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Hand Lettering 101: The Newbie’s Guide

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Hand Lettering 101. The Newbie’s Guide to Getting Started with the Art of Hand Lettering, Brush Lettering, Modern Calligraphy, iPad Lettering, and Chalk Lettering.

This post and the photos within it may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a commission at no extra charge to you. See our full disclosures HERE.

Hand Lettering 101. The Newbie's Guide to Getting Started with the Art of Hand Lettering, Brush Lettering, Modern Calligraphy, iPad Lettering, and Chalk Lettering.

Hand Lettering 101

This post is the newbie’s guide to getting started with the Art of Hand Lettering, Brush Calligraphy, and Modern Calligraphy. The best way to get better at lettering is simply to practice…a lot.

Our mantra around here is “Practice makes progress”. Developing your skills is a lifelong, continual process.

Let’s start with some Lettering FAQS

Do I need to have good handwriting to be good at lettering?

In my daily life, I don’t have the prettiest handwriting. I consider lettering a type of drawing. While you do need some artistic talent to do hand-lettering, don’t let your handwriting deter you from trying this art form. Practice makes progress!

Any tips for lefties?

I’m a lefty myself. I share all my tips for my fellow South Paws in this post.

Did you go to school to learn hand lettering?

Hand-lettering was not something touched on in my time in Graphic Design school. Most hand lettering artists, myself included, are self-taught. I learned about the history of design, color, type, etc. and how to use the design programs in school (namely Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop). One of my professors said I had a knack for choosing and mixing typography and I fell head over heels in love with typefaces, fonts, and especially hand lettering.

Are hand-type and hand lettering the same thing?

Technically speaking, no. What I do is actually not hand-type, it’s hand lettering. Read about the difference here. Many people use the terms interchangeably even though they’re actually different.

How can I connect with other lettering artists?

Join my free “The Art of Lettering” Facebook Group here.

Hand Lettering 101. The Newbie's Guide to Getting Started with the Art of Hand Lettering, Brush Lettering, Modern Calligraphy, iPad Lettering, and Chalk Lettering.

Hand Lettering 101: The Newbie’s Guide 

First up, we’ll talk about the art of lettering. Later in this post, I’ll discuss Brush Calligraphy, Modern Calligraphy (with a dip pen), iPad Lettering, and Chalk Lettering.

Want More Free Lettering Goodies?

Sign up for instant access to my FREE Happy Email Club, a resource library full of exclusive Art + Lettering worksheets, shareable quotes, coloring pages, mockups, video tutorials, and more. New freebies and fresh content are sent via email and added to the Happy Email Club content area each week on Mondays! Click here to join the club.

The Lettering Bundle

Check out my Lettering Bundle for a whole set of goodies to get you started with both hand lettering and brush calligraphy.

The Art of Hand Lettering

  • Basic Supplies: All you really need to get started is a few basics: paper, pencils, markers, and rulers. You can see some of my personal favorite supplies on this page.
  • The Best Beginner Books for Hand Lettering:
  • The process:
    • I start every single print with a bunch of sketches of the phrase/quote I’m working on. This helps me figure out a good layout for all the words in the phrase.
    • After I settle on a layout, I draw lines/boxes with rulers to keep my text straight or within certain parameters as dictated by my initial sketches.
    • I always sketch in pencil…with a lot of erasing.
    • When I’m happy with the lettering/illustration, I trace it in marker and add details. After the marker dries, I erase any remaining pencil lines. It doesn’t have to be perfect. I do a lot of cleaning up after I import my drawing to my laptop. I’m a lefty. I’m forever smearing my work. Which is precisely why I don’t sell originals of my work. Work with what you have! 🙂
    • I scan or photograph my design and import it into Adobe Illustrator (sometimes Photoshop depending on the situation but the bulk of the time I use Illustrator).
    • I use Illustrator to trace (digitize) the design and then add in details and color and clean-up lines. I’m not going to do a detailed tutorial on this because it’s not a program most people have, but if getting serious about hand-type interests you, put these programs on your radar.
  • Lettering Styles: Check out my posts on Lettering Styles to Try for more inspiration.
  • Mixed Lettering: This has become one of my signature styles. Check out all my tips on the Basics of Creating Mixed Lettering Styles here.

