Studio Saturdays: Perfectly Imperfect Hand Lettering

I am the greatest admirer of calligraphy. I would gladly pay just to watch someone create words in Spencerian script or Copperplate, because it’s truly poetry in motion.

But I must confess, I am a calligraphy workshop dropout. My practice pages looked like Rorschach tests, and I was always the worst one in class. It dawned on me one day that what I gravitate to in hand lettering are wonky lines, funky shapes, and off-center spacing—the beauty of the imperfect. So I started creating lettering that reflects my artistic style, and found my passion.

Hand lettered journal — My food and cooking journal is filled with hand lettering.

I have more fun now, am no longer stressed about creating perfect letters, and I love the process. Although I add lettering to many of my art journal pages, my favorite journal to work in is my food and cooking journal. I started this book a couple of years ago not just for recipes, but also for keeping food memories and journaling about memorable dishes and dining experiences. Lettering just seemed like a natural element to emphasize for this book, and I use a variety of styles on a page—some that I make up on the spot—and they all add to the interest and individuality.

Here’s a page I did about my famous guacamole recipe. Okay, it’s not really famous, but it is super delicious. When I do a page like this I like to block out the letters lightly in pencil first. As much as I love wonkiness, there’s nothing worse than running out of room andhavingtosquishallyourletterstogethertomakethemfit.

I wrote “guacamole” in a neat version of my normal script, then went back and fattened up the left side of each letter to create space for some color. I wrote “so good” in a goofy block font. Drawings of some of the recipe ingredients were blocked in, along with a chevron design. I thought I might add some collage elements and auditioned them at the bottom of the page.

Hand lettered journal page — When working on a page, I pencil in my lettering first.

After drawing over the pencil lines with a black Faber-Castell PITT artist pen and erasing the pencil, the letters and drawings were colored in a guacamole-friendly palette of red, orange, yellow, and green watercolor. I ended up hating the word “Yum!” where I put it, so I drew a salt shaker, cut it out, and pasted it over the word. As I always say, there are no mistakes in art, only opportunities!

The word “ingredients” is another exaggerated version of my own script; I just kept my pen very loose and left a lot of space between letters.

Hand lettering with watercolor — I added watercolor to make the words pop.

I always write recipes and journaling in my own handwriting. If I make a mistake I just cross it out or paint or cover over it with something—I don’t get too crazy about it.

With some space left over at the bottom I decided against the collage elements and brought back “yum,” but this time in script, using a Zig Clean Color Real Brush pen blended with a damp paintbrush. A drop shadow was added with a graphite pencil and a blending stump, and I glued bits of text paper around the border. By the way, if you don’t know that the lettering-friendly world of markers and pens is virtually bottomless, grab something and hold on tight, you’re in for quite a ride. You’ll have a lot of fun trying out new supplies, and most are inexpensive.

Food journal page with hand lettering — The finished page, with more lettering, color, and collage.

Here’s another page I did praising raspberries as the official taste of summer, based on a childhood food memory. I used a few different lettering styles, and again incorporated watercolor and collage. Quick tip: I use a page in the back of my journal to try out letters and pens to see how they’ll work. I either cut this page out later or collage something over it.

Most people hate their handwriting, but that’s no excuse not to try lettering. I can point to dozens of “mistakes” on these pages, but what good would that do? My lettering isn’t perfect, and I never want it to be.

If this has convinced you to add lettering to your mixed-media art repertoire, you can’t do better than these resources below. Each one will help you get started, or enhance the skills you already have. I suggest starting today!