Calligraphy on Mat: If a man does not keep pace with his companions

Hand lettering on mats can sometimes be a bit challenging, but it's always extremely rewarding, especially when the finished piece is to be presented as a special gift. My client is a photographer from my local art league, and his client requested calligraphy on the mat before it was framed. The familiar text by Thoreau reads, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." I hand lettered this in black gouache on museum board, to complement the image. (Click on the images for larger views.) Photography by Bob Keating.