Brush Lettering Process + Freebie
Ever wonder how letterers compose their designs? Some lettering artists appear to have a knack for composing their words and letters right on the page. My process is totally not like that. If I knew that I was trying to compose a lettering piece right there on that page, I’d clam up and probably never get started.
I’m going to share a special sneak into my process.
Jot down the phrase I want to letter
Get warmed up
Most times I will start with a simple alphabet to get the brush arm going. I use scrap paper for this so I don’t get hung up on wasting supplies.
One word per page
I letter each word separately and multiple times. Some could argue that it’s the art equivalent of “spray-and-pray” but it keeps me from locking up from perfectionism. When I know that I have another chance to write out a word, I end up performing a lot better. It’s all part of knowing myself!
Let my papers dry
Luckily I have a spare bedroom where I can spread out the papers on the floor and they won’t be disturbed.
Scanning
I use a ScanSnap iX500
Turning each word into transparent PNG files
This part is quite lengthly, and consists of the following steps:
Select the best version of each word and crop it away from the rejects.
Adjust the blackness of the text using levels.
Create transparency around and within the lettering.
Clean up any digital noise that came in through the scan.
Adjust any wobbly edges in the letters.
Save the file as a PNG.
Putting the words together
I start by opening an 8×10 file since I’m aiming for that to be my final print size. I bring in all my PNG files and resize to fit.
Here’s where I’ll rearrange and decide where I want my words to be.
Options:
I use guides to help me stay centered and when I like my design, I’ll merge all my word layers.
Adding color
If I liked the black text, I could leave it there, but I love color! I add a new solid color layer using the layers menu and check the option for a clipping mask.
Saving as a JPEG
And that’s how I get to my final piece!
The process I use has a lot of steps to it, but I find it useful for being able to easily manipulate the composition of a lettering piece. It can give me a lot of flexibility for creating multiple orientations of the same sets of words.
And for sticking around til the end, you can download this print for free! Just pop your email address in the box below, and the download link will appear afterwards.
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Pinboard: Digital Graphics
I’m always keeping an eye out for graphics that I can use for all my digital art projects. I can incorporate graphics into the digital prints that I sell, into my art journals, or my project life pages. I collect the graphics that appeal to me on my Pinterest page (where else?) so I can scroll through easily when I want to stock up on more supplies. Take a look around and see if any of them appeal to you too!
Follow Olivia (Random Olive)’s board design: lovely graphics on Pinterest.
Pen Collection: Green
I have an obsession with office supplies and I’m a bit of a pen hoarder. One thing that I enjoy doing is swatching out my writing utensils to see how the colors compare between brands.
The Test: Each pen is used on white notebook paper and a yellow legal pad. You can click on the image below for a larger view.
The Pens: (links are affiliate) Paper Mate InkJoy 100
The Conclusion: Green is another fun color I love to write with when I’m at work. The Papermate Inkjoys are very pale, so I don’t enjoy those as much. The Papermate Profile and Bic Cristal Bold provide lovely dark green shades though. And any of the gel, rollerball, or felt tips are solid.
Pinboard: Wall Art I Want to Buy
So I kind of have this love of bright and colorful wall art. It may be due to the two gallery walls I have in my house (one downstairs and one upstairs). I just love the idea of hanging all this good stuff in prominent places that I can see. Too bad I don’t have enough wall space for everything!
Check out all the wall art I’ve been pinning on Pinterest and follow this board for updates on other art I’d love to buy.
Follow Olivia (Random Olive)’s board walls: art i want to buy on Pinterest.
Skillshare Course Review: The First Steps of Hand-Lettering
I’ve talked before about some of the classes I’ve taken on Skillshare. Here’s another one for you: The First Steps of Hand-Lettering by Mary Kate McDevitt. I love taking these types of classes because I enjoy watching the process that lettering artists use so that I can adapt some of the processes into my own lettering and art.
My main takeaways:
Brainstorming for Style:
The main project from this course is to letter out a short phrase or quote. Mary Kate describes her brainstorming process for developing a style that suits the phrase or quote that you plan on using. She shares how to approach the sentiment behind the phrase and the visual influences you could use.
Lettering Tools and Paper:
Mary Kate goes over which tools she prefers to use for each stage of the process as she’s sketching. While it can be helpful to see the tools the pros use, they tend to emphasize that the best tool is the one you have. And many letterers have different preferences.
Lettering Styles:
The most useful part for me was to see different lettering styles and how they’re drawn. There are examples of various styles (script, serif, sans serif, and more) as well as a live demo and step-by-step tips on drawing some of them (block letters, script, flourishes, and serif).
