Eleanor Winters and the
Art of Influence

If you are ever lucky enough to have a conversation with Eleanor Winters, some things become obvious immediately. She is quiet-spoken, kind, humble, and genuinely interested in the people around her.

What is not obvious is that you are speaking with one of the most accomplished and important calligraphers of our time.

Not only is Eleanor a truly gifted artist, she is also one of her generation's most important teachers and authors. Through her books, workshops, and mentorship, she has influenced countless calligraphers around the world. Many of today's most respected lettering artists and educators trace part of their artistic lineage directly to Eleanor's teaching. Her impact extends far beyond her own work, living on through the students she has inspired and the artists she has helped shape.

But Eleanor is not simply defined by her accomplishments in calligraphy. She has led a truly fascinating life.

Her husband, Leendert van der Pool, is equally accomplished as a painter and is widely regarded as one of the most important Dutch artists of modern times. His contributions to contemporary Dutch art were recognized when he was knighted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Together they comprise a true power couple in the art world — Eleanor among the foremost calligraphic artists and teachers of her generation, Leendert internationally recognized as a painter, educator, and cultural figure.

My husband Dave and I have a question we jokingly ask ourselves whenever we watch famous people: would we have them over for dinner?

Surprisingly, the answer is often no. In society today, many of the famous and revered celebrities are loud, arrogant, vain, self-centered, or, worst of all, boring. Accomplishment and fame do not always make someone interesting — nor do they necessarily make them the kind of people you'd actually want to spend an evening with around your dining room table.

So would we have Eleanor and Leendert over for dinner? The answer may seem obvious. I'm going to save it until the end.

First, let's take a closer look at the life, career, and remarkable legacy of Eleanor Winters.

Eleanor Winters' path to becoming one of the world's most respected calligraphers did not happen overnight. It was built over decades of study, teaching, experimentation, and an enduring fascination with the written letter.

Armed with a Master of Arts degree from New York University, Eleanor developed a foundation in both art and design before immersing herself in the world of calligraphy. What began as an artistic interest soon became a lifelong pursuit. Drawn to the elegance, rhythm, and expressive potential of letterforms, she dedicated herself to mastering both the technical and artistic dimensions of the craft.

By the early 1980s, Eleanor was already emerging as a significant voice in the North American calligraphy movement. Her first major book, Calligraphy in Ten Easy Lessons, was published in 1984, helping introduce a new generation of students to the art form. Five years later, she published Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy, a book that would become one of the most widely recommended texts in the field and remains a standard reference decades later.

At the same time, her reputation as a teacher was growing rapidly. Eleanor served as Director of the Calligraphy Workshop in New York for twenty-five years and later taught as a Professor of Art at Long Island University. Her workshops took her throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, where thousands of students encountered not only her technical expertise but also her thoughtful and encouraging approach to learning.

What distinguishes Eleanor is her belief that calligraphy is as much about seeing as it is about writing.

Over time, her interests expanded beyond traditional lettering. Her work evolved into larger artistic and historical projects, including her powerful Paris / Auschwitz: Remembering the Children series — a collection of calligraphic paintings commemorating more than 6,000 Jewish children deported from Paris during the Holocaust. The project was later exhibited at the Holocaust Museum in Detroit and stands as one of the most moving examples of calligraphy being used not simply as decoration, but as an act of remembrance.

Today, after more than four decades as an artist, author, and educator, Eleanor Winters remains one of the most influential figures in contemporary calligraphy. Her books continue to teach new generations of lettering artists, while her students carry her influence into studios, classrooms, and guilds around the world. Few calligraphers have left a larger imprint on the art form.

Art has also shaped Eleanor's personal life in profound ways. Meeting Leendert was an integral event in her life. Their shared love of art, history, travel, and culture grew into a lifelong partnership that has enriched both of their creative journeys.

Together, Eleanor and Leendert have built a life centered on curiosity, learning, and the arts. Both are deeply drawn to Europe, and particularly to Paris, a city that has long inspired artists, writers, and dreamers. What began as visits evolved into a way of life, and today they divide their time between her beloved New York and Paris, finding creative energy in both places.

The influence of Europe can be seen throughout their work. Whether exploring museums, wandering historic neighborhoods, lingering in cafés, or discovering some overlooked corner of a city rich with history, they approach the world as artists first. Their lives are a reminder that creativity does not end at the studio door — it is shaped by conversation, travel, love, and a willingness to remain curious about the world.

Now, back to our question. Would we have Eleanor and Leendert over for dinner?

Well, I'm answering not only for Dave and me, but I suspect for every single person reading this. The answer is, of course, an emphatic yes. But that is far from enough.

Eleanor Winters and Leendert van der Pool are one of those rare couples we would not only love to have over for dinner — we would happily spend a month with, and a month would still feel too short.

The calligraphy world is fortunate to have Eleanor Winters. Those of us who have had the opportunity to know both Eleanor and Leendert are even more fortunate.