Real Life Lettering Inspiration Vol. 1


lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

Hey everyone. This feature has been long due and I’m excited to have it published here today.

For Surely Simple, over on my instagram (@surelysimpleblog), I started a lettering/drawing challenge and I was so happy to see others participating in it too! I always love to get someone else’s perspective on things, and what better way than to ask all the amazing letterers/ artists over on IG!

There’s something so motivating about reading people’s views and their outlook with whom you share a common interest- and here of course, that interest is art! So, here are 5 different people (in no particular order), all with their own perspective and take on lettering. Enjoy!

(To see their lettering/ artwork, head on over to #surelysimpleart and #surelysimplelettering.)

Let’s hear what they have to say about lettering, life, art and more!

…….

AMY

Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

 Southern girl from Arkansas with a passion for travel. Very close to my family although I have no children of my own. Well, unless you will allow me to count my two cats, Ruby and Roxanne! My dad was quite the sketch artist even though no one really knew. I have never taken a formal art or lettering class but love practicing every day. I feel like my own style is a bit scattered and often seek focus in my life.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

What sparked your interest in lettering? What do you feel about your progress?

As a young adult, I remember saying that I wish I could have a job where I could just write pretty things all day and so at 47 years old I am doing so as a hobby. I look back on my work from when I first started in March 2015 and can see a remarkable improvement.

 

What are your hobbies? (apart from lettering, of course!)

iPhone photography, watching old black and white horror movies.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

Favourite art tools and supplies?

Tombow dual brush pens, Tombow fude, Pentel sign pen, Gelly roll pens, chalk pencil, watercolors.

 

Any people you look up to in the art / lettering / calligraphy field? Or just generally in life?

Lauren from Renmade Calligraphy, Sharisse from Pieces Calligraphy, Lisa Congdon.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

Any advice for lettering enthusiasts you’d like to share?

 Just start! All you really have to have is paper and a pencil or pen.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

Can you recall any memory that brings a smile to your face?

I love all the positivity and support my IG community offers. It’s so nice to read all the comments and watch each other progress.

 

Do you plan on pursuing art professionally, or is it just a hobby you love?

It’s a hobby but plan on opening an Etsy shop soon.

Social Links-

Instagram – @lilylanecreations

Pinterest – Amy Davis   @hulatree

….

DUSTY

Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

I am a mom of 2 kids (11-Laurel and 14-Lily) and wife of 18 years to Michael. I am a teacher–I spent many years as a special education teacher in Cincinnati, Ohio, but now I am an associate professor at Eastern Kentucky University in the College of Education working to teach the next generations of teachers.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

What sparked your interest in lettering? What do you feel about your progress?

My mom was (and still is) very arts/crafts-y…she used to do calligraphy when I was little…little framed quotations or certificates at work. I always loved it. I tried to learn as a teenager but didn’t have much success. I’ve been seeing so much more lettering around lately and I was reminded of how much I loved the way handwritten art looks. So I signed up for @ckelso ‘s better lettering course in November and just started practicing. And practicing. And still practicing.

 

What are your hobbies? (apart from lettering, of course!)

I am a potter in some of my free time and a meditator in other parts of my free time…otherwise, I think I spend more time than I realize driving my kids around!

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

Favourite art tools and supplies?

I have inexpensive pencils, markers, and watercolors from Michael’s (craft store) for most of what I’ve worked on in my short time learning–but I JUST GOT a set of Tombow dual tip brush pens this week and I am really enjoying how much easier it is to move from thick to thin lines with it! However, I still lack confidence with them so much more practice is needed!

 

Any people you look up to in the art / lettering / calligraphy field? Or just generally in life?

I’m new to handlettering and calligraphy and am mostly learning folks through instagram. Some of my favorite folks to follow on IG (and I know there are LOTS more!) for lettering are: @alejandro.olarte, @art.by.rim, @surelysimpleblog (of course!), @lilylanecreations, and the more collective @artoftype. For calligraphy I love to see what @thepostmansknock, @bienfaitcalligraphy, and @piecescalligraphy put up daily. I love that you’ve added the #surelysimpleart hashtag because I tend to lean more toward little illustrations rather than true lettering or calligraphy and my favorite IG to watch for that kind of stuff is @jean_jullien.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

Any advice for lettering enthusiasts you’d like to share?

I’m still too much of a novice to offer anyone ELSE advice 🙂

 

Can you recall any memory that brings a smile to your face?

Of course! Isn’t that why we create?

 

Do you plan on pursuing art professionally, or is it just a hobby you love?

This practice, for me, helps me remember the human side of life–when I just work and parent and ‘to do list’ my life I’m just not very fun to be around. But when I take time to create–even if it’s not great–I find so much more pleasure and beauty in all my ‘to do’ lists. So, it’s a hobby I love because it helps me to love life right back.

instagram: @dustycolumbiae

….

DIANA

Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

Looking back I can see that my passion for graphic design and typography began as a teen. Back in the day, I used to pore over teen magazines and study the contents of their layout designs cool words that were stylized and photographs. I then cut them out and staple the cutouts to my bedroom walls creating a unique collage or wallpaper. It was quite a site.. Oh, my mother just loved that –HA!

What sparked your interest in lettering? What do you feel about your progress?

