I draw on scrap paper (used copy paper from the office) more than I do on sketchbooks. It’s less stressful because you don’t have to worry about “ruining the pages”. In fact, the opposite is true. When you draw/letter on scrap paper you’re embellishing something that was considered waste and oftentimes it is saved instead of being tossed out.
So get your lettering practice on and pretty up some paper, no matter how tiny the piece might be. Note: This is one of my favorite pens. I bought mine at Michael's but you it's also available on Amazon. Here's my affiliate link, for your convenience: Kuretake ZIG Writer
0 Comments
Just a little lettering inspiration for those who have purchased my calendar templates. Don’t forget to tag me @PaisleyInParis on Instagram so I can see the pretty lettering artwork your calendar! If you’re in need of a calendar you can customize to your needs, click on the button below. Buy these templates once, print as many as you need and stay organized for years to come.
Flourishing are the fancy swirls that you add to letters to glam them up. While mastering this technique takes LOTS of practice, we can break the process into different steps to help you become a pro one step at a time. LETTERING TIP The best way to achieve smooth flourishing lines is to draw them quickly. The slower you draw the more “jumpy” your curves will look. And don’t forget that it takes a few minutes to warp up your hand and lots of hours of practice under your belt for this art form to feel natural to you. Do not feel discouraged if you don’t like what you see at first. It gets better, I promise! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and mention me in your caption so I can see your work. I still have a lot to learn, so let’s share our work and encourage one another. You can also sign up for my newsletter to receive occasional lettering tips and product updates directly to your email inbox. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that colorful digital lettering is my jam. What you might not realize is that I’m actually a pen hoarder too and once in a while I like to dig into my stash and reach for my favorite pens to break the routine, create something some fun and horrible. Yes, I said horrible. It’s like when you exercise regularly by running miles and miles a day. It’s not easy to go into the gym and lift some heavy weights all of a sudden. Your body is not used to it. Same with lettering. Once you start creating great artwork with the tools you’ve mastered (in my case, the iPad Pro), it’s almost like starting all over again when you try new pens. As you can see in this video, when it comes to real brush lettering, I totally suck at it – ha! In this video, I used the Pentel Brush Pen which allows me to create these raw, crazy-looking strokes. I love it! And boy do I see room for improvement, but that’s where the fun comes in. The fun doesn’t come from mastery, it comes from the journey to mastery. I purchased my pen on Amazon so I’ve included my affiliate link for your convenience. However, I have also found similar pens at Michael’s so you can always check there if you’re out and about. Now tell me in the comments below, what are some of your favorite lettering tools? Just sharing a few lettering tips to help you get started with my new 2019 Calendar Template & Planner Set. The printable set includes three PDF files with:
As an artist I always enjoy seeing other people’s creative process. If you’re like me, check out this postcard I drew for my sister’s new pup welcoming him into the family. It will be sent on behalf of my own dog, Paisley. ❤️ Below is the video I posted on Facebook sharing my creative process. Hope it inspires you to pick up a pen and draw.
I did my first pop-up of the season this weekend in beautiful downtown Palm Springs hosted by Interstellar Comic Books & Gifts. In the last year, I’ve only done a total of three pop ups and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each and every single one of them because of the connections and friendships I’ve made. The first two times I participated in an event I was selling Lipsense and while I’m still a Lipsense distributor, I put that on the back burner to focus on the stuff that makes my heart sing; creating unique, colorful hand lettered gifts and greeting cards featuring puns and feel-good phrases in English, Spanish AND Spanglish. Below is a short compilation of my Instagram stories that I shared the night before the event as I practiced setting up my display. Let me know what you think! Aside from doing pop ups around town, I’ve also decided to host hand lettering workshops in my home and in the homes or business locations of friends and family. So, if you’re in the Coachella Valley and you’re interested in hosting a lettering workshop or pop-up shop, please send me a note! I’d love the opportunity to co-create an event that is fun for all. Just sharing a mini doodle demo to ensure you have lots of friendly ghosts greeting you this Halloween. 🎃 Have lots of fun and be safe today! For more drawing and lettering tips, watch my Instagram stories at @PaisleyInParis
Halloween always inspires me, in so many ways. There’s LOTS of cute artwork out there already, but you know what? No one can do it the way YOU can.
Inspiration behind the illustration Take this piece for instance. Sugar skulls have become more and more popular in recent years as America has embraced the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 2nd. I began by looking at a list of prompts for something to draw and was inspired by the word “skull”. I started by drawing the frame and thought I’d draw a framed "photo" of a skull. Then I asked myself "what would a fancy guy wear for a picture?” then “school pictures” came to mind which automatically made me think of cool high school kids. A few minutes prior to drawing, I had been browsing Instagram and came across a video clip of Post Malone wearing a grill on his teeth. Haha! I thought “Hey, Malone is young(ish), popular and cool. Let’s give this little guy a gold grill too for his (and then it popped in my head) SKULL PICTURES” - gasp! I felt so clever, ‘cause you know what? I love puns! I felt the vibe of inspiration run through me and began to draw happily ever after. What makes your artwork unique My point is, that it’s these personal experiences that add a touch of uniqueness to your artwork and creativity. Next time you’re doubting your ability to reinvent the wheel, think again. You CAN do it and you can totally infuse your style into it as long as you tap into your experience and let the thoughts flow. So, just curious now... what would you wear on picture day in the afterlife? Leave a comment below to let me know. As for me, I’d wear my LipSense for sure; probably draw flowers on my head with it ‘cause I’d have no lips, but that’s ok. Whatever makes a girl feel pretty, right? ? If you enjoyed this post and would like to receive occasional emails with inspiration, lettering / illustration tips and tutorials, please subscribe to my newsletter. |
Hi - I'm Dio!Graphic Designer & Spanglish Lettering Artist Topics
All
My Shops*Affiliate LinksI am often asked what tools I use to create my work, so I’ve incorporated Amazon affiliate links in my posts to products I like, use and recommend. This means that if you click and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission paid for by Amazon, not the customer.
Please note that anything marked with an asterisk (*) indicates an affiliate link. Resources*List of products I use & trust:
E-Courses |