What is Lettering?
Lettering is the art of drawing letters – although, to be honest, you often WRITE them when you use a brush pen, but never mind. Anyway, it’s all about creating beautiful and unique letters, any way you want. The freedom is great. A lot, in fact. When it comes to lettering, a letter can look like anything, as long as you and any recipient or reader are happy, you’re in the box. And the fact that there are hardly any templates, rules or instructions is precisely what makes it so damn fun. You have complete freedom to play with different shapes, styles, colors, tools and line widths to express your own creativity. So much fun!
Lettering and I started our relationship in 2016 when I had just taken sick leave for exhaustion. I was 42 years old at the time, with no creative outlet in either hobbies, education or work. It’s true, since I was 12 and put away my 24-pack of half-dry markers, I hadn’t done much that would qualify as creative at all. But when I found lettering by chance, it was the kick of the world! I thought it was hilarious to learn something completely new, from the beginning, hell, it was a whole new WORLD, and it became my rehab and eventually my profession.
And if there’s one hill I can imagine dying on (well, there are quite a few, to be honest), it’s this: You don’t have to be “born creative”, an “aesthetic person” or be an “artist type” to be able to conjure up some cool letters. It’s just a matter of interest, practice, and your ability to be kind to yourself in the process.
Everyone needs at least one hobby (another one of my hills, in case you’re wondering), and if you choose lettering, you’ll not only cash in on hours of mindfulness, the quiet fascination that comes from how lines and shapes can create a beautiful whole and the joy of learning new things from scratch, but also an ability to conjure up beautiful cards, labels, posters or BuJo pages. Practical, of course! Lettering is also a match made in heaven for pure illustration, collage or watercolor painting.
If you think it sounds like fun and feel like you need a little help along the way, there are some facts, inspiration and tools here that might help you along the way. With good worksheets, magic pens, world-class paper and educational newsletters, learning to express yourself through creative letterforms will be easier and more fun, and it is my fervent wish to be a little help on the road to creative lettering – the help I myself wished I had found in 2016. Because goodness knows the world needs more creativity. And maybe you do too?
And hey, there’s no magic involved, just practice. And a lot of fun. Keep an eye on my homepage where I often post Tips & Tricks and new exciting products
Frequently asked questions about lettering
What is lettering?
Lettering is the art of drawing letters in a decorative and creative way, often with brush pens or fineliners.
What is the difference between lettering and calligraphy?
Lettering is hand-drawn, unique and customized lettering. Unlike calligraphy, where there are already existing styles that you try to emulate to the best of your ability, lettering is a blank slate. A letter can look like anything. Lettering gives you complete freedom to experiment with whatever styles and tools you like.
What tools do I need to get started?
To start lettering, you don’t need much, in fact, a plain piece of paper and whatever pencil happens to be closest to hand is enough. But often it can be fun (and easier) to use a practice sheet and a smaller brush pen and maybe a fineliner.
Is it difficult to learn lettering?
No! This is something that anyone can learn with a little practice. It doesn’t require you to have perfect handwriting or artistic skills, I didn’t have any of that when I started (and my handwriting still sucks). The important thing is to be kind to yourself, stop striving for “perfect” letters (whatever that is) and find some joy in learning something new. Then you’ll do great.
Can I use regular pencils?
Absolutely! You can start with a regular promotional ballpoint pen if you want, fancy lettering is not reserved for expensive, fancy pens. But to get the classic “brushlettering” look, you need a brush pen. These pens have a flexible tip that allows you to vary the line width depending on how hard you press, and gives the letters a heck of a flourish. The best thing in the world!
Which paper works best for lettering?
Smooth, high-quality paper is best because it doesn’t wear down pencil tips and produces smooth lines. Try one of my Lettering pads with rolled paper that is gentle on brush pens
Where can I find inspiration for new text styles?
Social media, such as Instagram and Pinterest, are filled with inspiration from other letterers. But let’s face it – lettering is just about everywhere. If you want inspiration, you might as well go to a library or bookstore and check out book titles. Or see how ads, logos and packaging are designed. Beautiful lettering is everywhere!
5 tips to get started with lettering
Start with the basics
Before diving into advanced styles, start by practicing basic letters and shapes. If you’re using a brush pen, it’s all about getting smooth lines and variations between thick and thin. Practice on your own or with the help of a practice sheet. Practice makes perfect!
Use the right tools
A good brush pen can make a big difference in your lettering work if that’s the type of lettering you want to learn. Choose one with a small tip, they are easier to control. The flexible tip allows you to easily create both thin and thick lines depending on how you angle and press with the pen. But lettering can just as easily be created with a regular, narrow marker, a fineliner, or a brush, or whatever you have closest to hand. I’ve made a guide of the five best brush pens for beginners that might help
Practice little but often
No one becomes an expert overnight, so be patient and practice regularly. You’ll learn faster if you practice for short periods more often than the other way around. Set aside some time each day to improve your technique and experiment with different styles and you will go far over time!
Experiment with color and materials
Creative writing is not just about black and white. Try using different colors or types of ink, both water-soluble and acrylic, to create new expressions. Or work in black and white but turn it around by using white pens on black paper. It makes a normal difference.
Learn from others
There is a lot of inspiration online where you can see how others create letters in a variety of ways. Just make sure you don’t get discouraged by comparing your own beginnings with the letters of someone who has been drawing for a long time. It’s not a win-win situation.
Instagram, YouTube and Pintrest are full of great courses, guides and tips.
Want to learn how to text well?
You are not alone. It’s fun to be able to write nice invitation cards, diplomas, name tags etc. I think I can help you! I organize several lettering courses every year, and if you are not able to attend one of these, I have created a variety of practice sheets in different styles, both for fineliner and brush pen that can be a good support to learn the basics in the beginning. I also have many free practice sheets like this one. Where you can draw with me on my Youtube channel
My goal is to share great tips, inspiration and tools – everything I would have liked to have when I started in 2016. We need more creativity in the world. If I can contribute even a tiny bit to this by helping you find the joy in lettering, I’m very proud.
