From the Bench is SFCB's series of short studio tours with friends near and far. From favorite tools to works in progress, you never know what you'll learn about from these amazing artists.
May’s guest is Katie Leavens, a freelance illustrator and calligrapher based in San Francisco. She thrives on complex projects that blend her background in design, illustration, and lettering. She has a passion for studying lettering from the past, particularly in exploring how medieval illumination techniques can inform contemporary design. Her approach results in work that is both deeply rooted in tradition and strikingly modern.
Katie’s lettering practice spans everything from corporate events—where she provides custom invitations and live lettering sessions—to intricate, heirloom-quality pieces like diplomas and family trees. She approaches each project with a holistic design mindset, ensuring harmony in composition while adding unexpected flourishes that bring a piece to life.
A dedicated member of the lettering community, Katie has served on the Friends of Calligraphy council since 2019. She leads their social media efforts, manages their class registrations, and is currently co-coordinating their upcoming member exhibit at the San Francisco Public Library. Since 2020, she has taught calligraphy at institutions such as San Francisco City College Extension, Friends of Calligraphy, San Francisco Center for the Book, and Letterform Archive. Her class help students develop both technical confidence and their artistic voice.
Like many artists in San Francisco, Katie has learned to make the most of small spaces. Her 50-square-foot studio—carved out of her living room—a case-study in organization and creative problem-solving. Her studio may be smaller than a walk-in closet, but that doesn’t limit the scale of her creativity—or the impact of her work.
You can find out more at her website, kleavens.com.
Please visit our Vimeo page to see our past tours, previously known as Shelter in Studio.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
12:30 PM (Pacific Time)
This is a free online event.
Registration will close at noon on the day of the event. The zoom link will be emailed at 10:30am Pacific time (two hours before the start time).