hand drawn lettering

what is hand drawn lettering?

Hand lettering is the process of drawing letters rather than simply writing them. This is an open-ended definition because the line between hand lettering and other lettering disciplines is roughly defined.

Traditionally, lettering that is drawn by hand and that is created without using digital tools is considered “hand lettering” — but that definition is soft and rapidly changing.

learning to hand draw letters

The rules surrounding lettering aren’t as strict (although there are many best practices to help you improve as a lettering artist), and the recent resurgence of brush pens and digital tools have made it even easier to break into the lettering game with minimal experience.

What’s more: There are a ton of great resources available for free or for a very low cost. You can find lettering tutorials, practice sheets, books, and detailed beginner’s guides with just a Google search or two.

is calligraphy and lettering the same thing?

Nope, although they’re often grouped together, along with typography, under the “lettering” umbrella.

As a rule, both traditional and modern calligraphic styles follow a more rigid creation process. The art form, the tools (down to the nib), and the creation process are well-defined within this medium.

It’s important to note that while these are considered to be two separate disciplines, many creative lettering artists are fair hands at calligraphy. The basic hand lettering techniques you’ll need to learn in order to draw clean lines are applicable in both art forms.

what hand lettering tools do i need to get started?

To get started with traditional hand lettering, you’ll need the following:

Pencil, Paper, Eraser, Ruler, Marker.

Depending on the hand lettering style you want to pursue, you might also need additional tools like protractors, brush pens, paint, watercolor kits, and more. (We’ll also cover this in greater detail in the next section.)

You should also consider that the tools listed above are only one approach. If you have an iPad and an Apple Pencil at your disposal, you already have everything you need to get started with digital hand lettering.

hand lettering terminology

In earlier sections, we talked about the basics behind hand lettering and the tools you need in order to get started.

Now, let’s take a look at some basic hand lettering terminology that you’ll want to know while working to master the art of hand lettering.

fonts and typefaces

As you probably know, fonts aren’t exclusive to hand lettering. The term “font” actually comes from metal typesetting and is generally interchangeable with typefaces when describing its particular size, weight, and style.

Why does this matter to a hand letterer? Because fonts are both a great source of inspiration and an effective guideline when creating your own unique letters.

positioning

In hand lettering and design, it’s important to know how to position your letters on the page.

Baseline - This is the line on which the majority of characters in the typeface sit. If you drew a line under every letter of text in this paragraph, you’d see the baseline.
Cap Line - This is the line that touches the top of every capital letter in a typeface. If you were to DRAW A LINE ACROSS THE TOP OF THIS SET OF CAPITAL LETTERS, you’d see the cap line.

Median Line - This line runs across the top of non-ascending, lowercase letters. Most (not all) lowercase letters will touch the top of this line without exceeding it.
Ascender Line - This line serves as a touchpoint for lowercase, taller letters that climb above the median line.
Descender Line - Marks the lowest point of the descenders within a font or typeface.
X-Height - The distance between the median line and the baseline of the font. Typically, this is the height of the lowercase x.
Cap Height - The height of the capital letters within the typeface.
Leading - Describes the distance between each line of text, which is important for determining the legibility of the text.
Kerning - The amount of space between two characters within a typeface.
Tracking - Also called letter-spacing, this describes the overall spacing between groups of letters, often separated by the space bar on modern keyboards.

While typography and typesetting might not be part of your daily hand lettering routine, knowing more about the anatomy of letters and how typography works can improve your lettering technique and show you how to modify your lettering style in new and exciting ways.

videos on hand drawn lettering

5 lettering artists who make me want to quit

I’ve been doing lettering for brands like Converse, Cartoon Network, and Hot Wheels for 20 years… but every time I see these 5 artists, I think maybe I should just quit and become a dog walker instead.

Creative Lettering for Beginners: Easy Ways to Start!

In this video I'll show you how to get started with lettering, no experience required! I'll demonstrate easy ways to draw letters and plan out a composition. If you want to get started with handlettering but don't know where to begin—this video is a good place to start!

How to Draw 3D Letters | Bubble & Block Letters

In this easy step-by-step tutorial learn how to draw 3D letters on paper! Practice with your name as you learn simple methods to use every time for quick large font that pops off the page! LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more art content like this!

in conclusion

For many artists, the first step to creating a great piece of art has very little to do with the art itself. It’s about being open to the world, connecting with people, and waiting for the ideas to come.

Whether you’re looking at billboards, flipping through magazines, or enjoying a dinner with friends, do what you need to do to find inspiration — but be ready when lightning strikes.

Most of the best ideas require refinement before they’re ready for production. Doodling and sketching are great ways to motivate your brain, iterate on your ideas, and create the best possible outcome before the technical process gets underway.

Hand lettering is a skill that can be easy to learn but difficult to master. To achieve lettering mastery requires a working knowledge of typography, design, and letterforms.

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