Lettering: playbill

Lettering: Playbill

The definition of playbill is "...basically for your 'old-timey' style and includes Western and circus-style lettering" (McDevitt, 40). In other words, playbill is simply a form of illustrative lettering, commonly seen with bright, eye-catching colors (red, orange, yellow,etc.). Typically, you would find playbill being used for advertisements in places like carnivals, circuses, etc. (example from the book below).

Playbill, for some reason, was really hard for me to get right. I've never been more frustrated and had so many drafts before. I kept changing the details of the words so that it would match playbill's style, but I just couldn't achieve the look I was going for. After an afternoon of overwhelming myself, I decided to look through Mary Kate's book to see if there were any techniques I could use to help me. There was one in particular that completely changed the way I designed my artwork: "Use hierarchy to emphasize the important words....Play with different styles for the serifs: they are often exaggerated, so don't be timid" (42). 

After reading that quote, I slightly changed the first word to match playbill's distinctive look, which consists of matching different styles, such as sans serif, script, and serif (40). I added a banner to "of the" so it would add more of a carnival look. Hierarchy is when you stack certain words on top of each other which allows you to work more and use more lettering styles. I used this technique by putting "Best" on the top and bottom with "of the" in the middle. About 6 tries later, I finally got the look right. 

I was really pleased with the finished work, but after completing it, I realized how easy it was for me to get worked up about how my art looks. I've never been so overwhelmed with lettering because drawing words is always so stress-free for me. At what point do you think you start to get frustrated with yourself when you're learning something new? How do you allow yourself to be less stressed?

Citation - McDevitt, Mary Kate. Hand-Lettering Ledger. Chronicle Books, 2014.

Lettering: illustration vs. representational

Lettering: Illustration and lettering vs. Representational

Hand-lettering can be easily distinguished from any other form of lettering art. For example, calligraphy is created with alternating strokes, while lettering is more visually engaging with different colors. However, there are different variations of lettering. The two that are confused most often is illustration and representational.

McDevitt says "...illustration incorporated with lettering is a fun way to add interest to the composition and not rely as heavily on the tone of the lettering (though it is still important)" (McDevitt, 52). She also defined representational as "...a style that takes on the look of an object to create lettering. For example: ribbon, flowers, rope, twigs, pretzels" (56).

Below, I've inserted examples of both from the book:

Illustration
(notice most pictures are not related to the phrase)

Representational
(pictures correspond with the phrases, like salad and zap)

I decided to use representational lettering to draw the phrase "No use crying over spilled milk".

What do you think is your favorite quote? Why is it important to you?

Citation - McDevitt, Mary Kate. Hand-Lettering Ledger. Chronicle Books, 2014.

Lettering: intro and serif

Lettering: Intro and Serif

Ever since I could write, I remember doodling words over and over in empty spaces of worksheets and margins of textbooks. Every school project I had, I made the titles and subtitles bright and colorful. Every card I made, the front cover was extravagant and fancy. I loved the fact that I could take any letter and draw it any way I can think of. I loved that there were so many styles that give words different feels and personalities. So, I decided to improved my techniques in hand lettering by reading Hand-Lettering Ledger: A Practical Guide To Creating Serif, Script, Illustrated, Ornate, and Other Totally Original Hand-Drawn Styles by Mary Kate McDevitt.

What is Hand-Lettering?

The author defined hand-lettering simply as "...the art of drawing letters". McDevitt says that lettering takes communication and changes it into a signifying, expressive form of art (McDevitt, 10). It can be used on various projects to customize hundred and hundreds of phrases. People often confuse lettering with typography or calligraphy and use all three interchangeably. Typography is the technique of arranging type to be legible and appealing, mostly used for press. Calligraphy is visual art relating to the design of lettering that is written smooth strokes (10). There are so many different styles of hand-lettering for different projects, cards, letters, etc. It allows you to be imaginative and free with your phrases.

What is Serif?

For my first post, I decided to go with an easier style: serif. McDevitt defines serif as "a small line, flourish, or embellishment trailing from the main stroke of a letter" (20). Serif can be drawn in a modern or old style, triangular, or transition.

What is your favorite way to express art and why?

Citation - McDevitt, Mary Kate. Hand-Lettering Ledger. Chronicle Books, 2014.