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Hand Lettering
Brush pen letters for cards, signs and journals.
2levels, ending in custom lettered pieces
20 mina Step, on average
$15to start Level 1
FreeLevel 1, always
The path
- 1
Level 1Free Basic Strokes
A lettered quote card
14 Steps, about 26 minutes each. Total beginners. Your normal handwriting doesn't matter; lettering is drawing, not writing.
- Chapter 1: Strokes and first letters. Thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes, the basic strokes, your first letters, and a lettered word card.
- Chapter 2: The whole alphabet. Every lowercase letter, smooth connections, capitals, faux calligraphy with any pen, and your name lettered on a card.
- Chapter 3: Layout and your quote card. Planned layouts, bounce lettering, and a finished quote card you designed and lettered yourself.
- 1Show your groupThin up, thick downA page of strokes that go thin on the way up and thick on the way down.
- 2Learn the basic strokesOne row each of the 8 basic strokes, with even spacing.
- 3Ovals and loopsEven ovals and loops that sit on your guidelines and lean the same way.
See all 14 Steps
- 4Write your first lettersThe letters a, c, d, e, g, o, q drawn from basic strokes.
- 5Show your groupLetter your first word cardA small card with one lettered word, like 'hello' or 'thanks'.
- 6Letters with loopsThe letters b, f, h, k and l with matching loops.
- 7
- 8Connect letters into wordsThree words written with smooth connections and even spacing.
- 9Faux calligraphy with any penOne word written in faux calligraphy with an ordinary pen or marker.
- 10Show your groupAdd capital lettersA row of simple capitals and your initials in brush lettering.
- 11Plan a layoutThree small thumbnail sketches of how a short quote could be arranged.
- 12Try bounce letteringTwo words in bounce style, with letters dropping below the line on purpose.
- 13Draft your quote card in pencilYour full quote sketched in pencil at final size, guidelines and all, with no video.
- 14Show your groupLetter your quote cardYour finished quote card, inked, dry and pencil-free.
Level 2Unlocks after Level 1 Layouts
A framed print
Where it ends: custom lettered pieces
Free lessons in Basic Strokes come from The Happy Ever Crafter, The Postman's Knock, Planning with Bumble, Tombow, Little Coffee Fox, Ensign Insights, The Calligraphy Raven, Lia Hansen. We link to their work and never copy it.
Cover photo by Samir Bouaked on Unsplash