The Basics of Creating Mixed Lettering Styles. How to mix and match different lettering styles to create a balanced yet fun piece with a ton of character!

How to Do Brush Lettering 

Brush lettering, also called Brush Calligraphy, is achieved through using pressure to control your stroke widths.

  • FAQS: This is my most comprehensive post on Brush Lettering. Read it here.
  • The Best Pen for Newbies: the Tombow Fude. Read about why here.
  • Paper Matters! Read about the best paper for your brush pens here.
  • Bounce Lettering: What is it? How to do it + a free practice sheet here.
  • Start with the Basic Strokes Worksheets: for Small Brush Pens and for Large Brush Pens.
  • Practice, practice, and practice some more. Check out my large selection of free lettering worksheets.
  • Want to work on your flourishing? Check out my tips, a video, and download a free basics worksheet with over 70 flourishes here.
  • Embossing: Learn how to Heat Emboss Your Lettering in Four Simple Steps.
  • Get Brush Lettering Books for Beginners:
    • Lettering with Purpose. This book is so comprehensive. It’s perfect for getting started!
    • More book recommendations coming soon!

Hand Lettering 101. The Newbie's Guide to Getting Started with the Art of Hand Lettering, Brush Lettering, Modern Calligraphy, iPad Lettering, and Chalk Lettering.

 

Modern Calligraphy 

Modern Calligraphy with a pointed dip pen didn’t click for me until after I’d mastered Brush Calligraphy, so based on personal experience, I recommend learning Brush Calligraphy first and then moving on to Modern Calligraphy.

iPad Lettering

I recently started a whole series on iPad Lettering. You can check it out here.

I’ve created two custom packs of Procreate Lettering Brushes:

iPad Lettering 101: How to Use Procreate. An ongoing free video series. New posts and video tutorials will be to be added to this page frequently, so check back often!

Chalk Lettering

I love how forgiving chalk art is! My top three favorite books on Chalk Lettering are listed below. They are all beginner friendly.

Hand Lettering 101. The Newbie's Guide to Getting Started with the Art of Hand Lettering, Brush Lettering, Modern Calligraphy, iPad Lettering, and Chalk Lettering.

The Business of Creative Blogging

DawnNicoleCo

Interested in making a living by being creative? You can read about why I started my newest blog, Dawn Nicole Co, here and check out the FAQs section here.

Follow Along with Dawn Nicole Co on Social Media

Still Have Questions on Lettering?

I hope you found this Hand Lettering 101 post helpful.

If you have questions I didn’t touch on, leave me a note in the comments!

Hand Lettering 101. The Newbie's Guide to Getting Started with the Art of Hand Lettering, Brush Lettering, Modern Calligraphy, iPad Lettering, and Chalk Lettering.

Let’s Connect

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Dawn Nicole Designs | A Creative Community: Hand-Lettering, Brush Lettering, Calligraphy, iPad Lettering, Free Practice Sheets, and more!

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Comments

  4. 9

    Thanks for this post, it’s great! I am interested in learning more about typography and in particular hand lettering and came across this guide via Pinterest. I’ve added some of the books you recommend to my wishlist on amazon.

    Reply
  5. 11

    This is such a good list. Just ordered Creative Lettering and Beyond. You really inspire me. I love how encouraging you are and love your work.

