Exercised by Lettering

Check out her website for inspiration and challenges!

The latest Street Crusade, by Michelle Ward, is to play with lettering on our journal pages.  Mostly....get some!  A lot of us don't do much writing in our art journals, so  this is a chance to try some. It could be in any form.  Here are a few pages with lettering I have tried.  I am not consistent!

Background:  Watercolor wash.  Lettering:  rubberstamped and scratched lettering with a skewer dipped in India ink, smearing some. For interest, I like mixing the lettering forms (i.e.stamps + handwriting).   Used oil pastels and watercolor to add in some additional color. 

  This was one of those pages on which I wanted to vent, but not be very readable at first glance.  Background:   matte medium transfer.  Lettering:  with Pitt pen, I wrote over the whole thing horizontally, rotated the page and rewrote over top the first layer, forming  a grid.

  Background:  Layered paint and photo. Lettering:   I made a computer generated library card  list, then used that list to write some more additional thoughts in a scratchy print (Pitt pen)...changing up direction of writing segments.  Also doodled a title "Top 10" to make more interest.

  Background:  DTP distressed ink pad rubbed around, newspaper and picture embellisments added. Lettering:  'Wallflower' was done in 2 tone markers then pen outlined, 'Swashbuckler' was a doodle that I embellished as I went (Pitt pen).   This page was a play on those GE ads in magazines where two unlikely people paired up then created the kitchen that suited them both!  I think they are great adverts.

  "Creative Mind' wording is done on black cardstock, with a calligraphy nib/pen and gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous Pearlescent Ink. Scribbles are bleach pen and metallic marker.  I am not a calligraphy expert in any way.  I have learned a bit of Italic, but for the most part, this is just slanted handwriting and  flowing scribbles in different colors.   This sheet has been folded in half and is now a cover for a few sheets bound into it.

  Background stages:  layers of torn text, glued on with matte medium, brushed over with gesso.  Made random marks with texture  and a few  light watercolors. It is actually a much ‘whiter’ look than this picture indicates.   Birds cut from various 'texts' and glued on.  Lettering:   I just doodled to fill up space. (Black Pitt pen or Sharpie fine point).  Also rubberstamped a quote with Staz On Ink (waterproof). Filled the curl of the ribbon,  with some journaling.  Wrote down the bars doodle at the far right, with pencil.

 

   AFTER:   I applied watercolor to the drawn doodles, with my Niji waterbrush pen (love this!)  Also used graphite pencil, fine white Sharpie paint marker, and some typed words glued to birds.  I counted 8 different types of lettering on this page.

Now that I have your attention:  What kind of white pen do you prefer, and why? (I am having issues!)

.....until later.

Comments

[michelle ward]

Melissa - congrats ont he blog! Looks great! Thanks for sharing with the team all these great pages with the variety of writing. So much to see, and lots to be inspired by. (way better than visiting you on flickr!!)

[Deb]

This has come a long way since the coffee shop! Looks great!

[Regina]

You have given me lots to think about here. I really like the way you expressed the Scripture.
And your pearlescent lettering is GORGEOUS.

[pamela]

HI melissa... love your new blog and
these journal pages are really
Great!!!
xox
pam

[Marilyn Rock]

Melissa! Love your lettering expressions; fantastic with your journal pages. That's one thing I have not tried is lettering as I always stop in my tracks. My handwriting is really terrible and I just cannot get to use it in my art. Stencils and stamps save me most of time :) Have a great weekend ahead! Best - Marilyn

[Carrie]

I love your mix of different kinds of lettering in one piece! And writing with a skewer dipped in ink, that's so clever, and I love the finished look. Your layered handwriting looks awesome, that would make a great background rather than foreground, too. And I love your little birds cut out of book pages! Very inspiring, thank you for sharing :)

[jennifer lorton]

I really like the bird shapes filled with lettering, it creates a visually strong look with a soft romatic feeling, very nice.
Jennifer
http://blog.jenniferlorton.com

[Julie]

Ok..stop the press...I LOVE ALL OF THESE! And your writing...mama mia! Thanks for sharing what implement you chose for each style...I have total page envy!

[Marlynn]

Julie - love your venting page - never crossed my mind to do something like that. I too love ALL the pages. BrAVo! M

[Marlynn]

Sorry Melissa! DOn't know why I called you Julie - yes, I do, I was reading Julie's name above. SORRY - OK - I too have page envy like Julie said. LOL. M

[Cecile]

I love the criss-cross page, where you rotate the page after writing over it. Great idea ! I need to give a try, thanks for sharing

[Penny]

Oh my goodness, your layouts are gorgeous. I absolutely love your use of letters, words, phrases, etc. I love the simple use of lettering in your: Jer. 32:17 layout-it's gorgeous! You have a wonderful knack for writing in your journal.

[Cath]

My goodness, I am amazed by the range of writing you have used. Esp love the script on black - fabulous. White pens? I think *the* one to own is a Sakura Gel pen.

[Linda Richter]

Love those birds!!!!!!

[Kathryn - Collage Diva]

What a wonderful selection and variety. I love all of your handwriting styles.

[eb]

wonderful!
such a treat...

xox - eb.

ps - would love to see your work in larger format

[Ingrid Dijkers]

What a great diversity in lettering styles! I love them all!
Best-
Ingrid