Today we’re building on yesterday’s assignment. Adding color is an easy way to kick up the pretty in your creative lettering.

For this assignment I recommend starting with a soft pencil, so that you can easily erase your sketching lines. Remember, I am working big so that I can photograph it for you, work at a size that is comfortable to get the details, but not so big that you’re over-working your hands.

Draw out your word in cursive or print. Don’t press hard… We’ll get to techniques using pressure later this month. You’re just lightly sketching your word for spacing and layout.

Add in the weighted lines. Keep these lines light, too. I weight the vertical lines (stems, ascenders, descenders). Remember that you don’t want two thick lines crossing, the contrast of the thick/thin is what makes creative lettering eye-pleasing.

Use your favorite pen to outline your word. I’m using black so that you can easily see the details, but feel free to work in whichever color you like.

Then go back and erase your pencil sketch lines. I used a kneaded eraser.

Choose your color tool. For this sample page I used colored pencils.

In the first word I used a Prismacolor pencil and colored evenly in the outlined word.

In the second word I colored heavily at the base of each letter and got progressively lighter on the way up for an ombré look.

On the final word I used two contrasting colors. I started by laying a very light base of each color. For ‘fun’ I used Crayola colored pencils.

One color from the bottom, up.

The other from the top, down.

Allowing them to overlap a bit and mix (very lightly).

Then I went back and darkened the very top and bottom.

I also added gray shading to add dimension.

Here’s my finished sample for today:

Video demonstration of adding color into faux calligraphy:

**If you’re just joining us and would like to look at the suggested supplies, they can be found in this post: Do You Want to Learn Hand-Lettering But feel free to jump in with whatever tools you have handy.**

Printable guides are now available for this section of LYL1:

Now we’re getting into the real fun you all have been waiting for. We’re taking what we learned about proper penmanship and launching into stylized and creative lettering.

Creating faux calligraphy from your own handwriting.

This post will have a lot of photos since I hope to capture the different steps of this technique. On our Periscope chat tonight we’ll review this process further.

Choose your favorite pen or pencil to get started.

I began with cursive, since my natural hand is usually more cursive than print. You can start with either one, the main technique is the same.

Draw out your word or alphabet with nice, even and open letters. I’m working big so that it will photograph clearly, feel free to work at a point size that is more comfortable for your hand.

After your word is written, go back and add a second line to your vertical lines. This adds weight to the down strokes. You’ll leave the up strokes as hairlines.

Sometimes it takes me a couple passes to get the width I’m after, don’t worry if you need to do the same.

Then go back and fill in that weighted line.

Sounds easy, right? Hang with me…

Once you’ve done this technique a number of times, it does get much easier. I practice this method a lot on my scribble pads. This is the notepad I used when updating the design of my blog. I had to doodle out the look I was thinking of before I could form it digitally, using this faux calligraphy technique.

You can use this technique for print-style typography. Draw out your word (or practice letters).

Then go back and add a second line to weight the vertical strokes.

I usually add feet (serifs) to the print letters, but you could leave them off.

The look and style will vary depending on your handwriting. If you have more of a natural slant(slope) the overall look will change, but the technique is the same.

Have you tried this technique before?

You’ll be looking for ways to use this often, it’s a really fun technique that opens up possibilities for lots of fun creative lettering.

Here’s a video demonstration of the faux calligraphy technique:

**I’ve gotten some questions regarding paper for practicing. I usually stick with graph paper, quad ruled, or a dot grid, but for those who would like to work on the slant of your writing, these are some practice pads to check out for consideration(these are affiliate links, if you’d like to read my full disclosure statement you can find it here):

Companion guides are now available for this section of LYL1!

Ready to bend the handwriting rules a little further to create whimsical lettering?

You all did great with altering your letter styles yesterday, with simple changes to the bowls or slant of the letters.

Today we’ll add a touch of whimsy.

This is just one more small step towards creative lettering.

My favorite are swirls/curls. They make the letters and words dance

I also like to add serifs to some letters, or mix italic and basic print.

Allowing the cap height and ascenders to stagger over or just under the cap line, keeps it interesting.

I often add beads (or dots) to the tails of letters, also known as finials or terminals.

Mixing uppercase (majuscule) and lowercase (minuscule) looks random, but actually is methodical and can be done without effecting the readability.

You want to create rhythm, not confusion.

Here are some ways to add whimsy to your handwriting:

Some letters lend themselves to lots of opportunities for little additions.

Others have less variations.

Fill a page or two playing with different styles of print and/or italic letters.

Try a couple of words mixing features.

Don’t worry if the words don’t look like they do in your mind’s eye, this assignment is about experimenting.

Here is my video demonstration for this section:

If you’re just stumbling upon this series, welcome! Here is the introduction where recommended supplies are listed. They aren’t all necessary to start, but if you love lettering, these will be very helpful additions.

An optional companion guide is now available for this portion of the Love Your Lettering series: