somebody’s story is always rewarding.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I have a website people can visit to learn more about me and what I do. They can also see recent works on my Instagram, this social media platform truly blessed my little business plus the community I have there is just darling. I am also lucky enough to have worked with different vendors for editorial shoots that gained honors of getting published on top wedding publications both digital & print.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kidgolightly.com
- Phone: 6199625514
- Email: raymond@kidgolightly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidgolightly/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidgolightly
- Twitter: https://www.pinterest.com/kidGolightly/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVE05dSwyhATiiY_jbHZ8yg
Image Credit:
Photography by Anya Kernes (http://www.anyakernesphotography.com).
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
