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.
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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
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 30 Days of Drills Workbook
This workbook is perfect for busy beginners who want to learn the art of Brush Calligraphy.
Commit to doing just one worksheet every day for 30 days and keep track of your progress with the included checklist!
The 30 Days of ABCs for Small Brush Pens
The second workbook in the 30 Day series is here!
Once, again commit to just one worksheet a day, and you’ll see big improvements over the month.
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:
- Creative Lettering and Beyond – This is one of the first books I bought and it’s perfect for beginners.
- Mastering Hand Lettering – This book rocks. It’s a must-have for those interested in learning lettering.
- The Big Awesome Book of Hand & Chalk Lettering – I just added this one to my collection recently and it is so well done!
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. 
How to Do Brush Lettering
Brush lettering, also called Brush Calligraphy, is achieved by 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!
- Watch the Basics Strokes Video! This video is a free real-time mini bonus module from my intermediate level Constellation Lettering Online Class.
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.
- Read my Modern Calligraphy 101 post here.
- Learn how to do Watercolor Calligraphy here.
- The best book to start with is Modern Calligraphy: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started in Script 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:
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.
- The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering
- Chalk Art and Lettering 101
- The Big Awesome Book of Hand & Chalk Lettering
The Business of Creative Blogging
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!
Let’s Connect
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So glad I came across this! Thank you!
Hi Stacy! So glad you found it helpful. 🙂 Have a great week! -Dawn
I Found the Crayola Supertips really nice to work with aswell.
(I love this website, so helpful, thanks)
Well looks pretty professional to me….I mean the way professionals do things. I have seen tons of artists and see,s good to me. Thanks!
Thank you, Mireya! Hope you are having a great weekend! -Dawn
Wow, that is so interesting, thanks for letting us see a little of how the magic happens! It’s all just so beautiful!
Thanks so much, Julie! So happy to see you joined Instagram!:) It’s my favorite!
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.
Thanks Tina! So glad you found it helpful! 🙂
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.
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
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 🙂
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
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
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
THANK YOU!!!! That is a great weight, better than most! Appreciate your time … K
I agree!
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
Hi Coral! Thank you so much! 🙂 I hope you have an awesome week! -Dawn
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! 🙂
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! 🙂
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?
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
You’re so talented!! Thank you for sharing your talent and your wisdom. 🙂
Aw, thank you so much Laurie! I love doing it! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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!
Hi Kassandra! Thank you so much! I’m so happy you found the post helpful. It’s so much fun to letter. Happy creating! -Dawn
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!
Hi Cheryl! Thank you so much! 🙂 I loooove my Macbook! And you’ll have so much fun with the Silhouette! If you didn’t already see this, I co-run a Silhouette group just for learning and finding inspiration! https://www.facebook.com/groups/SilhouetteCAMEOProjectInspiration/. I hope you’re having a great weekend! All the best, Dawn
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?
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
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! 🙂
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
Thank you so much Bonnie! 🙂 Have a great day! -Dawn
Is there another way to access your free class? I am a non-facebook user!
Thank you!
Amanda Nichole
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.
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.
Thanks so much Vickie! 🙂
hi! do you have any recommendations for where to get the designs that i’ve digitized printed?
Hi Rochelle! I print mine at home using the Epson Workforce 7620 (http://amzn.to/1JmkmgR). It’s an awesome printer! It can print up to 13×19 in size.
What paper do you recommend to get if you are wanting to print them at home to sell?
I love using Linen Coverstock! It’s amazing and Amazon has the best price on it by far! 🙂
Which one? I have seen many options!! I originally was going to buy the Southworth 25% Cotten Linen Coverstock (65 lbs), but I wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted. I kind of wanted like a thickish type of paper.
Btw, thanks for your early response!
Hi Whitney, this is the exact one is use: http://amzn.to/1SpRrKf. 🙂
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!
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!
Hi Lissette! You can find all the details on that here: http://bydawnnicole.com/blogging-resources and here: http://bydawnnicole.com/faqs. If you still have questions after you read through those, feel free to email me at dawn[at]bydawnnicole[dot]com. 🙂
Hi Dawn!
Thanks so much for all the inspirational work and helpful guides! It helped me on my journey to hand letter/calligraphy with brush pens and I posted a little shout out to you here http://missthundercat.blogspot.nl/2016/04/a-strong-case-of-duality.html 🙂 Looking forward to your new books!
Best wishes,
Tarah
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. :)))
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. 🙂
In the group of photos, what is the brand of watercolours in the middle photo of the bottom row?
Artist’s Loft. You can get them at Michael’s or on Amazon. 🙂
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
Hi Deloris! Are you on Facebook? I run a free group over there with lettering lessons! https://www.facebook.com/groups/dawnnicoledesigns/
Thank you so much 🙂 this really a big help for me :*
Hi! I just want to tell you how I´m enjoying my book!
Hi Monica, thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear that!! xo
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
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!
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
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
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?
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!
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
Hi Ricki, I’m sorry but the way the class is set up the videos are directly uploaded to FB however, you can access a ton of freebies on my site for lettering as well! This is the best place to start: http://bydawnnicole.com/hand-type-tips
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!
Hi Michelle! Thank you so much for the kind note! I’m so happy you enjoy the lettering resources! 🙂
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!!!
You’re so very welcome! Happy lettering!
Can’t wait to try this!
you are such an inspiration!
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!
Can you recommend paper for practicing? I have read that some paper can cause the brushes to fray.
Hi Cayla! My two favorite are the Rhodia Dot Pad and Canson Marker Paper. I get both via Amazon.com. 🙂
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?
Hey! I love your Blog and your Instagram page?⚘ it coule be nice if you can check you instagram dms❤ thank u!
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!
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 🙂
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.
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. 🙂
Thankyou so much for sharing such good stuff to practice lettering.
you are a true inspiration !!
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 🙂
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!
What can i say… i found santa who is called Dawn… We are truly grateful to you for sharing!!!
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!!
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
Thank you so much, Linh! The “Art of Lettering” text on the teal photo I hand-lettered. The labels are this font: https://www.dafont.com/champagne-limousines.font
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!
Thank you Dawn for sharing your talents, tips and techniques. I can’t wait to start practicing. Have been looking for this!
This was super helpful. I decided to start hand lettering as a hobby and I am trying to teach myself without having to buy a ton of stuff right now. I have printed off some of your practice sheets and those really help. It is a little overwhelming but practice will help.
This was so helpful!!! I’m a beginner in brush calligraphy and these worksheets are a perfect start!!! I love them!!!
You’re so welcome, Ava! Happy lettering!
Hello!! Your page is awesome!. I need an advice. I want to get a better daily handwriting but I am looking for a font that is clear and easy to read with some style (details :P) do you have an advice? some book that your recomend? thank you a lot!
Thank you so much! If you’re interested in a script this is my current favorite font that’s basic but still has style: https://crmrkt.com/dj59Eb. 🙂
I LOVE all the free tutorials and practice sheets, thank you so much! Im looking for a good brand of colored brush tipped markers. Can you recommend any?
Hi Cady! The Tombow Fudenosuke Colors are the best ones to start with for brush calligraphy! https://bydawnnicole.com/tombow-fudenosuke-colors-brush-pens/
Hey Dawn! I am just a high-schooler but I love hand lettering. I am usually just doodling in my school books, but seeing how accomplished you are has inspired me to work harder at this and branch outside of my notebooks. I also think your office looks like an artist’s paradise! Thanks for sharing your talents!
Hi Emily! That’s so awesome you’re starting now. I wish I’d have started back in high school. Thank you so much for the kind words as well. Happy lettering!
I love your site and your Pinterest page! Thanks for doing all that you do!
Olá, Nicole! Estou apaixonada por seu blog, é tudo tão lindo! Sou iniciante e aqui encontrei tudo que eu precisava. Obrigada por compartilhar o seu talento!
Hello, Nicole! I’m in love with your blog, it’s all so beautiful! I’m a beginner and here I found everything I needed. Thank you for sharing your talent!