Today Will be a Good Day: Illustration

Hello Friday!

 

Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend? I hope to go to the park and sketch in the sunshine for a while. I started out the day with a delicious iced coffee (with whipped cream and sprinkles, of course) AND an illustration.

Today will be a good day, indeed.

 

This typographic  illustration was hand lettered with pen and ink. I used Copic Markers, Prismacolors, gold Sharpie, and chalk markers.

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Typography Illustration: Do Your Best

Hand-Lettering is a BIIIG part of my life. It seems like every day I have a new lettering project that I am working on. Some projects are client-driven, while others are ones that I take on myself. This illustration was an exercise in not only doing the work, but documenting it and photographing the steps.

I chose the phrase “do your best” for this illustration because I want to encourage others to strive to do the best they can do with their art.

I wanted to show my followers on Instagram the steps I take in completing the inking of a typographic piece. I always start with a pencil sketch. I generally use mechanical pencils for their precise line and easy erasing.

Once the lines are finalized, I go over them with ink. I use a variety of pen sizes and types.

Start to finish: counter-clockwise from top left.

I wait a short while for the ink to dry and then use a soft, white eraser to erase the pencil lines. This is sometimes the hardest part! Be careful to let the ink dry, though, as it can smear and ruin your drawing!

I added stippling after adding the bold ink outline.

After the ink has dried, you can add other embellishments like hatching, cross hatching, or stippling to add contrast. I think I will color this piece, but I will leave that for another time!

 

Chalkboard A-Frame Artwork: Anniversary

One of the most fun parts of my job is that I get to create hand-painted signs using chalk, paint, and other traditional materials. I think that classic look A-FRAME signs are on of my favorite things to make.

 

They are a fun, quick(ish), easy(ish) way to let customers know about events and activities. This A-Frame was created to celebrate our anniversary party.

Come celebrate with us!

The A-Frames we use measure 2 x 3 feet. They are sturdy, durable, and reusable. I generally use mostly white chalk and white chalk pens to do the lettering and, depending on the board, add additional colors to highlight aspects of the design.