Studio Commissions
Bespoke calligraphy and hand-lettering for design, film, hospitality, and brand. One-of-a-kind pieces created by hand for clients who want something that exists nowhere else.
Lettering as a Bespoke Object
Some words deserve more than a font. A custom logo, a film title, a one-of-a-kind piece for an interior, a hand-lettered scroll for a brand campaign — these are objects that exist in the world only once, made by hand for a single context.
I work with design firms, art directors, and creative collaborators on commissioned hand-lettering and calligraphy. Each project begins with a conversation about what the work needs to do — anchor a space, carry a brand, hold a moment — and ends with a piece that does it.
Featured Work
Title Lettering and Credits for A Marble in the Jar
Title and credits lettering by Valeria Danilova for A Marble in the Jar, directed by Greg Browning and Scott Smith, produced by John DeTemple.I hand-lettered the film's title and on-screen credits for A Marble in the Jar, a 2025 documentary following Olympic silver medalist Tatiana Weston-Webb through her surfing career and the philosophy that gives the film its name — the practice of collecting small, deliberate moments as a way of building a life of meaning.
To mirror the film's contemplative spirit and its connection to the ocean, I worked in aqua-blue watercolor — using the medium's transparency and movement to evoke water itself, and treating each letter as the kind of small, intentional act the film is about. The resulting letterforms are elegant and flowing, designed to balance the high-energy world of professional surfing with the intimate, emotional weight of the story.
A Marble in the Jar was the final documentary by co-director Greg Browning.
Hermosa Beach premiere, 2025Hand-Lettered Scrolls for Ophelia Eve — Featured in Town & Country
In partnership with Ophelia Eve. Product photography courtesy of Ophelia Eve. Hand-lettering by Valeria Danilova.Luxury jeweler Ophelia Eve commissioned hand-lettered scrolls for their bespoke Scroll Toggle Necklace — fine jewelry pieces built around a hidden, personalized message on Japanese washi paper, tucked inside a custom gold pendant. Each scroll is hand-calligraphed to a quote of the wearer's choosing, designed to be passed down as part of the piece itself.
The Scroll Toggle Necklace was featured in Town & Country Magazine in October 2025, in a personal essay by the Digital Style Director on the necklace she commissioned with a Rumi quote inside.
Hand-Lettered Sheet Music for Studio McGee
In collaboration with Studio McGee. Hand-lettering on archival paper by Valeria Danilova.Studio McGee invited me to collaborate on a music room they were designing for a private client — a space built around fifteen handwritten music sheets, each one a song tied to a meaningful memory in the client's life.
I hand-lettered every composition on archival paper, designed to be framed and installed together as the visual anchor of the room. The result is a wall of music written not to be played, but to hold a life in fifteen songs.
Installation photography courtesy of Studio McGee.In collaboration with Studio McGee. Hand-lettering on archival paper by Valeria Danilova.One-of-a-Kind Hand-Lettered Scroll for Cheez-It
Hand-lettered scrolls for Weber Shandwick / Cheez-It campaign. Hand-lettering, design, and aging by Valeria Danilova.Weber Shandwick reached out about a Cheez-It brand campaign that needed a unique hand-lettered prop: a custom scroll in three copies, aged by hand, designed to look and feel like a found object.
I hand-lettered and hand-aged each piece as a one-of-a-kind production asset for the campaign — every detail of the materials, lettering, and aging technique made for this single use.
Behind the scrolls — custom aging, hand-turned finials, hand-lettered detail.The Work I Take On
I take on a limited number of commissions each year, across four broad areas:
Design & Interiors
Commissioned hand-lettering and calligraphic art for interior design projects, set design, and editorial styling. Pieces designed to live in a space — framed art, signage, ceremonial pieces, custom paper goods.
Film & Entertainment
Hand-lettered film titles, poster work, prop calligraphy, and lettering for entertainment campaigns.
Brand & Creative
Custom hand-lettered logos and wordmarks, one-of-a-kind props and campaign assets, bespoke editorial pieces, brand collaborations and capsule artwork.
Hospitality
Custom logos, signage, menu calligraphy, and brand identity work for hotels, restaurants, and hospitality groups.
For live, on-site work at events and brand activations, see live brand activations.
Working Together
1. Inquiry & Conversation
Tell me about the project — the context, the goals, the scope. I respond personally to every inquiry, typically within 24 hours, and we'll set up a conversation to talk through whether it's a fit.
2. Brief & Proposal
For projects we move forward on, I provide a written proposal covering scope, timeline, deliverables, and investment. Most commissions begin with a 50% deposit.
3. Studio Work
The piece is developed in my Toronto studio. For most commissions I share work-in-progress imagery at key stages so you're part of the process without being in it.
4. Delivery
The finished work is shipped or hand-delivered (depending on the piece and your location). For design and brand projects, I provide digital files and usage rights as well.
Inquire About a Commission
Have a project in mind? Tell me a bit about it — the context, the scope, and your timeline — and I'll respond personally to discuss whether it's a fit.
For smaller personal commissions, wedding certificates, and vow art browse my Etsy shop.