with Nicole Miyuki
Nicole is a modern lettering artist with a signature style in brush lettering. She resides in California and recently published two books By Hand and The Kids Book of Hand Lettering to introduce others to the joy of lettering. Follow along with this free series below any time!
Download all the practice sheets you'll need here, or download them as you go below!
Part 1
Myths about Lettering
3 Myths about Lettering
In Part 1, we'll discuss 3 myths about lettering that we have a feeling you are already thinking about.
- I have bad handwriting!
- Cursive is the same as hand lettering
- Lettering is just one kind of technique
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Part 2
Tools and Materials
Tools and Materials
In Part 2, we go over the tools and materials for learning lettering. We will cover:
- Brush pens
- Soft tip vs. hard tip
- Lettering brushes
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Part 3
Thin on the Up, Thick on the Down
Thin on the Up, Thick on the Down
In Part 3, we show you how to achieve both thin and thick lines when creating your lettering.
- Why do we get thin on the up and thick on the down?
- How does pressure work with brush pens?
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Part 4
Foundation Strokes
Foundation Strokes
In Part 4, we break down the foundation strokes of lettering.
- Start with basic lettering strokes to get comfy!
- Practice "thin on the up, thick on the down"
- Play with pressure
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Part 5
ABC's
3 Myths about Lettering
In Part 5, Nicole Miyuki will teach the capital and lowercase ABC’s, so you can practice on your own!
- Explore the whole alphabet together
- Practice "thin on the up, thick on the down"
- Play with pressure
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Part 6
Tips and Tricks
Tips and Tricks
In part 6, we share some tips & tricks to help you on our own lettering journey.
- How angling your paper can make your approach easier
- Tips for all our lefties out there!
- Experiment with your grip
- Letter approaches
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Part 7
Watercolor Lettering
Watercolor Lettering
In Part 7, we go through the Foundation Strokes using watercolors and a new tool, the Round 0 Brush.
- How brushes add a new world of lettering options
- How to use liquid watercolor paints
- Experiment with your grip
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Part 8
Angled Lettering
Angled Lettering
In Part 8, we breakdown some tips to create angled lettering. I'll be using the Aquash Brush!
- Learn how to angle your lettering for a new style
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Part 9
Aquash Brush
Aquash Brush
In Part 9, Nicole demonstrates why and how she uses the Aquash Brush for lettering.
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Part 10
Faux Calligraphy
Faux Calligraphy
Nicole Miyuki demonstrates what Faux Calligraphy is and how you can use this technique to create lettering with any tool! This is perfect for those just getting started with lettering.
- Use faux calligraphy with cursive OR block lettering
- No brush pen needed!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. IS THERE A SUBSCRIPTION BOX LIKE THE WATERCOLOR MONTHLY BOX?
A. Once upon a time there was! Nicole is now focused on Kids Art, but you can still explore past boxes here.
Q. I AM LEFT HANDED, CAN I STILL DO THIS?
A. Yes YOU can. If you are worried about smudging, the Tombow Dual Brush Pens we’re learning with will be perfect for you. Another tip is to rotate your paper to the right or even at a landscape position to the table. Experiment and try it out. Remember you are learning something new so it may not feel “right” the first time. Watch Part 6: Tips & Tricks to see this in action.
Q. I HAVE HORRIBLE HANDWRITING? IS THERE HOPE FOR ME?
A. There is hope! Watch the 3 Myths About Lettering Video and your concern will be answered there.
Q. CAN MY CHILD DO THIS?
A. Yes, we believe art is for any age! In addition, Nicole has a book perfect for kids ages 7-12 called The Kids’ Book of Hand Lettering.
Q. I HAVE DIFFERENT SUPPLIES, CAN I STILL DO THIS?
A. Most definitely! The beauty of lettering is that you CAN do it with any tools, even the pen in your desk right now. There are different tools that we share, but at the end of the day we want you to letter and join along, rather than get stuck on having the same tools.
Q. CAN I DO THIS WITH THE BRUSH I USE WITH MY WATERCOLOR BOX?
A. Yes you can! Watch Part 2: Tool & Materials to see Nicole demonstrating with a watercolor brush. Just know that the bigger the brush, the bigger the letters will be. We suggest size 0 or 2/0 if you are just started out.
Q. ARE YOU GOING TO BE TEACHING POINTED-PEN CALLIGRAPHY?
A. For now, our lessons are focused on modern lettering with brush pens and brushes. However, you can definitely follow along with a pointed-pen calligraphy nib if you prefer that! All is welcomed.
Q. WHERE CAN I FIND THE TUTORIAL VIDEO LINKS?
A. All of our videos are posted to the Let’s Make Art YouTube and Facebook pages. And yes they are free!
Q. WHAT ARE THE BOOKS ABOUT?
A. Our teacher Nicole Miyuki has two lettering books that are not required in order to follow along with the videos. By Hand: The Art of Modern Lettering is a great addition for learning the art of modern lettering. The Kids’ Book of Hand Lettering is primarily geared towards kids ages 7-12, but whether you have a creative little one or you’re not sure if you are ready to dive in, the kids' book would be fun for both!
Have another question? Check out our full FAQ page or email our team at hello@letsmakeart.com.