How to Draw letterforms

Hand lettering -- the art of drawing letterforms -- is undergoing a massive surge in popularity, and today's digital tools and tutorials make it easy to learn. Here's a rundown of the basics, plus a guide to the best free tutorials and tips for mastering an old art that's been given another breath of life.

The Basics

More flexible and expressive than calligraphy, hand lettering uses a variety of tools and artistic styles. Inspiration is all around you, and the basics are easy to learn.

1. Study Letters

The best way to start learning hand lettering is to study letters - all kinds of letters, everywhere. Find hand letterers whose work inspires you and follow them for insights into the design process and the world of hand lettering.

Fonts are a good source of inspiration for hand lettering students, too. Thousands are currently in use and more are being created every day. Many of today's most popular fonts are hand-lettered. Find ones you like and try tracing them to get a feel for letter shapes and spacing.

2. Choose the Right Tools

Hand-lettering artists use brushes, markers, pens and a variety of otherinstruments to get the right look. Here are a few essentials to keep on hand:

Microns - Relatively inexpensive and easily available through just about any art and craft supply store, Pigma Microns are loved by hand lettering artists for their consistency and dark, heavy ink.
Brush Pens - Brush pens combine the reliable ink flow of a pen with a flexible, brush-like tip. Get them in a variety of colors and styles from art supply stores.
Sign Pens - Sign pens from Pentel and other makers create bold solid strokes in a variety of colors for expressive, visible lettering.

3. Plan Your Designs

Good design doesn't just happen, and taking time to plan and lay out your design before you begin will make it easier to create a piece with impact.

Begin by sketching out the shape of the final composition in pencil. This first sketch can be adjusted and resized as needed until you're satisfied with the design.

Create thumbnails for each design to establish the position and size of each element. Experiment with multiple versions to work out the design.

Sketch your composition in pencil so that you can make any necessary adjustments. Then ink the sketch, using the pencil lines as guides. When your design is completely inked, erase any visible pencil lines.

4. Practice!

The more you hand letter, the more you'll refine your technique. Establish a regular schedule for practicing letter forms, learning the principles of design and trying out new tools. Browse your inspiration file for ideas and projects to try.

5. Work on Technique First

Many new hand letterers spend a lot of time looking for the best pens or papers - but when you're starting out, the "best" pen is really the one you're most comfortable with. As lettering artist Sean McCabe recommends, work on mastering techniques first - that's more important than the medium you're working with. Even plain printer paper makes a good surface for practicing.

6. Emulate Fonts You Love

Add fonts wherever you find them to your inspiration library and use them to learn letter design. Trace both traditional and new fonts to learn spacing and styling. Try emulating unique, hand-drawn fonts like Malisia Script, Red Velvet, Echo Soul and Hello Sunshine from Creative Market.