Hand-Lettering Workshop: Illustrating with Lettering

Create a hand-lettered illustration inspired by your favorite animal.

ASSIGNMENT

Your assignment is to incorporate illustration into your hand-lettering resulting in a piece inspired by your favorite animal. By going through this process you’ll learn how to develop a concept that pushes your illustration and lettering style forward.

Get started by choosing an illustration approach:

• illustrations alongside typography
• letters taking the form of objects
• subtle motifs throughout letterforms

Next, you’ll take your illustration approach and focus in on an overall concept for your piece. You can:

• letter the name of your animal
• letter a quote about your animal
• letter a drop cap (such as the first initial of your animal)

DELIVERABLE

Post your progress in the project gallery to get feedback from fellow students. A final project includes:

• animal of your choice (name/images)
• brainstorm images
• reference material
• thumbnail concepts
• revised final sketches
• final vectorized and colored design (optional)

Be sure to post each image as you complete it, sharing your progress and getting valuable feedback as you move ahead with your project.

RESOURCES

• Find inspiration for picking an animal on Dribbble and Pinterest.

• Check out Mary Kate's first three classes to explore in-depth the full lettering process – The First Steps of Hand Lettering, The Final Steps of Hand-Lettering and Vintage Hand-Lettering: Styling Phrases for Timeless Appeal.