    Reply
    • 12

      Thank you, Mel! I think there is no better compliment than hearing you inspire someone! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such kind words. Have a great rest of the week! -Dawn

      Reply
  6. 13

    What a fantastic post with so many great resources. I added several of those books to my amazon wishlist. Some I already had, which made me think you have excellent taste 😉

    I see you have your own planner that’s so pretty and spiral bound. Is that something you made for yourself? I’ve been wanting to make my own planner/journal (using my own designs & sketches) and have it bound, but I have no clue where or how to make that happen, any suggestions?!?!

    thanks again for the excellent post. I found it on Pinterest 🙂

    Reply
    • 14

      Hi Jenn! I’m so glad you found it helpful! 🙂 The planner is an Erin Condren Planner which I had personalized. They’re not cheap (about $50) so it took me a while to finally get one but I must say, for a girl who loves to keep track the old-fashioned way, it’s a purchase I’ll make annually. She has a video on her site with a look inside. It comes with all these fun organizational stickers too. I use it for work/blogging and it really helps me stay organized. All the best! -Dawn

      Reply
  7. 15

    Just stumbled onto your website and so glad I did … very amazing, signing up for newsletter now! Hey … curious about your Erin Condren, I’m using an Inkwell and not crazy about the setup, but adore the paper, doesn’t bleed with my lettering/doodling/daily writing. How is the EC paper? Does it bleed? I watched the video, it’s so cute and looks incredibly functional … I just don’t want a planner where the paper is thin. Appreciate any help/advice 🙂 Kim

    Reply
    • 16

      Hi Kim! Thanks so much! I LOVE my EC Planner and I can’t wait to order next years. I think the paper quality is really nice. It’s slightly thicker than my sketch pad paper which is 70lb so I’m guessing the EC paper is 80lb weight. Hope this helps. 🙂 Have a great weekend! -Dawn

      Reply
  8. 19

    YOUR BLOG IS AMAZEBALLS. Cute, helpful and full of fresh energy–I’m in love! Thanks so much for the lovely tips and for creating such a bright and positive space on the interwebs! Can’t wait to stop by often!

    Sending good vibes to you and yours! <3

    Coral

    Reply
  9. 21

    Finally get to purchase the printer/scanner on Friday! Yay! Curious, which version of illustrator do you use? I’m just curious which version is really necessary to pay for each month? Thanks so much. I reference this page a lot! 🙂

    Reply
    • 22

      Hi Mel! Yay! I use Illustrator CS6. I’ve had it a few years though and when I got it they didn’t do the monthly Creative Cloud thing they do now. I actually don’t know much about how that works but it sounds awesome to be able to pay monthly since the design package is SO pricey. I wouldn’t have been able to buy it if it wasn’t for the awesome student discount rate! 🙂

      Reply
  10. 23

    Hi Dawn – I’m interested in reproducing my lettering and watercolor work. Is the print your recommended good for that? I’m pretty clueless – But do know I need to have a scanner. Do you think the Epson WorkForce WF-7620 is the best, or do you have any other recommendations?

    Reply
    • 24

      Hi Jennifer! Yes the printer is good for scanning but I actually usually just use my smartphone. The newer ones have such great resolution that I find it works great for my purposes. I’ve read a few posts from artists/letterers lately that they’re also using phones in place of their scanners now. After I take the pic, I email it to myself to edit in Photoshop or Illustrator depending on what it is. 🙂 Hope this helps! Dawn

      Reply
  12. 27

    This is super-inspiring! I’ve been wanting to learn hand-lettering and calligraphy for some time now. I think this is how I’ll be spending the remainder of my summer. 🙂 Looking forward to continuing to see your lovely work!

    Reply
  13. 29

    I found you on Pinterest and LOVE your website! This is a great post, and I’ve started following a number of your boards. Just recently got a Silhouette Portrait and am eager to learn. (And, yes, I too have a MacBook Pro…is there anything else?) Hugs!

    Reply
  14. 31

    Hi ! its really inspiring how u & your team does on this whole things. I’m a mother of 1 and I hope if u don’t mind to share some tips?

