This tutorial requires basic tools such as a pen, pencil, and paper.However, for optimal results, consider having the following items:
Pencil
Large eraser
0.35 mm tip ink pen or line marker — Sakura Sigma Micron pens are recommended
0.2 mm tip ink pen or line marker
Ruler or T-square
Large piece of paper (9″ x 12″ is suggested)
The choice of brand for your materials is not critical (the ink pen is merely a suggestion, and you should feel free to use whatever is readily available).The aim is to make this tutorial accessible and encourage your personal touch. Feel free to incorporate your unique style throughout. For instance, a coffee shop owner might consider trying this technique on a chalkboard with chalk instead of ink.Let’s get started!As previously mentioned, you can accomplish what we’re about to do with just a pen, pencil, and paper.Use your ruler to determine the size of each letter and the spacing between them. Create light pencil guides to guide your drawing.It’s highly recommended to maintain consistent spacing between letters — a ruler or T-square will aid in this. The width of each letter can vary, but I generally maintain the same dimensions for each letter.
The dimensions I’m using are as follows:
Letter height: 1 1/4 inches
Letter width: 1 inch
Space between letters: 1/8 inch
You’ll notice I’m sketching out geometric letters. Feel free to copy this style. However, I’d also love to see some of you experiment with rounded letters or even slab serif letters (and share your results in the comments below).
Examine typography online.Ensure the letters fit within your guides and let your creativity flow! This is your opportunity to make this design uniquely yours.Note: Bold letters are ideal for the text effect we’ll create later on.This step is quite straightforward.Use a ruler if preferred, but I usually do this freehand for a more natural look.If you’ve drawn accurate pencil guides, this should be a breeze! I use the larger tip pen for this.
This technique is one I’ve observed in some of my favorite hand-lettered artwork. To execute this technique, simply draw a line with ink inside the outline you’ve just created to give your letters a defined border.
Attempt to keep the border width consistent.I use a smaller tip pen for this, and I typically do it by hand. However, you can use your ruler or take measurements if that’s more comfortable for you.This is where our hand-lettered artwork really starts to come to life. Draw small horizontal lines (using a thin tip pen) within each letter.Ensure the lines are evenly spaced to maintain balance. Additionally, don’t draw the lines into the borders you’ve created.It’s fine if the lines aren’t perfectly straight or evenly spaced. In my opinion, the beauty of hand-lettered artwork lies in its natural, handmade appearance.
You might be tempted to stop here.The design is already looking impressive. Let’s push forward a bit further. We’re almost there.
Make sure to allow the ink to dry for at least several minutes before erasing the pencil guides you’ve drawn.Erasing too soon could result in smudging the ink.
Adding shading can elevate the design significantly.In this example, I’ve lightly shaded the entire center of each letter, leaving the border section unshaded. I’ve also added an inner shadow within each letter. If you wish to add an inner shadow to your hand-lettered artwork, lightly shade under the top and right edges of the border you’ve created.Take a look below to see what I mean:
And there you have it!This tutorial has outlined my process for creating hand-lettered artwork.
For those looking to improve their hand-lettering skills, I suggest seeking out examples of typefaces and other hand-lettering compositions. Attempt to replicate these, even if you need to trace them initially. Practice until you can replicate your favorites without the aid of rulers, tracing paper, or any other tools.Afterward, develop your own hand-lettering style.Create unique shapes, patterns, and more.Here’s a short looping video I created using Vine while writing this tutorial for you:
