Hand Lettering Inspiration: Part Two. I’m sharing all my lettering challenge work from this month, along with some lettering tips and my color palettes!
Hand Lettering Inspiration: Part TWO
Much to my own surprise, I’ve kept up with the 2020 Lettering Challenge (so far, anyhow).
Just like last month when I shared Part One, I’m sharing a summary of my work from this past month, along with notes on my process, some lettering tips, and the color palettes I used for each piece.
If you missed Part One, you can check it out here.
Hand Lettering Inspiration: Part One
Insta-Inspo + Procreate Tips
On my Instagram, almost all of my posts include a “Swipe to watch the process video,” which shows you how I take things from a sketch to a final piece.
You can check out my iPad Lettering in Procreate tips over on this page on the blog. I used a lot of the tutorials I’ve shared on that page in my lettering pieces below.
I hope that you’ll use the palettes and my work to inspire your own. Just remember, there’s a fine line between being inspired by someone else’s work and being a copycat, so be sure to create your own work!
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Using the Color Palettes
- Right-click or screenshot the photos in the blog post to save each lettering example and color palette.
- Learn How to set up Custom Color Palettes in Procreate here.
- Use them in design programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Match your physical art supplies (markers, color pencils, watercolors, etc.) to the palette and work the old school way!
Hand Lettering Inspiration: Part Two | February Prompts
Here are my four pieces from the February Challenge Prompts.
Piece One: Combining Lettering styles
Prompt: “Something so magic about you.” – Hozier
For this prompt, I wanted to challenge myself to use illustration in my lettering.
Level Up Your Lettering
Try combing a script and a serif or sans serif styles into one lettering piece.
✒️ I used the DND Basic Brush, DND Monoline Brushes brushes, and various stamps from my Procreate Brush Bundles for this piece.
PIECE TWO: ALL CAPS
Prompt: “We’re dancing in the moonlight” – Grace VanderWaal
For this prompt, I wanted to challenge myself to use only capital letters. I love how I ended up being able to create several unique ligatures because the letters lined up just right to allow for it.
Level Up Your Lettering
- Try doing an ALL CAPS style.
- Find places to add cool ligatures to your lettering. A ligature is when you combine two letters into “one” by connecting them where they wouldn’t usually connect.
✒️ I used the DND Celestic Block Brush, DND Gradient brush, and various stamps from my Procreate Brush Bundles for this piece.
Piece THREE: Adding Illustrations
Prompt: “You’re so hypnotic on my heart.” – Gavin DeGraw
Initially, I thought I’d illustrate something using the word “hypnotic”. And I tried. Repeatedly. It all came out super cheesy. So, I ultimately went with a non-traditional heart. Or is this technically the most traditional heart?!
For me, this lyric is not an ode to a person, but a place. It represents my love of Charleston, SC.
We’ve traveled all over the world and Charleston is still the place that makes my heart happiest. The historic district of downtown reminds of me what I love so much about Europe mixed with American conveniences. I feel lucky to call it home.
The magnolia flowers are a nod to this hypnotic city that totally has my heart! And the decorative filigree in the background pays homage to the ironwork that Charleston is also known for.
Level Up Your Lettering
- Trying adding more illustration to your work. Bonus points if you go a bit outside the box with your illustrations!
- If you’re using Procreate, try sketching your ideas out on paper first. I almost always start my lettering process using analog tools (paper and pencil) and then move to my iPad. While I love lettering in Procreate, the sketching process comes more easily to me on paper!
✒️ I used the DND Celestic Block Brush, DND Basic Brush, DND Gradient brush, DND Painter Brush (from the Floral Procreate Kit) and the heart stamps from my Procreate Brush Bundles for this piece.
Piece Four: Fairytale-Inspired Serif
Prompt: “You don’t know how lovely you are.” – Coldplay
This lyric is so sweet and romantic, it inspired me to create a fairytale-like “script meets serif” lettering style.
Level Up Your Lettering
- Trying coming up with a unique and creative serif style in one of your lettering pieces.
- Sketching is key here and as usual, I started with pencil and paper before moving to my iPad.
✒️ I used the DND Monoline Brushes from my Procreate Brush Bundles for this piece.
Share your Challenge Work!
Your turn! I can’t wait to see what you create.
Use hashtag #DNDlettering when you post your work on Instagram.
I regularly check that hashtag and pick people to feature on my social media (with full credit and a link to your account).
Hand Lettering Inspiration: Part TWO
I hope you picked up some helpful lettering tips and inspiration for your own work in this month’s post.
Part three coming at you next month.
Happy creating!
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