Hand Lettering Tutorial for Beginners | No Brush Pen? No Problem!

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Hey guys! So as some of you may have noticed, over the past month or so I have been posting a lot of lettering work to my Instagram page, and the style which I have been posting is significantly different to the usual stuff that I post. The reason behind this is, I havn't been using a brush pen. Now, Ill be the first to admit that everything hand lettering related with me always revolved around a brush pen, and as soon as someone mentioned hand lettering, the first thing that would come to mind is "BRUSH PEN. However, I recently tried to achieve some different styles (like the style in this video) with a brush pen, and of course found it quite difficult since you cannot do this in one stroke, so I started sketching out the letterforms from scratch using just a biro to create a rough piece which I would later refine in pencil. The results I started to achieve were very pleasing to say the least, so I decided to stick with it for a while and see what I could create once I was more familiar with the process and letterforms. Around month later, and here I am, very happy with how this has turned out.
I know it's not just me that jumps straight on a brush pen for any lettering work, so I thought I would share this process with you guys to let you know that you can create any style of lettering you like without a brush pen, it just requires some knowledge of the actual letterform style you're trying to achieve. So, as I mentioned in the video, a good idea would be to create a moodboard, and if you're unfamiliar with a moodboard, simply google it and that should enlighten you. Once you have studied the style you wan't to achieve, start practicing and from there, you will start to improve!
As always, I really hope this tutorial has helped some of you guys, and if you have any suggestions for future tutorials, feel free to drop a comment down below! Thanks!
Songs Used
/ boom-bap
Todd Siesel
/ todd-siesel
/ todd.siesel
/ todd_siesel03
/ toddsiesel03
Intro created by Koencept
/ koencept
Intro Song
• 20syl - Voices feat. R...
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SteBradburyDesign
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[@starwars60]

I'm a photographer and soon to be graduating art school. I love adding my own personal touch when it comes to my work and I've always loved lettering. Im definitely going to keep practicing and use these tips. Thanks so much!

[@jackiw7]

You make it look so easy! I'll try this for sure

[@dannyhetherington2227]

I would like to start learning calligraphy and handlettering - I am a graphic/web designer who has never been much good at illustrating but your videos are where I'm going to start learning. Cheers bud, keep them coming!

[@AtulPrd]

This was amazing, Stephen! Thanks for this tutorial. Needed this :)

[@SteBradburyDesign]

You're welcome, man! Glad this has helped :D

[@LunaElectronikTechno]

Yes, I love drawing letters ♥ I've been doing this since I started hand lettering! I would love to watch new speed arts about you doing this method! ;) THANK YOU!!!

[@AlvalynCreative]

The part about scanning the drawing into Photoshop and then doing the trace from that is a great tip. Thank you.

[@TamaTron]

I'm horrible with brush pens, so I always do it this way. lol

[@angelaem205]

I love the way you work, thanks for a great tutorial!

[@user-cd9rd3si8q]

I really appreciate your videos, thank you!

[@soyun.unicornio]

I simply adore your tutorials! Thank you!

[@kelepondisko]

Yes finally, I really like this style and the tutorial really helps a lot, thank you :)

[@SteBradburyDesign]

Awesome! Im glad this helped you, man!

[@YodaimeHokage164]

the master of the basics :D ! awesome

[@SeanMillerBeasto]

Thank you SO MUCH!

[@NEXC]

yes

[@JohannaLu]

Your intro is flawless! :-)

[@mrzachblk]

Thank you so much for this video I have been wanting to learn how to letter forever this broke it down for me..thanks!🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿

[@fibersgraphics-qualitygrap2869]

Exactly what I needed!

[@sanubari2345]

Brush pens are pretty expensive in my country, this is so useful!

[@kennytieshisshoes]

I've needed this! Thanks!

[@SteBradburyDesign]

Awesome! you're very welcome!

[@PXLGraphics]

Thanks for the tutorial, that style is really awesome :)

[@SteBradburyDesign]

You're very welcome! glad you like it!

[@Akumarpz]

how much do you charge for work?

[@One38]

Looks like you're using the Rotring. My favorite pencil!

