large scale lettering with makewells

Hello! It's Megan from Makewells and today I'm sharing with you a few tips and tricks in creating a larger scale painting incorporating your lettering. 

My favorite surfaces for painting are Blick Birch Wood Panels. I just love working on these: they are sturdy, smooth, and can take a variety of mediums. The panels are just as affordable as pre-stretched canvases, so I encourage you to try them out!

To begin this piece, my first step was to prime the wood panel. I used a basic acrylic based interior paint for this and gave the wood a good two coats. (don't mind my abused brush...)

While my board was drying, I then did some thumbnail sketches of the lettering I planned to paint.  For these sketches, I really focused on how the lettering would fill the space; composition was just as important as the lettering itself.

Once I had a sketch I was happy with, I created a very basic grid to use as a guide when sketching on my larger panel. This is my go-to way of enlarging smaller sketches. This grid was very basic, but it did the trick. 

The dimensions of my panel were 24" x 30". I made my thumbnail sketch 4" x 5" inches, keeping the proportions exactly the same as the large panel. I then cut the thumbnail in half, forming a grid, and did the same on the panel, drawing very lightly. This simple math makes a very basic (yet extremely helpful) guide as you transfer your small drawing to the larger surface. 

Then, I sketched in my drawing, and painted the letters solid white. 

I wanted the palette for this piece to be very bright, so I started blocking in areas of the negative space with bold, contrasting colors. I started out messy and worked fast as I block in background

Next I went back into the lettering and added a drop shadow to really make them stand out. 

After cleaning up the white lettering with another coat, I added some expressive patterns in the background and scribbles in graphite pencil. 

And voila! Here's the finished piece! 

Perfect for our this cheery area of our home. 

So there you have it! Using a grid is a very simple trick to help you take any of your projects from a small sketch to a larger surface.

Keep using #redefinecreativelettering as you create - I LOVE seeing your work on instagram!

Xo,

Megan

@Makewells (instagram)

www.makewells.com

floral alphabet with makewells

Hello! It's Megan from Makewells and I'm back with some more lettering tips and tricks! Today I'm showing you a creative way to add a little flair to your lettering. 

I'm obsessed with drawing/doodling florals, so today I am combining two of my favorite things: lettering and flowers!

If you've followed along with my lettering series, you'll know that I always like to start out with some basic pencil sketches. For this project, I decided to create an alphabet, so I quickly worked my way through the 26 letters to come up with the forms I would use for each letter.

After finalizing my sketches, I created each letter to go in my floral alphabet. Below, you'll see the step by step process:

1. Lightly draw the basic form of the letter

2. Thicken downstrokes

3. Erase area you'd like to put the flower, and lightly draw in

4. Ink (I used a Micron pen - just make sure you use a pen that is waterproof)

5. Use watercolor to add a splash of color to the flower. 

That's it! An easy way to add a little flair to your lettering. 

For the alphabet I created, I mixed up the places that I added the flowers, depending on the form of each letters. 

Here's the entire alphabet:

Another alternative is to paint the letters and flowers in acrylic. I followed the same steps sketching, but then used acrylic paint for both elements instead of ink and watercolor.

Of course you don't have to do just flowers. Get creative with other elements to create your own series! Bugs, bows, sea life...anything goes!

Have fun applying this technique to any of your lettering projects. I decided to send some extra happy mail to a friend, using the floral alphabet for the first letters in her name and city. 

Happy creating! Don't forget to post your projects on instagram using #redefinecreativelettering 

Xo, Megan

@Makewells (instagram)

www.makewells.com

lettering with makewells: lettering in your art journal

Hello! It's Megan here with another guest post about lettering

I've been a huge fan of Alisa's sketchbook and art journal posts for years. And if you follow along here on her blog, I'm sure you feel the same way! The pages in her books are just stunning and overflowing with inspiration. 

