Mastering Script Lettering

2.1 Breaking Things Down

Okay, so now we're ready to begin the formal script lettering. In this chapter, we're gonna be breaking things down into essentially five separate shapes. Each of these shapes will comprise every single letter form within our alphabet. So we have our diagonal stem, almost like a lowercase l stroke, the second half to an n, as well as the j stroke, which is essentially just a j without the dot on the i. And then lastly, we have an oval. So these five shapes will be utilized. For example, if you wanted to create the letter A, you would combine an oval with half of an L stroke. Or if you wanted to create the letter H, for example, you would use one diagonal stem and one endstroke. So you can really break things down within our alphabet, and really understand which shapes are creating which letter form. All right, so now that you understand which shapes make up each letter form, we're gonna actually begin drawing these forms. And what I think might be best, is to pick a word that utilizes all of these five shapes, as well as, possibly, the letter S or the letter Z, because the S and the Z are very unique characters, and they are almost the oddballs out. They are drawn a bit differently and require a little bit of a different process to develop, without using these five separate shapes. So, think of a word. Maybe it's the word design, typography, flourish, any word that utilizes these five shapes, as well as an s or a z, because that way you'll gain the understanding of how these letter forms are developed. So, pick a word and we will utilize that word throughout the rest of this chapter.