[@CuzBuzzify]

i saw your comment on Drama Alert and i was like eh, lets see what this guy has. and damn, i like it.

[@MRCONDE123]

Thank you very much for your videos, you are a real machine jeje

[@kyliebohach5453]

Wow, thanks! Many brush pens these days are pretty expensive. I'm an artist myself, so this was helpful. (:

[@imloir]

Thank you so much!

[@tix987]

LMAO! That title tho! i couldnt read it without that sassy girl style! xD Thank you for this helpful tutorial man!!

[@SteBradburyDesign]

hahahaha I see what you mean 😂 and no problem! glad it helped!

[@AtulPrd]

Hahaha me too 😂

[@Filiku]

That was tight. Thanks for this

[@NancyLynn]

This was incredibly helpful to me Stephen...more in laymen terms...Hah! Would it be possible to give us an example of a mood board for a word type, apologies but I did say "laymen" LOL! You're the best Stephen and TFS!

[@SteBradburyDesign]

Thank you Nancy! and yeah, that is something I should really have included in this video, I don't know how I forgot to do that -_- I will find an example for you :)

[@SteBradburyDesign]

This is a screenshot of my moodboard which I put together when I was making the "Roo Stain" logo which you can see at the start of the video. gyazo.com/545e37a9edd96de13eaeb33866cfdda1 As you can see, the logo I created reflects kind of style you see on my moodboard. I havn't directly copied any of the letterforms, I have simply used this as a reference point so I could get a clear idea of different variations of letters in this style, and I am then able to study what works and what doesn't work, from there, creating my own interpretations of these letters. Finally, you come out with a design which reflects the style you wanted to achieve, but the letterforms are not copied from someone else, you're basically just using them as guidance. Hope that made sense haha! But yeah, im sure you know not to directly copy someones work anyway :)

[@NancyLynn]

You are such an awesome kid Stephen....thanks so much and might I add....very interesting! Again, helped a ton!

[@NancyLynn]

And I forgot to add in my first reply, yes, I am well aware not to copy someone else's work! Not only is it cheating, stealing or whatever you like to refer to it, where would the fun be in that AND how could you possibly be proud of your accomplishments knowing you didn't go through the creative process! As my beautiful Mom used to say (who passed away 20 yrs ago and whom I still miss every single day), "cheaters never prosper"! Cheers Stephen!

[@420vhs7]

Thanks for tutorial! Rly cool

[@SirGabrielBohrer]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, man! :D

[@theknifearts]

really helped me out, is there ever gonna be like a second part?

[@sukilu1964]

great tip man.

[@UmangWaghela]

awesome man..just tell u one thing.. your intro song r royalty free? can i use that song in my intro?

[@vigneshmoorthy6047]

cool tutorial 👌 I hope this video makes more views

[@SteBradburyDesign]

Thank you very much man! :D

[@armenberejiklian4230]

Helpful tutorial, thanks!

[@suhaylpatel9471]

I was doing some homework and just thought about your work when writing 'x' in algebra. Well i thought, What would something like E=mc^2 look like in your style. Please give it a go

[@joeymason6908]

could imagine you at a bank or something and when you have to sign something you whip out a pack of brush pens

[@SteBradburyDesign]

+Joey Mason hahaa this is one of my favourite comments! "Do you need a pen, sir?" "Nah, I got this!" Pulls out a full set of Tombow brush pens hahah

[@joeymason6908]

+Ste Bradbury Design "hold on mate you can't rush art" spends 30+ minutes on his signature

[@SteBradburyDesign]

Joey Mason asking for like a hundred different copies so I can make sure I get it just right hahaha

[@joeymason6908]

+Ste Bradbury Design lemme just pop it in illustrator won't take long now

[@syedreza72]

i really needed this :D

[@laurenrowley2695]

Thank you for this tutorial, Stephen! I want to start using Adobe to help with my hand lettering but can only afford the cheapest plan on the Adobe Creative Cloud which only allows you to choose from one of the programs as opposed to all of them. Would it best to go with Illustrator? Or would I need Photoshop too? (I have never used Adobe software before) I want to use Adobe to fine tune my hand lettering so I can then transfer what I create onto wood or other materials. As of right now, I am doing everything by hand and it is very time consuming. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks again.

