Alissa Chojnacki - Fearless Flourishing: A Step-by-Step Workbook for Embellishing Your Hand Lettering with Swirls, Swoops, Swashes and More

A Step-by-Step Workbook for Embellishing Your Hand-Lettering with Swirls, Swoops, Swashes and More

Alissa Chojnacki

Text and photographs copyright 2018 Alissa Chojnacki. Design and concept copyright 2018 Ulysses Press and its licensors.
All rights reserved. Any unauthorized duplication in whole or in part or dissemination of this edition by any means (including but not limited to photocopying, electronic devices, digital versions, and the internet) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Published in the United States by:

Ulysses Press

P.O. Box 3440

Berkeley, CA 94703

www.ulyssespress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61243-888-7

Acquisitions editor: Bridget Thoreson

Managing editor: Claire Chun

Editor: Renee Rutledge

Proofreader: Shayna Keyles

Front cover design: Ashley Prine

Cover photo: ale_es0/shutterstock.com

Interior design: Jake Flaherty

Distributed by Publishers Group West

NOTE TO READERS: This book is independently authored and published and no sponsorship or endorsement of this book by, and no affiliation with, any trademarked brands or products mentioned or pictured within is claimed or suggested. All trademarks that appear in photographs and elsewhere in this book belong to their respective owners and are used here for informational purposes only. The author and publisher encourage readers to patronize the quality brands mentioned and pictured in this book.

Contents

ONE

Introduction to Flourishing

From Terminology to Tools

Hi, Im Alissa, the creative behind Feist & Flourish Modern Calligraphy. Im so glad this book has found its way into your hands. If youre anything like me, you love lettering and you want to do it even better. Adding flourishes to letters is one way to do just that, and I cant wait to teach you all about it.

Flourishing has long been a special topic for me. In fact, flourishing is the reason I got into brush-lettering in the first place, though I didnt know to use that term at the time. Flashback to shortly after the birth of my first child. In the wee morning hours, I found myself rocking my very-much-awake babe with one hand and scrolling Instagram with the other to keep from nodding off. An image of a fabulously flourished piece of lettering stopped me mid-scroll. The swashes, swoops, and loops were delicate and whimsical, yet somehow also powerful and bold. Unlike the traditional calligraphy I had tried in my youth, this had a modern, clean feel. It spoke to my lay interest in typography as well as my skills in painting and illustration. It seemed approachable, and I loved the handmade quality of the lettering itself. Simply put, I was enamored. As I dove headlong into the hashtag #moderncalligraphy, I thought to myself, I could do that! After a few minutes of research, I promptly ordered a set of brush pens online, dreaming about my future flourishing prowess as I sleepily rocked my baby to sleep.

Of course, once I had my pens in hand, it was evident from my first shaky attempts at flourishing that I was going to have to learn the basics first. I put off the study of flourishing to learn to write and draw letters well. When it was time to revisit the art of the flourish, I didnt find many resources on the topic, and truth be told, I was a little intimidated. I wanted to do it well, and I wasnt sure where to start.

I hear these same sentiments from other lettering learners all the time. Whenever I teach an in-person Learn to Letter workshop, the topic of flourishing constantly comes up. My inbox is full of people asking me how to level-up their lettering to start creating the beautiful, ornate, and complex designs theyve seen elsewhere. A common theme across all these inquiries is that people feel intimidated by the topic of flourishing and arent sure how to improve. Perhaps you find yourself in the same predicament: You love lettering but find your attempts at flourishing lack a certain something that you cant quite identify. My friend, you are not alone! There was a time when I felt the same, but with a lot of study, diligence, and practice, I grew in confidence and skill as I began to create highly flourished pieces that I loved.

In its generic sense, the word flourishing refers to the thriving of plants to become lush and full, blooming and flowering in luxurious abundance. Now, of course, we know thats not the kind of flourishing we are talking about here. This book is not about plants; it is about all the swashy, swoopy, loopy strokes that lettering artists add to their work to make it look so spectacular. But when lettering is flourished well, it does seem to bloom and flower in abundance. Theres a certain fullness and luxuriousness to well-flourished works. Ive often thought of this botanical imagery in my own study of the flourish (indeed, even a cursory look at my Instagram feed will reveal my love for all things floral-inspired!).

I chose the word flourish to figure prominently in my business name, Feist & Flourish Modern Calligraphy, because I love its many meanings. As a lettering artist and modern calligraphy instructor, obviously Im smitten with the act of adding flourishes to letters and words. But the notion of human flourishing also resonates with me deeply. Its a word that evokes fullness and life. When one is truly thriving (as a person, and as a creative), fear is replaced with joy. This deep sense of flourishing is something I hope we all experience in our day to day, in our creative pursuits and, of course, in our study here of flourished lettering.

If youre looking to thrive as a letterer and fearlessly master the art of the flourish, this step-by-step workbook is for you! Its all about helping you to grow luxuriantly and fearlessly in your flourishing skills. Youll learn to bedeck and beautify letterforms, adorn and embellish words, and glamorize finished pieces, all with the goal of growing your hand-lettered work into something truly spectacular. With a little diligent practice and some focused study, youll be well on your way to confidently flourishing your own hand-lettered works.

TIP: Follow along with me and join in the flourishing fun online! Use the hashtag #flourishfearlessly to share your work on social media. I cant wait to see what you create!

Flourishing Defined

People often tell me that their messy handwriting makes them fearful to even try calligraphy or hand-lettering. If youve thought the same thing, youre not alone. Its a common misconception that lettering is simply the act of writing; in fact, it is more akin to illustration, and this shift in thinking is key for lettering artists, especially beginners. At my in-person Learn to Letter workshops, I often remind my students to imagine they are drawing their letterforms rather than writing them, and this has never been truer than in the art of flourishing!

In hand-lettering, flourishing is the decoration or embellishment of letters and words with extravagant or fanciful curves and lines. Its a next-level skill set that adds intricacy, fills negative space, and gives hand-lettered work a serious wow factor. As with all modern calligraphy and brush-lettering, flourishing is the art of creating something uniquely lovely