I want to be able to hand letter things like they did in the 1960s.
September 17, 2018 11:49 AM   Subscribe

Sort of a long follow up from this question: I would like to learn how to do hand lettering like they did back before computers. My ultimate goal is to make signs or posters that are evocative of the era. Maybe even some amateur sign painting? How do I learn how to do this?

Here are some examples: A, B, C, and the reason that I'm asking about it now is having watched the title signs from this video.
Is calligraphy the place to start? I am looking for books or online tutorials that offer assignments to work on or things to practice to build these skills. I know practice is important but what would that look like? I also need something that talks about the tools used. What pens should I use? Brushes? Something else?

I am not interested in most of the modern, contemporary hand lettering stuff - particularly the current brush scripts that are so popular. I am starting with minimal artistic skill and mediocre penmanship, but a strong sense of a particular aesthetic.

Thanks!
posted by kendrak to Media & Arts (11 answers total) 31 users marked this as a favorite
 
There are books with guides to drawing a given style (think: like a font), plus it's an actual skill they teach in art school, depending if you want to go pro.

I knew a young woman in England who was pursuing a degree in (IIRC) illustration and lettering. She produced lovely things for projects, like letters formed from flowers, all in watercolors.

I believe that the practice involves learning the letter forms for a given style until you can do them without a guide, and then another style, and another one, and finally starting to synthesize your own. But mostly copying the letters, I'm afraid.

If you have a style you want to create, have you drawn out all the characters (like a font designer does), and then cranked out few pages for practice? Tracing paper will be handy, laid over a "master" page.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:57 AM on September 17, 2018


Best answer: My father used to do sign painting for a living in the 60s-80s before vinyl signs, etc., made it unworkable. I remember this book fondly. Their more recent books may be a little more affordable if you're just looking for brush/lettering instruction.

My father used brushes, and 1 Shot paint. They even have a How To page.

Note, he could do a lot freehand, but mostly used "pounce patterns" - draw out what you want on a large sheet of paper and go over it with a pounce wheel to put holes in the paper along the lines you want as outlines. Sand gently on the other side & then tape up on the surface you want to paint, dust lightly with chalk dust & then use the chalk outlines to paint.
posted by jzb at 12:00 PM on September 17, 2018 [9 favorites]


Sort of tangential but you may enjoy looking into Leroy lettering kits (available on eBay for $30-40)— that’s one way a lot of stuff was done before computers but not free hand.
posted by SaltySalticid at 12:08 PM on September 17, 2018 [1 favorite]


I remember this book fondly.

Me, too!

Read the section on lettering "sho-cards."
posted by jgirl at 12:53 PM on September 17, 2018 [1 favorite]


Best answer: The Internet Archive is a great resource for this:

Lettering

Sho-Cards
posted by Altomentis at 1:32 PM on September 17, 2018 [4 favorites]


@Altomentis Very nice. Thank you.
posted by jzb at 1:39 PM on September 17, 2018


Internet Archive: Sign Painting Course
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:31 AM on September 18, 2018


In contrast to the professional methods described above, amateurs used stencils. Because most amateurs didn't know, or didn't care, that you were supposed to connect the parts of the letters after tracing, the output often had characteristically disconnected letters and shown here.

I'm sure some pros used stencils when all that was required was a word or two in plain text.
posted by SemiSalt at 6:31 AM on September 18, 2018


Best answer: Seeing in your profile that you're in California...
• There's a Sign Graphics program at Los Angeles Trade Tech.
• Keep an eye on Type@Cooper West, (an offshoot of a type design program at The Cooper Union in NYC,) which offers public workshops like this past one in beginning sign painting.
• Sign up to be notified when SF General Assembly next offers its “Sign Painting Perspectives” class. (Click “Follow” on the bottom-right.)

And in location-agnostic resources...
• Check out SIGN PAINTERS the film and accompanying book by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon.
• Seek out and watch every video you can featuring lettering master (and likable traditionalist crank) John Downer.
• Peruse this list of resources from UK-based signmakers & educators Better Letter Co.
• Look at lettering artist Jessica Hische's “Helpful Things” page — specifically the “Lettering” column under “Compatriots,” for a list of contemporary lettering artists to investigate.

And in general, start actively looking for examples of lettering in the world that speak to you. Analyze how letters are constructed and how they fit together. Try to imitate what you're seeing, and create your own variations. Keep a sketchbook and a running list of phrases, so you don't get stuck starting at a blank sheet of paper wondering what to letter. — (For example, I like to use TV quotes.)

Have fun! ✏️🖌🔤
posted by D.Billy at 7:54 AM on September 18, 2018 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Whoa! Thanks everybody!

These are a lot of great resources. I don't know if I'm ready to sign painting yet, but if I were to get a sketchbook should I use brush pens? Pencils? I currently use nib Microns (03) for most things.
posted by kendrak at 9:46 AM on September 18, 2018


Whatever you enjoy drawing with is what you should use!

But if you're interested in personal recommendations, I've talked about my favorite gear in other answers...
Analog drawing / lettering:
Alvin Draft/Matic mechanical pencils + these pens.
Digital drawing / lettering:
• iPad Pro w/ Apple pencil and Procreate app + these accessories.
posted by D.Billy at 10:44 AM on September 18, 2018


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