https://nola-lettering.com/blog daily 0.75 2025-09-25 https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-bibbles monthly 0.5 2025-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/a3f43884-31fe-47a0-a1db-4c283da5d34c/sketch.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Bibbles - Sketch phase As with any practice, we start with sketching out some ideas. I like to write out the word first in different styles (e.g., lower case letters, upper case, a mixture). Definitely use the word to inspire you. All the B’s make everything feel bubbly and rounded. If you think about it, there are very few angles in this word, so lean into it. Even if it doesn’t quite look like the letter, that’s ok! My last version has my B’s looking like 8’s! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1758767187572-ZXQQVSU0HBE7JI5VLKCX/4.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Bibbles - Bubbly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1758767186481-Q2EZB2HYEI0GAZFW2Y21/5.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Bibbles - Really Bubbly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1758767192870-YPZAPECT897F7URNK25X/final+square.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Bibbles - Final 5 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1758766844836-GJDHMDDDOC13DK4UNGVY/1.png Blog - Letter with Me - Bibbles - 3D https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1758766827800-D0MLFYQ8MH6A9Q3QMKAB/2.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Bibbles - Liquid-y https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1758766838134-OQ5U4OUF6QPC1VW5VPIO/3.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Bibbles - In a shape https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-gubbins monthly 0.5 2025-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/721f9221-ad1f-42e1-adb3-032c75ceb345/final.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Gubbins - And make it cohesive! After putting the letters together, we could end here. However, I personally feel like this gives it a kidnapping ransom note vibe with the letters individually cut out of a magazine look. If that’s your style, great, but I like to make things more cohesive. A lot of it comes down to weird spacing issues and different-sized letters, so let’s modify each letter to make them fit better together. I elongated the crossbar on the G so that it fit under the initial swirl of the U. I narrowed my first B to match the second B, but also elongated the top serif so it fit into that space above the ending swirl of the U. As you can see, it’s kind of like playing Tetris, fitting the pieces so they look like one word instead of separate letters smooshed together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/cf6370cd-0b01-41a9-8a3f-ce7a142d672a/sketch.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Gubbins - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-fard-in-3d monthly 0.5 2025-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/0f1a0232-cba1-40b4-a292-a8ea647796a4/final.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Fard in 3D - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/ee528345-431c-42b1-a606-360a2ffbed4c/bevel.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Fard in 3D - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/465cb273-feb5-4630-bdb8-35a5b372e69c/intrusion.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Fard in 3D - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/3c54dca7-aaaa-4743-b3ea-53c90e40d7d1/3D.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Fard in 3D - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/bc250b19-7c95-41fd-9841-6f53db105115/shadow.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Fard in 3D - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-thingamajig monthly 0.5 2025-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1757013150116-4AHJDB78OWW8E7NHR8EQ/1_shape.png Blog - Letter with Me - Thingamajig https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1757013150369-N9DAC17S2JPFT17XLGLM/2_monoline.png Blog - Letter with Me - Thingamajig https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1757013159543-FLXNI46GR4XHXHF3HOO8/3_bubble.png Blog - Letter with Me - Thingamajig https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/879c2e8e-7b69-4d7d-9a3b-39a6da5e0e3e/5_lettering+refined.png Blog - Letter with Me - Thingamajig - Step 4: Refine & Finalize Once you’re happy with the placement, go over your sketches in pen or if you’re digital (like me!), do your line work based on your sketch. You can keep it simple with black and white, or add pops of color to certain doodles to make them stand out. For extra depth, add shading or patterns inside the doodles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/7fdd29f7-f905-4901-83a7-b9e1d56e5502/6_doodle+refined.png Blog - Letter with Me - Thingamajig - Pro Tip: Keep It Legible While it’s fun to doodle with abandon, make sure your word is still the star of the piece. I made my word solid vs the doodles being just the outline. It makes the word pop out more at first glance. If you find the doodles overpower the letters, try making the letters bolder or coloring them differently so they pop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1c8ab839-f49f-4dea-8ba3-ed5bab5fca2f/4_doodle+sketch.png Blog - Letter with Me - Thingamajig - Step 3: Fill in the Space Start doodling around your letters within the shape outline you made. You can tuck doodles into gaps, overlap them slightly with the lettering, or use them to frame the word. The outline will help you know when to stop, so your design looks neat and intentional rather than messy. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-catawampus monthly 0.5 2025-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/e774857b-264e-40e8-a8b2-c94b10667119/straight.png Blog - Letter with Me - Catawampus - The Classic Rectangle Start with a basic rectangle for your word, add two smaller side rectangles, and then connect them with diagonal lines. You can leave it plain and clean or jazz it up with embellishments. Simple but timeless. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/884d76eb-2e5b-4a3f-b3b2-0b407380239b/wavy+banner.png Blog - Letter with Me - Catawampus - The Wavy Banner Now we’re moving beyond straight lines! Real banners are cloth, so they bend and ripple. Add gentle curves to your lines, then sketch in small fold lines to show which way the banner is curling. This instantly feels more dynamic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/162bc0a9-5596-450e-9505-efe4f00c9395/scroll.png Blog - Letter with Me - Catawampus - The Hidden Ends Similar to the wavy ribbon, except the banner’s “tails” don’t show. This creates a smooth, flowing look that works especially well if you want the lettering itself to stay front and center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/3f51ac32-99bf-43d7-b299-d1ef84023ff6/curved.png Blog - Letter with Me - Catawampus - The Curved Banner This one bends slightly to create a graceful arc. I love this style when I’m lettering a quote with a long word followed by a short one because you can stuff that little word in the gap underneath the banner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/efd0b671-4184-4379-9f90-a834e70c97c2/final.png Blog - Letter with Me - Catawampus - This week’s Letter with Me word is catawampus (askew, crooked, or awry). And what better way to play with a slightly crooked word than by adding one of my favorite lettering embellishments, banners! Banners are such a fun way to make your lettering compositions pop. They frame words beautifully for emphasis, help organize your layout, and can add just the right amount of flair. Plus, there are so many ways to draw them. Today, I’ll show you four simple banner styles you can start experimenting with paired with four different lettering styles for catawampus. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-yaffle monthly 0.5 2025-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/de09a011-5cc1-4d02-ab82-6fae0523772b/Photo+Aug+20+2025%2C+20+49+10.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Yaffle - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/fda3aaa2-4cb0-4d56-b303-3d5a3a65332d/sketch.png Blog - Letter with Me - Yaffle - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-erf monthly 0.5 2025-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/3cc2bfe5-fc39-4b86-9900-689c6e7d7ce8/blobs.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Erf - Step 1: Make Your Blobs It’s always nice to be able to combine mediums for extra creative motivation. If you don’t have watercolors, no problem! Grab markers, acrylics, or any coloring tools you like and make some blobs. Try to different shapes so it’s not too uniform. I made my watercolor blobs two ways: Pigment-first: Load your brush with pigment and water, then paint directly onto the paper. This creates a more uniform shape. Water-first: Lay down lots of water on your paper in a random shape, then drop pigment into it and tilt your page so the watery color flows and spreads unpredictably. This technique gives you more texture and natural, organic edges. You can stick to one method or try both. The goal is not perfection. In fact, the less perfect, the more creative opportunities you’ll have later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1755184152143-06Q2P1LB0XN3VD1Y95LO/erf2-1.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Erf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1755184154882-HC4JAFIN6ZCBL8Q30YX2/erf2-2.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Erf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1755184152212-9AE779XZ1K5PH59BFXWH/erf2_final.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Erf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1755184599591-9A77EQ3GL8ZRL11TQSJB/pre-final.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Erf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1755184599465-G2WNETTJX6ZJ3K3SET3R/final.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Erf https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-jiggery-pokery monthly 0.5 2025-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1ce69cbf-78b2-4b11-b11a-af4494e7521c/serif.