What is Hand Lettering?

Many people compare hand lettering to calligraphy. However, there are important distinctions between the two. Calligraphy is a form of handwriting where letters are formed in a deliberate and rhythmic fashion using a nib pen. Hand lettering is a form of drawing to create decorative letters. 

The art of hand lettering allows for more freedom in the interpretation of letters and fonts, and you can use just about any kind of pen to create the the text, including brush pens, markers, and even ballpoint pens. Hand lettering has become especially popular in recent years. You may have seen beautiful examples of hand lettering in weddings where it’s used to decorate menu cards and invitations, or on social media feeds where it seems like the pros can write just about any word flawlessly and effortlessly.

Hand lettering may seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually easy to learn! To help you get started, we created this hand lettering tutorial along with an instructional video that includes basic tips.