Lettering

First off, I am so sorry for my absence the first part of the week...we live on the Gulf Coast (Pensacola, Florida) and have been dealing with getting prepared for Hurricane Isaac for days. I’m pretty much back now and will try and be around more in the coming days/weeks.

Once again, I want to say thanks for thinking of me and appreciating what I’m trying to do here. Thanks for your notes of encouragement and concern, too. Your donations and kind words remind me why I wanted to do this little venture in the first place. Welcome to you newbies out there and thanks for finding our little space here.

Now, let’s talk lettering...

I am no different than anyone...I hate my own handwriting. Pretty much detest it about 93.9465% of the time. But there are people out there that send me notes asking how I got my writing to look so good in my art journals. HA! The truth is that most of us don’t like our own handwriting but, like your fingerprints, your handwriting is truly unique to you. If for that reason and no other, use your own handwriting in your art journals.

There are ways to make your own handwriting better or give yourself different ways to letter in your journals, such as...

• Write very slow and deliberate, watching letter size and slant.
• Remember the handwriting example above the blackboard when you were in primary school? (You can print a copy of the primary print alphabet HERE and the primary cursive alphabet HERE for reference.) Use those as examples for your journal writing.
• Find a font that you like and wish you could duplicate it without having to use your printer? Print out the font chart and use it for reference as you write in your art journal.
• Use cut out letters from magazines to “ransom style” letter in your art journals.
• Change the kinds of writing instruments you use...they can change your lettering up tremendously! Try out some calligraphy markers...they make your writing fat and chunky or try out some calligraphy lettering. Fat markers, skinny markers, dip pen and India ink, skewer dipped in paint, gel pens, stamps & ink pads, or even try out a mixture of different instruments all in one art journal entry.
• Be aware of all the different lettering you come across. Be inspired by the journal pages of others that you come across.
• Use rub-ons, stickers, stencils, and stamps to expand your lettering options.
• Add curly-ques to your letters, like in the Curlz font:

• Add dots to your letters, like here:

I guess the best way to change up your lettering would be:

• Experiment, experiment, experiment!!!

I am going to work on a lettering video (now that I’ve found my little video camera and small tripod since the move) and get that ready for you guys tomorrow...it’s just easier to show rather than describe or explain some lettering ideas.

I do hope I’ve given you some ideas here. Just remember you can add to and take away from your letters to change them up. Make them fatter (partially or completely), make them super skinny, use whatever you have at hand to write with...Just play and you might be surprised with what you come up with in your art journals.

Back with more lettering ideas tomorrow...see you all then.

Peace & Love,
Barb