[@ccoquet]

Basically... ¡good work!

[@user-tr5zi8nj5h]

A really good tutorial video but may I ask Which fineliner do you use? Thanks

[@victoralifilms]

So the letters need to be leaning the same direction for it to look good?

[@yashlokwani5369]

hey thanxx for this tutorial.... needed this ... can u suggest me some ways to make my handwriting like urs... appreciate it

[@alexplom5958]

No dislike for 15 mins is still a record :D

[@SteBradburyDesign]

haha yeah we'll see how long that lasts! Haters inbound!

[@SteBradburyDesign]

1 hours and 20 minutes and the first dislike has landed!

[@alexplom5958]

The new record has been set .

[@SteBradburyDesign]

Alex Plom we'll keep this in mind for my next upload to see if I can break my own record haha!

[@AlexNozopScratch]

You rock!

[@brendantanner9852]

What would you say this style is called? I would like to study the letterforms more but when I search 'hand lettering' on pinterest I get a more calligraphic style like the one for wedding invitations.

[@lucaslourenco4184]

Cool bro

[@TrydeoVideo]

Oh yea

[@Remjbbx]

Finally a tutorial lol nice vid and just a quick question? How do you upload your vectorized version on instagram?

[@SteBradburyDesign]

Just export it as a png or jpeg, then send the file to your phone. I use google drive, but you can use something like dropbox, or simply email it to yourself, and save it from your emails onto your phone :)

[@Remjbbx]

+Ste Bradbury Design thanks man :D

[@syedreza72]

I Live in a plce where brushpen are uncommom and we dont in store really thnx

[@SteBradburyDesign]

Im glad this tutorial was able to help you out then! :D

[@syedreza72]

u r just awesome sir thnx 4 teaching us

[@Valentina-rm5gg]

Hi! I'm just a beginner. How is this style called? I'd like to see what the rest of the letters are supposed to look like.

[@macadamiawasabi5117]

Is there something similar for Android? :( Great tutorial! Thanks.

[@bobby2302]

Thanks bro!

[@IllyFated]

Thank you for the tutorial! It's much appreciated and you give good tips! A little constructive criticism if I may? The background music drowns out your voice.. It as really hard for me to understand what you were saying throughout most of the video... Maybe next time it would be helpful to play the music at a lower volume in the background and possibly pick a softer tune? Just some food for thought! Once again thank you for the video keep up the good work!

[@gaymariemila6042]

awesome! thanks

[@casandra_22]

Thank youu ❤❤

[@thevdevitor]

Ste I have a question. My calligraphy is inconsistent...I mean my letters look like they have different styles in the same phrase or even in the same word! What can I do to keep some consistency in it?

[@SarahTypes]

I'd make sure your writing on a grid so you are at least going in the same direction, try to apply the same widths with your thicks and thins (again use a grid). It's helpful to step away and squint your eyes are your artwork and this will help you see where you might have gone a bit thicker etc

[@ebbanevallaeys5383]

great !

[@Biancasantos-wv3zw]

I love

[@Zapa-pd6sw]

woooooooeeeeeww

[@NoOne-fv6yh]

Yo thx bro

[@farhanhidayat8934]

wow

[@willherondale6367]

anyone know some nice budget brush pens they could recommend?

[@NoOne-fv6yh]

And nice intro

[@angelosa.3178]

I'll try this way out cause with brush pen,,,oh boy am i horrible :D

[@sound-stream5629]

OMG i love that and i love you intro can you make al like him plzz for tex : (SS) plzz

[@claudiaoliveira6933]

Muito legal pena que não falo inglês

[@PratikArya]

Basically, a nice video. Basically. :p

[@SteBradburyDesign]

Basically, I just want to basically say thank you for your very basic and nice comment in regards to this basic video, basically! hahaha

[@PratikArya]

+Ste Bradbury Design Basically, you're welcome. :D

[@imtragicc_]

Slim Thick ;D