So today I'm sharing some tips on how to add hand lettering to your own sketchbook/journal. And you also get to take a peek inside my own art journal madness :) 

My first tip is pretty simple: just because it didn't originate in your art journal, doesn't mean it can't end up there! 

I have TONS of lettering sketches and doodles all over my studio that have no home. I draw things on the back of napkins, in my planner, and in other notebooks that are not designated art books. Some things I do real quick in order to scan and add to a digital project, and others were done while in a waiting room or on a plane. 

So instead of these little snippets of creativity being lost or thrown away, I love adding them to half finished pages in my art journal.

Use washi tape, masking tape, glue...whatever. But don't let your lettering end up in the trash. Play with ways to incorporate it into your art journal time!

My 2nd tip is this: if you want to add lettering to your art journal, but don't know what to write, think of simple titles or themes for your page. I love adding just one word to a page when I've used a photo. It's simple to come up with something (a name, a place, etc). and personalizes the page.

Try to find ways to make the lettering stand out without competing with the photo. Experiment with layering and using different materials on top of the paint, photos, and tape. 

And Tip #3 is this: practice drawing short phrases. I like to add Bible verses, lyrics to songs, or just random words floating in my head, but if I'm drawing the letters, I try to limit the length. It's easier to visualize sketching out 3-4 words than an entire song.

If you have more to say, just write! Save the hand lettering for words that deserve emphasis.

Below, I had a list of things to make swirling in my head. Instead of drawing out every thing on the list, I hand lettered the title and then wrote the list quickly.

You can have the lettering blend in with your page...

Or make it the main focus

So play, experiment with supplies, and remember to just enjoy the creative process!

Remember to use #redefinecreativelettering to share your work! I can't wait to see what you create. 

Makewells 

Website: www.makewells.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/makewells

Blog: www.makewells.typepad.com

lettering with makewells: dress up your mail

Hello! It's Megan here with another guest post about lettering, and I'm super excited about what I have to share today!

One of my favorite 'simple pleasures' in life is opening up the mail box and finding a hand addressed letter. Tucked away inside the ads, bills, and catalogs, there's a special goodie just for me. Oh the joy! As I open it, I know that I don't owe the sender money, they aren't trying to sign me up for the latest credit card, and, even if what's inside is a simple 'hello', it can be a wonderful moment in my day.

Today I am challenging you to take what you've learned so far in this lettering series, and put it into practice in a very tangible way. Send some snail mail!

Addressing an envelope is the perfect way to practice your lettering skills.  Each name and address is simply a combination of letters, words, and phrases. Addressing creatively can be an extension of your lettering practice. The only rules are that it fits a stamp is is legible! (I sometimes do the "husband test" and if he can read it easily, I trust the post office can too!)

And just think of the smile you will bring someone when they receive your work of art!

If you aren't super confident in your lettering skills yet, painting your envelope first is an easy way to dress it up. Painting simple patterns on your envelope before lettering is easy, but makes a big impression.

But if you don't have time for paint to dry, practicing your lettering techniques with pen and pencils can make just as big an impact. 

In the envelopes below, I used my white uniball signo gel pen to do the lettering, and then a graphite pencil for the drop shadow. 

The drop shadow gives it that extra pop which I love...

Or for an even softer effect, try using a colored pencil. With this navy blue envelope, I drew my letters with a white colored pencil. On the dark paper, it really pops - and almost gives it a chalky effect.  Little doodles and embellishments add a finishing touch.

And if you have the time to make something extra special, try painting the name and address! I love painting on kraft envelopes - the colors pop so nicely against the neutral brown. For this one, I drew the letters very lightly in white pencil before painting on top, adding a drop shadow at the end for dimension.

So practice away AND brighten someone's day with your work. In today's world full of emails and texts, and hand written note says goes a long way. And with an envelope disguised as a work of art, your mail is bound to make someone smile! 

Remember to use #redefinecreativelettering on instagram to share what you've created!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/makewells/
Website: http://www.makewells.com/

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/makewells

Megan Wells

Makewells - an art blog