Fodder School Muse Tina Lee Cronkhite

We're thrilled to shine the spotlight on this month's Fodder School Muse of the Month, Tina Lee Cronkhite! Tina has spent a lifetime exploring creativity through art, graphic design, calligraphy, and mixed media. A member of the Fodder School community since the very beginning, she brings a spirit of curiosity, experimentation, and joy to everything she creates.

Follow Tina on Instagram @tinaleecronkhite. Be sure to give her a follow and show her some love!

What part of the world do you currently live in?

I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan near Lake Michigan (the size would surprise many, because you cannot see the other side. It's our own salt-free, shark-free "ocean").

When did your art or crafting journey begin?

I've always had art in my life. My mother was a fine artist and there were always classes to go to. In high school I took art and jewelry classes (I received the Art Award my senior year). I have a graphic design degree (went to College for Creative Studies in Detroit) and was in the advertising business for 20+ years.

I started learning calligraphy in the early 80s and have been taking calligraphy classes ever since. It is amazing to branch off to all the different avenues that feed into calligraphy. The list of instructors I've learned from over the years is vast when I look back through my journals.

As I was learning the nuances of hand lettering, I found myself drawn more to the less rigid styles, using writing tools like folded soda cans, sticks, and other unconventional objects that weren't typically used for formal calligraphy. Maybe it was because my hand wasn't as steady as the instructors wanted for perfectly formed letterforms. Maybe it was because I enjoyed the freedom and expressiveness of those looser marks.

I've always created broadsides (flat, two-dimensional fine art calligraphy pieces) for our guild shows and have exhibited my artwork in other venues when opportunities arose. My work has been featured in a couple of articles in Letter Arts Review, and I've also participated in ArtPrize, one of the largest art competitions in the world.

How long have you been in Fodder School and what keeps you coming back each year?

I started following Wendy because I loved her colors, her books, and her hand lettering. When she announced Fodder School during the pandemic, it felt like exactly the right thing at exactly the right time. What looked more fun than diving into all that creative work?

And then I was hooked.

I've participated in all five years of Fodder School. What keeps me coming back is the variety of instructors and the different ways they approach their projects. There's always something new to learn and explore.