    Reply
  15. 32

    Dear Dawn,
    Greetings from India.
    I totally loved your blog. Found it so inspiring. Loved loved loved..loved those bookmarks. Have signed up for the newsletter. I’m not able to pre order your book on amazon.in,it says “currently unavailable”, guess I’ll have to wait till April.
    Continue being awesome,
    Priyanka

    Reply
    • 33

      Hi Priyanka! Thank you so much! I’m wondering if the pre-order may be a later date for my overseas friends. I will check with my publisher and see if I can find out for you. Have a wonderful week! 🙂

      Reply
  16. 34

    Thank you so much for all the awesome info. I too am a Mac girl and I love your keyboard. Can you please share where you got it !!!!! I have enjoyed your blog and Pinterest boards… Thanks, BONNIE

    Reply
    • 37

      Hi Amanda Nicole! I’m so sorry but that’s the only place I do a free class. It’s the easiest way. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t a FB user either. I do have some people that create an account just for the class and don’t use it otherwise. 🙂 I’m posting more of more of the hand lettering and art things on the blog. I’ve cut out a lot of things I used to post about in favor of the art and lettering and typographic DIYs.

      Reply
  18. 38

    Hi Dawn just found you through Pinterest and really love your work. It is so pretty. You are very talented. I’ve wanted to learn lettering for such a long time. For years I’ve been doodling in my bible only to discover bible journaling recently. I’m following you on Pinterest and will try to hook up on Facebook.

    Reply
  21. 46

    You are very kind to do this post and thank you for Your lessons. For me it’s the fist time that i try to drow some letters and your helping are fundamental!
    I love your site!

    Reply
  22. 47

    Hi! I recently found your blog and I LOVE it! Hand lettering is a huge hobby of mine and I was just wondering how you turned it into a career rather than just a fun activity to do on the side. I’m aware that you have hand lettered designs selling at big name stores and I was curious as to how you made it to that point and how I could maybe go about doing that or something similar as well!

    Reply
  24. 50

    Hiya Dawn 🙂 I was wondering that if I wanted to start doing hand lettered wedding invitations; what would be the best option: to write the entire invitation excluding the name of the invited and then move it into the laptop and print it onto the wedding stock or hand letter each invitation? :/ that would be so tough :(( if I wanted to print it what is the procedure for it? I am so not good with regards to technology, but I can follow instructions and learn. 🙂 please let me know. Thanks and have a nice day. Greetings all the way from Sri Lanka. :)))

    Reply
    • 51

      Hi! That’s not really my area of expertise, sorry! I’d probably print the invites first and then hand letter just the name or something at the top of each. 🙂

      Reply
  26. 54

    Hi… Im an artist… and my lettering is not what it supposed to be.. I need to start with the beginning and go up on the practice.. what do I start off with …. please?… ?Thank You…. love your work… Deloris

    Reply
  29. 59

    Hi Dawn,
    I’ve been following you on Facebook as well as your website. I have been sketching out the words I want to letter, but if I go over the pencil with my brush markers – the pencil lines do not erase afterwards. I haven’t mastered the issue of correct pressure when using the brush pens, so I’ve been sketching first. Any suggestions?

    Thanks!
    Marlea

    Reply
    • 60

      Hi Marlea, Soft pencils disappear better than hard so be sure to choose a pencil with a soft lead (like HB or softer). The other option is a lightbox. You put your pencil drawing on that and then a clean sheet of paper and trace the pencil lines with your markers!

      Reply
  30. 61

    Hi dawn
    I love your work and I am very keen to join in your hand lettering classes but I was just wondering if there is any other way to join as I am not older enough to join Facebook
    All good if there’s not 😊
    Thanks!
    Jazmin

    Reply
    • 62

      Hi Jazmin,

      I’m so sorry, it’s just on FB. Facebook is the perfect place to hold a free class. I do hope to put some eCourses out on my site later this year/next year though!

