Thanks to Plaid Crafts for sponsoring today’s post; all opinions are honestly my own.
Friends, I have something exciting to share with you today! My friends at Plaid Crafts have just released a new product line that’s designed for those of us who love to hand letter!
FolkArt Brush Lettering Paint and Paintbrushes are made to help you create beautiful lettered signs, crafts, and home decor projects. The brushes come in three sizes, and there are five colors of paints to choose from: Ebony, Pure White, Espresso, Titanium Sliver, and Gilded Gold. So how do you use them?
If you’re new to lettering, let’s start with the basics. Brush Lettering is a particular style that combines both thick and thin lines within each letter. Brush script is the most popular of all hand lettered fonts, and it requires both a special technique and special tools to achieve {unless you start out with Faux Calligraphy, which will allow you to create a similar look before you master the technique}. When you decide to tackle Brush Lettering, remember that it’s going to take time, practice, and patience. Don’t give up, and don’t expect perfection right away; let yourself relax and enjoy learning something new. Let’s get started!
You’ll need:
FolkArt Brush Lettering Brush Set
Bristol Board or Hot Press Watercolor Paper
Remember how there are both thick and thin lines within brush lettering? That means there are two kinds of strokes you’ll need to learn how to create with your brush by controlling the angle and the amount of pressure you apply. The first is called a downstroke, and it’s the kind of line you’ll create any time your brush is moving down towards you while you write. This kind of stroke is dark and thick, so to create it, you’ll want to press down on your brush while pulling the brush toward yourself. Typically, I hold my brush at about a 45 degree angle to my paper when creating a downstroke. Try creating a series of these thick strokes on a piece of bristol board or hot press watercolor paper. We need to use a specialty paper because “regular” paper will warp when the wet paint is applied.
The second type of stroke is called an upstroke. It’s thinner than a downstroke and is what you’ll use any time your brush is moving away from you in either a vertical or a horizontal direction. I usually hold my brush at more of a 90 degree angle when making upstrokes. The other important thing is to apply minimal pressure. Keep a very light touch, just allowing the tip of your brush to skim the paper as it moves. Practice creating a series of those on your paper too.
Now, try alternating the types of strokes. I can’t emphasize enough that practice makes progress. Just like when you work with markers, the more you repeat drills like these, the more the technique will start to become muscle memory. Fill a whole page or two with these strokes to get a feel for them.
Once you’re feeling comfortable alternating downstrokes and upstrokes, try doing the same thing, but without picking up your brush in between. This will create a squiggle.
All of these drills will help you prepare to form letters. Start by practicing simple ones, like “t” and “i,” then move to the ones with more curves. It’s not something you’ll master in a day; remember, it takes time, patience, and practice, but in the end, you’ll be able to use your brushes and paint to create works of art on canvas and other surfaces like this faux chalkboard. Personally, I found that using the brushes on a painted canvas is easier than using them on paper, so be sure to give that a try. You can also use the brushes to paint your favorite lettering embellishments, like these flowers around the sides of my sign!
The FolkArt Brush Lettering Paints dry to a permanent satin finish. They’ll be dry to the touch in about an hour, and cured to the surface in 48 hours. It’s recommended that you seal your project with a clear acrylic sealer to protect your lettering and prevent the metallic colors from tarnishing. Because the paints contain xylene, you’ll need to use paint thinner, mineral spirits, or nail polish remover to clean your brushes. These paints are not dishwasher safe, and are intended for indoor projects only.
Watch this video for a full tutorial on using the brushes and learning the technique! There was a major echo at first, and then the sound drops off for a bit, but by the 2 minute mark, it sounds good.
To try these paints and brushes for yourself, visit PlaidOnline.com. Happy lettering!
Fathinah adzkia says
Motivation..
Creatifed..