Since I started this blog I discovered that I am drawn to the art of lettering (or: drawing letters). I featured Lauren Hom and her Ex Boyfriend Tears project, selected pretty lettered VDay cards, and talked about the work of illustrator/letterer Alexis Winter.
And thus, I decided to start a lettering project. Ultimate goal? Become a Lettering Master! More importantly? Have fun in the process, get some creative juices flowing, and hopefully learn a new skill.
I think to be able to letter would be such a good skill to have as a soon-to-be businesswoman (more on that soon!). You could use it to make pretty business cards or stationary. Get paid for your lettering services or start a fun project like Will letter for lunch. Also, pretty to-do lists, pretty grocery lists, pretty invoices.. you can make everything pretty and the world needs more beauty.
The idea:
In the past I have found different ways to learn new skills and learned quit a bit in the proces:
One needs a focus and some limitations.
I started a ‘cooking club’ with a friend in 2012. We focussed on Indonesian and Indian cuisine. I searched for recipes during my very boring office job, and would visit Asian stores to get ingredients during the weekends. We’d cook together, comment our creations as if we were real pro’s, and at times were having a real feast. Later I became more or less vegan, which made everything even easier as there were less choices to be made. Having focus and setting limitations helped me become a much better cook.
Get a teacher – or at least listen to someone who already mastered your skill
I borrowed a guitar from my niece in 2013, and we started ‘jamming’. Ahum. We tried following youtube classes but seeing as I was an absolute beginner, this didn’t really work out. That’s when I decided to find a real life guitar teacher. He taught me the basics, we got to properly jam, and we talked about his life as a musician. Fun!
Find the online resources you need
I set up this website in september last year, and some others (much crappier ones) before that. The vast majority is WordPress and only very limited coding, but don’t underestimate the amount of times I wanted to set my laptop on fire and just go live in the woods. Luckily, it was never rocket science I was working on, and I always found a solution online (or occasionally phoned a v. smart friend) to fix whatever thing was not working for me.
Actually go do it, spend time on it.
Learning to mediate is not so much about learning a new skill, but really it’s more about finding the discipline to actually do it. Like going to the gym, you just have to force yourself to do it at times, as it feels so good afterwards. And of course I notice the benefits of simply sitting and noticing whatever it is that is happening in my mind or body. So to quote Nike: just do it.
None of these skills I am an expert in, but I am having fun with it and I am happy they are part of my daily activities. As is my goal with lettering!
The Learn to Letter Plan:
Focus:
– Try different brushes and pens, but stick to black – and – white, for now.
– Just illustrating letters, no cutesy flowers, hearts, animals etc etc.
– Don’t go and worry about how to get these online or how to use Adobe Illustrator, and all the endless possibilities that that will give. Offline, real ink-stained lettering!
Get a teacher:
My first teacher will be Mary Kitt Mcdevit who teaches a class on Skillshare.
Find the online resources you need:
I am an endless online browser and I have already found a lot to read. These 50 resources from Letter Shoppe seems very valuable. And Jessica Hische has a long list of resources as well, with a ton of letters to check-out. Next to actual lettering, I’ll dust off my reading glasses and figure out how to really get into this. Oh and you can find whatever I find on my Pinterest!
Spend time on it:
I will practice every day for 30 minutes. That’s real hands-on sitting at my table and practice time. I’ll follow the skillshare class and read online resources on top of that. Honestly, 30 minutes a day seemed do-able, but apparently it also makes you more intelligent, bonus.
And finally,
Share it.
As a way to be held accountable, and to share what has worked and not worked for me. I’ll be sharing resources and inspiration on Pinterest, my own scribbles will be posted on GIGOT’s Instagram and I’ll post updates here in due time.
Now let’s start #letteringaway..!