I’ve always loved calligraphy and would practice from a calligraphy book I got as a birthday present. I tend to be an impatient person and feel that my lettering progress is slow, or rather not as fast as I’d like. I realize it takes time and really plan to hustle to practice drills and focus on my calligraphy/lettering in 2016.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

What are your hobbies? (Apart from lettering, of course!)

Other hobbies include painting, photography, and I recently started a mixed media art class online that I am really enjoying.

 

Favourite art tools and supplies?

I have many favorites.. but I really love my brush tip markers. The Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen and the Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (soft and hard) to be exact. I like that they are small and very easy to control. I also like the Nikko G nib with a straight holder.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

Any people you look up to in the art / lettering / calligraphy field? Or just generally in life?

I follow many talented lettering artists on Instagram. Some of my favorites are: Amanda Pel Arneill (@amandaarneill), Victoria Rothwell (@designhouseofmoira), and Bianca Mascorro (@biancamascorroart). These ladies have an IG account full of beauty.

 

Any advice for lettering enthusiasts you’d like to share?

My advice would be to not be afraid to put yourself out there to network with others. The lettering community really is a supportive one and are there to cheer you on. Another piece of advice is to not get discouraged it takes a lot of practice and remember that it’s going to take time to get to the level others are at.

 

Can you recall any memory that brings a smile to your face?

Whenever I am mentioned in a post or receive an actual comment on a lettering piece I posted always brings a smile to my face.

 

Do you plan on pursuing art professionally, or is it just a hobby you love?

For now I’m lucky enough to have my art as a full time hobby. I often get judged by some family and friends and it used to bother me, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let their opinions get in the way of my happiness. 🙂

 

Social Media Links:

Instagram > @olive.blossom.design

Blog> www.oliveblossomdesign.com

Twitter > https://twitter.com/Olive_Blossom_

Pinterest> https://www.pinterest.com/Olive_Blossom/

Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/OliveBlossomDesign/

….

KRISTINE

Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

I’m Mary Joy Kristine Rocamora, 25, married and a Mommy. I’m a 3rd year Psychology student but I’m planning to take up my old program/course, which is teaching.

 

What sparked your interest in lettering? What do you feel about your progress?

I got inspired when I saw some lettering posts on Instagram. I know that in constant practice, I will improve more.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

What are your hobbies? (apart from lettering, of course!)

Aside from lettering, I also read books during my free time.

 

Favourite art tools and supplies?

I love my colorful pens! My collection! 🙂

 

Any people you look up to in the art / lettering / calligraphy field? Or just generally in life?

My father. He is really good at lettering, drawing, dancing, singing and cooking!

 

Any advice for lettering enthusiasts you’d like to share?

Just keep on trying and practicing. Look for inspiration!

 

Can you recall any memory that brings a smile to your face?

My elementary days. Whenever I think of those days, I can’t stop smiling. Those were the times when I used to join quiz bees and dance contests.

 

Do you plan on pursuing art professionally, or is it just a hobby you love?

Art is really just my hobby but I’m sure that I can use it more when I go back to teaching. 🙂

 

IG: @mjhappycorner

Twitter: @mjkristine

….

KATRINA

Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

Hi! I am Katrina Andrea Ong or Trina for short. I am from the Philippines and I am a recent graduate of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and a frustrated interior designer (since I wanted to take Interior Designing for college but I’m not that good in drawing lol).

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

What sparked your interest in lettering? What do you feel about your progress?

What sparked my interest in lettering is when my aunt joined a workshop just earlier this year and I saw how beautiful her works were and envied her so much, I wanted to be like her instantly! Lol. She influenced me to take some workshops too and now I’m hooked! Addicted is an understatement. Lol! My family thinks I have gained progress in this lettering “career” of mine but for me, I don’t really see the difference/progress. I feel like it’s just the same, haha!

 

What are your hobbies? (apart from lettering, of course!)

Apart from lettering, I love doing punch art. I used to sell those during my elementary years and earned so much from it since it was such a trend knowing how elementary students are given projects that often needs creativity and a bit of scrapbooking.

 

Favourite art tools and supplies?

I have about a hundred punchers and I am still continuing to collect them. I love collecting craft stuff like washi tapes, ribbons and other cute stuff that catches my eye. I don’t even use them now that I’ve graduated but the sight of them just makes me happy.

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

Any people you look up to in the art / lettering / calligraphy field? Or just generally in life?

I look up to my aunt (my mom’s sister-in-law) who has introduced me to this world. Her works inspire me to strive harder and aim for progress. Also, I look up to my (other) aunt (my mom’s sister), the interior designer who loves to explore and learn more about the world of creativity who, when she does, excels all the time. She really amazes me because he first time she has learned about calligraphy and took a workshop, her works seems like she’s been doing it for years now. Such a fast learner!

 

Any advice for lettering enthusiasts you’d like to share?

An advice I could give to those starting in lettering is that for me, I think it helps a lot when you have a calligrapher or someone in the same field who inspires you to pursue your career. Never stop learning about it and not just in learning but in loving it too. It’s such a stress reliever. I would not ever wonder if you get attached to it the same way I am!

lettering inspiration vol 1- interview with real letterers via Opinion9.com

Do you plan on pursuing art professionally, or is it just a hobby you love?

If only I could pursue this art professionally, I would. Fingers crossed!

instagram: @katscribbles

….

Watch out for volume 2- and hop on over to @surelysimpleblog to participate in the monthly lettering and drawing prompts. To see more of their lettering work, check out this link.

You may also like