Engelbrecht - Modern Calligraphy and Hand Lettering: A Mark-Making Workbook for Crafters, Cardmakers, and Journal Artists

Lisa Engelbrecht

2008 by Quarry Books

Paperback edition published 2010

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by the producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

First published in the United States of America by

Quarry Books, a member of

Quayside Publishing Group

100 Cummings Center

Suite 406-L

Beverly, Massachusetts 01915-6101

Telephone: (978) 282-9590

Fax: (978) 283-2742

www.quarrybooks.com

Digital edition: 978-1-61059-438-7
Softcover edition: 978-1-59253-644-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Engelbrecht, Lisa.

Modern mark making : from classical calligraphy to hip hand-lettering / Lisa Engelbrecht.

p. cm.

ISBN 1-59253-419-8

1. Lettering--Technique. I. Title.

NK3600.E54 2008

745.61--dc22

2008002148

ISBN-13: 978-1-59253-644-3

ISBN-10: 1-59253-644-1

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Design: Dawn DeVries Sokol

Cover Image: Lisa Engelbrecht and Dawn DeVries Sokol

Exemplars: Lisa Engelbrecht

This book is dedicated to all those people who believed that they couldnt do lettering, to all those unused calligraphy sets sitting untouched, and to all the calligraphers ready to take off the shackles and fly! Today is the day you beginbegin to letter without rules, begin use your tools with intention (and make new ones), and begin to believe (as I do) that you are incredibly talented and creative.

I am a rebel. I admit it. I love lettering, calligraphy, and the beauty that well-written letters convey. But one thing I remember about my early years in calligraphy is that I always asked myself What if I... ? (fill in the blank). Its this spirit that has brought me to this moment.

To me, lettering represents an opportunity for uninterrupted inhibition, expressing oneself with spontaneity! It is a joyful, intuitive, physical act. I have been taking classes in calligraphy for years. I have laboriously copied and practiced letters. I continue to take classes with the masters of the letter arts, but I also continue to be a maverick, breaking the rules. (The calligraphy police havent caught me yet!) I want to have fun with letters, take the mystique out of formal calligraphy, strip it down to simple directions, and encourage personal style. Is there a way to do this?

I am a lettering artist! I love telling people this. Most people get a quizzical look on their face. When I say I combine calligraphy, fabric, and collage in my artwork, they often seize upon the word calligraphy.

Oh, calligraphy! they say. I tried that once, and it was too hard.

I got a set at Christmas one year, tried it, and realized there was no way I could ever do it.

Or, I dont know how you have the patience for that!

Translation: Its too intimidating and difficult and requires hours of practice.

Is this your impression?

When I was given the opportunity to write my very own book on lettering, I knew that I needed to present an approach that was unlike any other presented in calligraphy instructional manuals. Yes, this is a book on lettering and how to do it, but, more importantly, it is about mark making and being true to your own spontaneous and free expression. This is my attempt to show you the joy of letters, and the grace of making an expressive, wholly personal mark. This will be easy, because writing is an intuitive function, and we all possess this talent. (I want to remind you that you already have all you need inside you to make art. You need no previous experience!)

I love to make marks. We encounter personal marks made daily all around us, from the handwritten letter to graffiti we see on our way to work. Consider tattoos. Everyone, it seems, is trying to make a mark in this world. The traditional calligraphers believe a formal education in the historical structure of letters is essential. I, too, believe this can only help your calligraphy. You can compare it to learning the piano; its tough to be an expressive pianist without a lot of practice. But what of the joy of the messy scribble, the play with the pen, the personal expression? Is it not as valid? I feel calligraphy is the fine barrier between art and the need for expression. But it is also mark making. Being true to your purpose and choosing meaningful text will show in your marks and help you access the essential core of this art.

In the following chapters, I present various styles of lettering, project ideas, and most importantly, samples of some of the most exciting lettering trends by some of todays best artists. This book will be a starting point for you to explore various tools and techniques to help you find your own personal lettering style. Trace or copy the exemplars. You dont need to follow this book from the beginning, look for a style you like. If youre like me, youll start anywhere. Have fun, play, and make your own mark!

Chapter 1

Surfaces and Materials for Lettering

S o just what is a pen nib anyway? Nibs, sometimes called pen points, are the metal inserts that hold the ink (sometimes with a reservoir) and write the letters. There are literally hundreds of kinds of pen nibs, each offering a different style of line. The nibs pictured are my favorites; theyre also the ones that beginners in my classes find easiest to use. However, and Ill reiterate this many times in this book, this is merely what works for me. Once you begin writing, you might find your experience to be different. Each has a different feel and reacts differently to the user, so try many to find the one that works for you. Following are descriptions of some nibs that you can choose from.