      All the best,
      Dawn

      Reply
  31. 63

    This post is so helpful! I’m starting out and I have my first project that I’m ready to have printed. What do you think is the best way to have your work printed to sell? For example, I want to sell 8×10 prints on matte cardstock type paper. I’ve looked into photo printing but a lot of places only offer photo prints on glossy paper, or only let you print on letter size paper rather than 8×10. Any tips?

    Reply
    • 64

      Hi Kayla! I prefer matte too. 🙂 When I sold my prints I bought a nice printer (Epson Workforce 7610) and used 100% Cotton Linen Card Stock Paper (cheapest on Amazon). Pen and Paint is a big prints seller on Etsy. I believe she has a bunch of tips on her blog you might want to check out!

      Reply
  32. 65

    I would love to take your hand writing class however I’m one of the only people on the planet without a Facebook page. Can you email me the practice sheets and video links?

    Love love love your stuff? Thank you – Ricki

    Reply
  33. 67

    Hi Dawn! I find myself visiting this page over and over as I’m just starting with drawing letters and brush lettering. Thank you so much for all the fantastic resources!

    Reply
  34. 69

    I lucked up when I found this site from a Google search. Been wanting to try hand lettering and I feel this is the best place to start thank you for a wealth or resources!!!

    Reply
  37. 73

    YES! to another lefty! I am also left handed and I can now get inspiration from another fellow lefty and not confused myself when watching right handed hold pens etc whilst doing brush lettering! I can totally relate and learn! YAY!

    Reply
  39. 76

    Love your site. It has been so helpful.
    Do you know what kind of ink I could use on linen fabric without it feathering out?

    Reply
  40. 77

    Hey! I love your Blog and your Instagram page🤘⚘ it coule be nice if you can check you instagram dms❤ thank u!

    Reply
    • 78

      Hi Lea! Thanks! 🙂 Email is the best way to contact me. I don’t use Instagram DMs due to the high volume of messages I receive. I have an “email me” button in my IG profile. Thanks again!

      Reply
  41. 79

    I really wanna say thank you for this great sharing. I’m currently doing this hand-lettering stuff and feel so much helped by your post. Hope you don’t mind if i join the class and learn with you 🙂

    Reply
  42. 80

    Hi Dawn! Thanks for sharing all this things. I’ve look everywhere for free templates and stuff and all of them where super expensive, but I founded you at Pinterest and now I know how to start.

    THANKS! you’re amazing. I love your lettering. : )

    Have a great day.

    Reply
  43. 81

    I ran across your site on Pinterest searching for hand lettering. Thank you so much for sharing all this great information! Now I need to start practicing. 🙂

    Reply
  44. 82

    Thankyou so much for sharing such good stuff to practice lettering.
    you are a true inspiration !!

    Reply
  45. 83

    this is such a great resource with so many lettering posts to explore! Just a huge thanks 🙂 I love those black pencils with the rectangular erasers but they’re hella expensive!

    I recently got an iPad pro (omg i love it) so I’m going to download your alphabet sheets and get practicing with the pencil as it’s a little heavier and thicker than what I’m used to using.

    Can’t wait to keep exploring 🙂

    Reply
  46. 84

    So thankful to have found a lefty artist to be able to observe technique! It’s so hard watching other videos of righties and being a leftie! Thanks for this!

    Reply
  48. 86

    So glad I came across your website! Awesome!!! I’m a lefty too and was wondering if I had to do something different when doing the upstrokes, downstrokes, etc… Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  49. 87

    So glad I stumbled on your page as a recommendation from another blogger 🙂 I truly love your work! What font are you using for your “The Art of Lettering ” photo with the teal background? I’m trying to alter my handwriting as well

    Reply
  50. 89

    I love this website, As a Left handed person this IS perfect for the newbie like me!
    I can’t wait to dive in and work my creative self into beautiful hand lettering!
    THANK you DAWN!

    Reply

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