3 Things I Wish I Did When I First Started Brush Lettering

* Please note: this post contain affiliate links. Amanda Kammarada is an affiliate for Amazon and TombowUSA. *

Learning something new is an exciting time. So much so that sometimes you may just jump in and rush without building a foundation that will allow you to be successful. Brush Lettering is a skill that does require you to learn some guidelines and rules first. When I first started brush lettering, I just jumped right in. Looking back, I wished that I had started a bit slower and learned some key things first.

Here are three things I wish I did when I first started brush lettering

Started with a small-tipped brush pen

There are a lot of brush pens out there- different brands as well as different sizes. At first, it can be tricky (and a bit overwhelming) to decide which pen to use. I started with a large-tipped brush pen. Looking back, I wish I would have started with a small-tipped one.

Why? Well, there are many differences between a small and large-tipped brush pen. First, the tip size. The size of the tip will determine the thickness of the stroke. If you want to letter on a small space (like in a planner or on an envelope), use a small-tipped pen. For a larger space, use a large-tipped pen. The length of the barrel is also different. A large-tipped brush pen has a long barrel which can be tricky to hold if you’re new to using one. My main reason why beginners should start with a small tip? A small tip gives you better control. Control is so important when you’re just starting out and learning the basics. A small tip allows you to get a good feel for the amount of pressure you need to apply to create upstrokes & downstrokes.

I recommend starting with the Tombow Fudenosuke. This pen is available in a hard or soft tip (2-pack). I love the soft tip for beginners because of the flexibility of the tip. I encourage you to try both though so you can find out which one feels best to you.

You’ll hear me say over and over again that you have to start with the basics to build a strong foundation. Stating with a small-tip will allow you to be successful with your basic strokes and save you some frustration that starting with a large-tip can bring.

Started with a workbook and with the basic strokes

My lettering journey started off with me writing a word in cursive and then using the faux calligraphy technique to make the words look like they were written with a brush pen. Faux calligraphy is when you use a fine-point pen to draw and fill in the downstrokes. Don’t get me wrong, faux calligraphy is a great way to start to get to know where the downstrokes are and gives you a chance to get to know letters if you don’t have a brush pen, but then I jumped right from that to lettering words with a brush pens and I became easily frustrated because I didn’t know the basics. LEARN YOUR BASIC STROKES. Each letter is created using a combination of eight basic strokes. Think of them as puzzle pieces. The basic strokes are the building blocks for every letter in the alphabet.

Practice the basic strokes to build muscle memory and confidence. Learn these strokes by using a workbook with practice pages. There are many great Brush Lettering books out there, including mine. The Hand Lettering Workbook includes practice pages for the basic strokes and three different brush lettering style alphabets, in upper and lowercase. Along with how to put those letters together to make words. Practice makes progress. Practice a little each day and I promise you’ll see improvement. Building a strong foundation will give you the chance to get comfortable with letters and truly build your confidence.

Don’t compare your lettering to others

Comparing ourselves to others is only natural and very normal. We do it in so many aspects of our life, not just our lettering. You’ll never completely stop comparing yourself to others but it’s important to remember that you can’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle, or even someone else’s beginning.

When you’re just starting out, your lettering will be clumsy. It won’t have the same flow and ease of someone who is an experienced letterer. And that’s okay! Beginnings are often messy. Remind yourself that you are just learning. And you’re learning a skill that takes time and practice. It doesn’t happen overnight. I do recommend looking at other artists’ lettering for inspiration, it can help you improve, but work hard on developing your own style. That’s what makes hand lettering special- each person brings their own unique style because it’s done by hand. Remind yourself of that often. Learn to embrace what you create.

I hope these tips will help you on your lettering journey. Always remember that practice makes progress. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

Lettering is magic,

Amanda