HOW TO GUIDE TO
HAND LETTERING
FOR BEGINNERS
So you’re interested in hand lettering! That’s fantastic news. You’re about to enter into a whole new world of creative exploration and expressive fun.
LITTLE COFFEE FOX
There are four lines that you need to keep in mind as you write out your letters: the base line, the X height, the ascender line, and the descender line.
ANATOMY OF LETTERS
LITTLE COFFEE FOX
LETTERING FAMILIES
The three families that you need to learn are serif, sans serif, and script. You may or may not have heard those names before, but I promise you are familiar with them already.
LITTLE COFFEE FOX
First, let’s talk about the best way to sit when you letter. When you go in for a hand lettering session, you should sit down in a comfortable chair with your feet flat on the floor.
POSTURE
LITTLE COFFEE FOX
LINE WEIGHT
Line weight refers to the thickness or thinness of a line. If the line is thick, the weight is heavier. If the line is thin, the weight is lighter.
LITTLE COFFEE FOX
The best way to launch into practicing your hand lettering is to engage in drills. Hand lettering drills are simply repetitive lines or shapes to help you practice the movement of lettering.
PRACTICE
LITTLE COFFEE FOX
ADD EMBELLISHMENTS
There are a ton of fun ways to inject style, decoration, and intrigue into your lettering with some embellishment techniques.
LITTLE COFFEE FOX
HAND LETTERING 101
If you are ready to jump into lettering and pick up techniques lightning fast, then enroll in my online ecourse Brush Lettering 1o1!