Overall Impressions:
This was one of the first online classes I had taken about lettering. Many of the skills that Mary Kate goes over are useful and applicable to whatever style of lettering that you want to produce. It was nice to see all the steps laid out in a methodical order. For anyone interested in learning to handletter and wants a comprehensive introduction, this is a great resource.
The links provided for this Skillshare course are referral links. If you sign up for a Skillshare membership using these links, I will receive a free month of membership. This will allow me to view and review even more courses on the blog.
Pen Collection: Blue
I have an obsession with office supplies and I’m a bit of a pen hoarder. One thing that I enjoy doing is swatching out my writing utensils to see how the colors compare between brands.
The Test: Each pen is used on white notebook paper and a yellow legal pad. You can click on the image below for a larger view.
The Pens: (links are affiliate) Paper Mate InkJoy 100
The Conclusion: Blue is one of the three basic colors, so tons of varieties are available. I like using blue ink on forms to differentiate from the black that’s already printed there. Of note, the Zebra Sarasa is more of a blue-black color compared to the rest.
Pen Collection: Light Blue
I have an obsession with office supplies and I’m a bit of a pen hoarder. One thing that I enjoy doing is swatching out my writing utensils to see how the colors compare between brands.
The Test: Each pen is used on white notebook paper and a yellow legal pad. You can click on the image below for a larger view.
The Pens: (links are affiliate) Paper Mate InkJoy 100
The Conclusion: Light blues are another fun color to get away from the basics. The worst performers of my collection were the Pilot Acroball and Bic Round Stic Grip – way too pale for my liking.
Pen Collection: Purple
I have an obsession with office supplies and I’m a bit of a pen hoarder. One thing that I enjoy doing is swatching out my writing utensils to see how the colors compare between brands.
The Test: Each pen is used on white notebook paper and a yellow legal pad. You can click on the image below for a larger view.
The Pens: (links are affiliate) Paper Mate InkJoy 100
The Conclusion: Oh those purples. I love them all. Purple is the ink color that you can get away with using at work for fun while still being taken seriously. The colors are dark and bold and when you write, you can actually see what’s going on. Of note, the Papermate Profile Elite (and regular Profile) gives a redder tone than all the other purples out there.
Skillshare Course Review: Style Your Letters Boldly
I’ve been on a Skillshare kick lately and another course that I viewed was Style Your Letters Boldly: Hand-Addressed Envelopes by Erik Marinkovich. I’m still very interested to see the techniques from different hand-lettering artists. Especially to see if there’s anything useful for me to borrow.
My main takeaways:
Using Reference Material:
Erik recommends starting out by copying what you see, but to eventually stop looking at the reference material and developing your own style.
Letterforms and Deliberate Practice:
Erik emphasizes practicing your letter forms repeatedly to build up your muscle memory. He demonstrates a large sans serif font and a casual script. It’s useful to follow along to see the proper technique.
Composition:
Erik demonstrates the development of his composition by going through multiple iterations on tracing paper. Again, it’s very useful for beginners to see that experts go through multiple sketches before settling on a final design.
Overall Impressions:
I definitely got the most out of the detailed demonstrations and seeing the details of the techniques. There are some awesome ideas for composing your next envelope, possibly jazzing up your holiday cards for this year. Also, the lettering skills demonstrated in this course can be applied to other types of lettering, like signs and menus.
If these tips sound like things that might help you improve your lettering, check out the course page for Style Your Letters Boldly: Hand-Addressed Envelopes by Erik Marinkovich.
The links provided for this Skillshare course are referral links. If you sign up for a Skillshare membership using these links, I will receive a free month of membership. This will allow me to view and review even more courses on the blog.
Pen Collection: Pink
I have an obsession with office supplies and I’m a bit of a pen hoarder. One thing that I enjoy doing is swatching out my writing utensils to see how the colors compare between brands.
The Test: Each pen is used on white notebook paper and a yellow legal pad. You can click on the image below for a larger view.
The Pens: (links are affiliate) Paper Mate InkJoy 100
The Conclusion: Pinks can be hit or miss sometimes. Sometimes they’re light and sometimes they’re dark. My favorite of the ballpoints are the Papermate Profile Elite and the Bic Cristal Bold (I sure do love a bold line). The Pilot Acroball and the Bic Round Stic were the palest of the pinks. The Pentel Energel, Zebra NR7, and the two Papermate Flairs provided the darkest and boldest color.
