Peggy Dean - Lettering in the Whimsical Woodlands: A Creative Calligraphy Adventure—Nature-Inspired Projects, Prompts and Drawing Ideas

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available through the Library of Congress 2017 Peggy Dean ISBN-13: 978-07573-2001-9 (Paperback) ISBN-10: 0-07573-3201-5 (Paperback) ISBN-13: 978-07573-2003-3 (ePub) ISBN-10: 07573-2003-1 (ePub) All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. HCI, its logos, and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc. 15th Street Deerfield Beach, FL 334428190 Cover design, interior designs and formatting by Peggy Dean One of my favorite places in the world is the Pacific Northwest. 15th Street Deerfield Beach, FL 334428190 Cover design, interior designs and formatting by Peggy Dean One of my favorite places in the world is the Pacific Northwest.

For me, theres no better way to unwind than to spend time in naturethe spongy moss under my feet, the swaying of the pine trees, the sounds of birds chirping. With this book I am excited to combine my two lovesmy love of the outdoors with my love of lettering. This book is meant to guide you through many ways you can expand your lettering skill set, along with how to draw basic illustrations to add visual interest to your pieces. You will learn about different tools and materials, and you will discover what works best for you based on both your personal preferences and proven techniques. Throughout the book youll be prompted to get dirty! By that, I mean youll have plenty of hands-on practice. The first step to mastering lettering and illustration is to put your pen to paper.

Ive included three alphabet samplers, along with comprehensive practice sheets. Three alphabet varieties are presented, so you can choose the perfect mood or vibe to express your intended design. Whether you are just beginning to explore lettering or you are a seasoned veteran, I hope your journey through this book is an inspiring one. While lettering is fun on its own, its even more rewarding when we can use our love of lettering to make lasting keepsakes for our home or to share with others. Enjoy the creative process. Cheers to your lettering success! There is a lot to know about these new best friends.

Its important to understand the differences as you learn how to use them, when to use them, and how to care for them. With so many to choose from, its easy to become overwhelmed. I recommend grabbing about three so you can experiment with different brands, flexibility, and ink. After you play around with them, youll most definitely have a good idea of the style and tip you prefer. The two main aspects of brush pens are the size of the brush and the flexibility of the tip. The size will determine how small or large you can draw.

Although you can use larger brushes for smaller lettering and smaller brushes for larger lettering, a larger pen will most likely overlap on itself and distort your words, and a smaller pen often loses the effect of adding weight to a letter or design. Check out the following for an easy reference of my personal favorites. Although this is not an official scale of any sort, I have created it in an effort to show you what each pen will create. The list goes on and on, but these are some of the main brush pens to look out for. If youre just starting out, I recommend all Tombow brush pens and the Pentel Touch Sign pens. You can also achieve varied pressure to create a calligraphic effect with pointed pens.

Nib holders can be found in a straight form, in which the nib is held directly on the tip of the holder, or in an oblique form, where the nib is held by an angled piece. Depending on your preference, one of these is usually more comfortable. When narrowing down what nibs to use, many letterists get confused. Choosing the perfect nib could be a book by itself, so to save you from getting overwhelmed, Ill focus on my favorite two nibs:

These nibs are great for several reasons. They hold ink longer than many other nibs, meaning you wont need to dip into your ink as often. Like nibs, there are a ton of inks to choose from. Like nibs, there are a ton of inks to choose from.

I usually suggest grabbing Dr. Ph. Martins calligraphy inks. They have a huge color selection, along with iridescent, metallic finishes. They also have a modest price point, so when youre just beginning, this is a good option.