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Jiggery-Pokery - Serif Serifs are the little “feet” or strokes at the ends of your letters. In my example, I used block-y rectangular feet, but there are so many options: rounded, angled, triangular, even curled! Try them all. The letterforms themselves can mimic calligraphy strokes—thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes—or keep a consistent width throughout. Either approach works. Try different combinations and see what speaks to you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/4c037f81-9203-4d6c-b3d7-704ca023885b/serif+and+mono.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Jiggery-Pokery - Combos! We’ve covered some of the most basic styles. Now we come to combining them in various ways to create something new and personal. For example, I mixed monoline with triangular serifs here, but you can also try bubbly script, blocky serifs, or anything in between. The more you practice, the more your creative instincts will kick in, and before long, you’ll be creating your own hybrid styles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/9cb74a74-6b76-4bcc-8802-6cf3a39716f1/monoline.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Jiggery-Pokery - Monoline Monoline lettering, where all the strokes are the same thin width, might seem simple, but it’s easy to fall into the trap of just writing how you normally write. And while that’s a good starting point, it can also be kind of boring. But here’s the good news: monoline doesn’t have to be boring! You can add curls and swirls, try angular sharp edges, play with spacing, or even make your strokes shoot off in all directions. I recommend coming up with a few ridiculous variations just for fun because monoline is often the base of more complex styles, so the more creative you get here, the more you can build off it for fun styles! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/29bc0726-8de7-43ba-bbc9-b1e94a1e9613/script.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Jiggery-Pokery - Script Script is another broad category with tons of possibilities. I went with a traditional cursive with some flourishes here, but you could try faux calligraphy, brush calligraphy, modern script, or any variation in between. If you’re new to calligraphy, I highly recommend The Happy Ever Crafter’s Modern Calligraphy course. It’s how I not only learned calligraphy, but also what started me down my lettering journey. Not sponsored, just genuinely helpful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1754617405898-MV3XQOM8BBV8AVYDBFO4/block.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Jiggery-Pokery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1754617405451-SFQSIQNY2ZX77BH8GREY/bubble.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Jiggery-Pokery https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-petrichor monthly 0.5 2025-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1754012004764-QZEGLMKZC2QPPFEUUJBC/petrichor1.png Blog - Letter with Me - Petrichor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1754012004531-H4QZPBG6T4SYVD1DG43J/petrichor2.png Blog - Letter with Me - Petrichor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1754012017034-AC8I3R5OZOSFB6EDU9CY/petrichor3.png Blog - Letter with Me - Petrichor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/dd0f8e98-9691-4067-be59-38f366b041b1/petrichor4.png Blog - Letter with Me - Petrichor - Fill the Circle with the Word The first layout I did was filling the entire circle with the word. It sounds simple in theory, but when you actually try it, it’s more challenging than you’d think, especially with such a long word! You’ll likely have to play with stacking and shrinking letters to make it all fit. I recommend starting by writing the word out to make sure it fits inside your circle, then go in with a block lettering style. This layout really benefits from smart use of negative space, which can give you more room to work with visually. It's easy in concept, but a true test in execution. It’s so easy to make it illegible! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1754012524244-6CQBO8Q82U19KN64M59V/circles.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Petrichor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1754012532115-XDD2GYPI7LBXIVEXHJO4/circles+%2B+text.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Petrichor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1754012530047-PZ8OMIYMROPUHKZV8I79/text.jpg Blog - Letter with Me - Petrichor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/cff159bc-fcc2-4c17-a331-abef1ca2955d/petrichor+in+circles.gif Blog - Letter with Me - Petrichor - Make it stand out Start with 4 empty circles then slowly fill them in! And you can remove the circles at the end and see your words! https://nola-lettering.com/blog/letter-with-me-snollygoster monthly 0.5 2025-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/e02ffdd8-122b-4d97-88f7-c05f4f3d35f7/shapes.jpg Blog - Letter With Me: Snollygoster - Step 1: Play with Shapes I’m going to play with three simple shapes this week: Straight, wavy and arc-shaped. These are starting points, not rules! Let them guide your thinking as you explore how to fit this long word into different shapes. You don’t have to follow them exactly. In fact, I had a hard time fitting all of snollygoster into any the space I had allotted without some serious stretching, stacking, or shrinking… and that’s okay! Let your brain and hand play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/6a4ff339-bdd1-474b-81af-9a49f740dbaa/final.png Blog - Letter With Me: Snollygoster - Step 3: Add Style & Flair Once your letters are in place, it’s time to explore styles a bit more! I took each of the three sketches and gave them different vibes: First version: a serif-inspired look with added diamonds and thicker ends (like little triangles!). Second version: thinner bubble letters with rounded edges. Third version: a more freestyle approach, where I played with funkier letterforms. The "S" was inspired by graffiti I saw on a train once! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/efda341a-ab25-42c3-ae03-6eb508657b7f/monoline.png Blog - Letter With Me: Snollygoster - Step 2: Monoline It Once you’ve chosen and sketched out your shapes, try writing the word inside it normally without overthinking. Play with the crossbars and the tails of letters. Try stacking letters and switching between upper and lower case letters. There is no pressure for perfect form here, just seeing how the letters might fit. Pretend your playing Tetris, but with letters! I tried a few things: Making the letters thinner Stacking them when they didn’t fit horizontally Being mindful not to squeeze so tightly that the word becomes unreadable There’s no right or wrong here. Experiment, stretch, smoosh, stack. Try, erase, and try again. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/how-do-i-stay-motivated monthly 0.5 2025-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/c16099bc-96a9-4b2b-91d9-f71ad1394a04/schedule.png Blog - How Do I Stay Motivated? - Create a Practice Schedule That Works for You You don’t have to spend hours every day practicing (unless you want to!). What matters is staying consistent. Maybe that’s 10 minutes a day, or an hour every other day, or 15 minutes during lunch break Whatever it is—schedule it and stick to it! Put it on your calendar like an appointment with yourself. Even on days when you don’t feel like it, just show up and do something for 1 minute, 5 minutes, etc. Something is better than nothing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/c5b35366-e15a-420c-89c5-66cdd5a99a11/motivation.png Blog - How Do I Stay Motivated? - Motivation vs. Discipline Motivation is fleeting—it shows up when it wants and disappears just as fast. Discipline, on the other hand, is something you build over time. And when it comes to getting better at lettering, discipline is what makes the difference. And with discipline comes consistency! Here are some things I’ve done to develop my discipline when it comes to lettering practice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/9b0276d2-1016-4ebe-bb7e-5785068f8f85/Fun+Words.jpg Blog - How Do I Stay Motivated? And look, I’ve made a word prompt list for you. featuring some funny words to get you started. Now you have no excuse! Click here to download! Print it out, or save it to your phone so you have it handy for your practice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/3a4b082c-0c7a-44a0-a38a-156ced342c16/accountability.png Blog - How Do I Stay Motivated? - Accountability Helps! In the beginning, I used Instagram as my accountability buddy. I made myself post something every day, even if it wasn’t perfect. That might not work for you (and that’s okay!). But having someone to check in with helps so much. Maybe it’s a friend who’s also working on a creative habit. Or maybe it’s a Discord group (plugging my server, The Letterverse). Or a private chat with a fellow lettering pal. Whatever helps you stay on track—do it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/3069e7eb-44a3-4fe0-88dc-3cf40d0bd62e/break+it+down.png Blog - How Do I Stay Motivated? - Break It Down—You Don’t Have to Finish a Whole Quote Your practice doesn’t need to be a complete masterpiece every time. Break it into smaller pieces: Day 1: Sketch thumbnails Day 2: Pick your favorite and refine Day 3: Ink & add doodles Day 4: Repeat Or break it down even more! One thumbnail a day? One letter a day? Work with what you’ve got time and energy for. The important part is that you show up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/d4da3b91-6142-4cc2-8c78-900a50950d65/mistakes.png Blog - How Do I Stay Motivated? - Give Yourself Permission to Be Imperfect Repeat after me: It’s practice. It’s not supposed to be perfect. You are learning. That means mistakes, messes, and weird layouts are part of the process. After each practice session, take a second to review: What do I like? What could be better? What is something I can do on my next practice to improve? Remember, being critical of your own art is good but don’t talk down to yourself. If it’s not how you would talk to others, then it really shouldn’t be how you talk to yourself! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/f74efb10-30f8-4f9f-a438-9373095120fe/practice+list.png Blog - How Do I Stay Motivated? - Have a Pre-Made Word (or Quote) List One of the biggest momentum killers is sitting down to practice and thinking: “What should I letter today?” To avoid that, make yourself a practice list of words, quotes, lyrics, whatever. That way, when it’s time to practice, you already know what to do. When I first started practicing, I followed the sassy and classy lettering challenge on IG and followed the prompt list daily. It definitely lessened the decision paralysis! And sometimes you won’t want to do that day’s word. But if you still do it? That’s discipline. That’s what builds skill over time. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/composition-and-spacing monthly 0.5 2025-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/6df72c12-394e-4abf-a123-e6dff37a7cb6/big+space.jpg Blog - Composition and Spacing - Wide Spacing Between Lines In this version, I left large (to me) gaps between each line of the quote. And while that might work for some people or styles, I personally don’t love it. It makes the composition feel disjointed, like each line is a separate sentence, rather than one cohesive idea. Wide spacing might work if your quote needs to feel airy or spacious, but be intentional with it. Match it to the quote! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/174f8b2c-1704-45ec-87ba-043524e4d3ef/inconsistent.jpg Blog - Composition and Spacing - Inconsistent Spacing This version has all kinds of weird gaps between words and lines. Some are wide, others are tight, and overall, it just feels off. The inconsistency pulls focus away from the quote and makes the layout feel unintentional and awkward. If you don’t immediately know why something looks weird, check your spacing! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/0570352c-77f2-4076-b72e-2e7a9f4d9d37/tight.jpg Blog - Composition and Spacing - Tight Spacing Now we’re swinging the other way with very tight spacing between lines and words. Tight compositions can look great, especially up close, but from a distance? It can all blur together into one big blob. If you do want to go tight, try using outlined block letters (where they’re not filled in) or thinner monoline styles in parts of your piece to give the illusion of more space and help avoid a heavy, blocky look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/5a087ccb-63a9-4b56-95c0-50c13c578563/final.jpg Blog - Composition and Spacing - Consistent, Comfortable Spacing This final version is just right, at least to me! The spacing between words and lines is consistent, not too loose, not too tight. It reads clearly and feels cohesive. That said, this is all still personal preference! You might like your compositions looser, or maybe tighter depending on your style or the quote’s mood. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/how-to-make-your-composition-pop monthly 0.5 2025-07-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/3da2f7f4-175a-4fc1-9b48-2d894e05e6e6/style.png Blog - How to Make your Composition Pop - Same-ish Size, Different Styles Next up, I’ve kept all the words relatively the same size (same height, anyway), but used different lettering styles for those same three key words (and time). The contrast in styles grabs your attention right away—even if the words are all the same size. The shift in visual rhythm naturally tells the viewer, “Hey! These are the important words.” One thing to keep in mind, though, is that although all these words are the same height, it feels like “into my” is bigger than the rest. There’s some visual trickery your brain plays depending on the width/spacing of your letters. So visually gauging sizes is important to do as well, don’t just trust your grid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/5a5a4af3-3158-4ffa-9dd4-442c56997953/size+and+style.png Blog - How to Make your Composition Pop - Style + Size = Maximum Impact Finally, in this last example, I combined size and style variation, and that’s where the magic really happens. The important words are both bigger and visually distinct, which creates instant hierarchy. The supporting words are still there, but now they’re just that—supporting. They’re smaller and in the same style so they don’t fight for attention. This is what I try to do in almost every composition: Highlight the words that matter Downplay the ones that don’t Guide the viewers’ eyes through the composition https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/aa5a89e6-1f01-472a-921d-d855a82cc11f/size.png Blog - How to Make your Composition Pop - Using Size to Emphasize Key Words In this second example, the words are still all in the same style, but now “reality,” “cutting,” and “reading” are obviously larger than the rest. Those, to me, are the important words you want to emphasize. Even if someone only glances at those three, they’d still get the gist of the quote. Pick the words that carry the most emotional or conceptual weight and make those bigger. You’re creating a visual shortcut for the reader’s brain. More interesting composition than the first example, but still not the most attention grabbing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/e520f78d-ecf8-4b8d-8c14-ce1dd4ca9782/original.png Blog - How to Make your Composition Pop - The “Neat but Boring” Version In this first example, I lettered the quote using a very basic monoline style with all the same size, same style, everything consistent (more or less). It looks clean, but honestly, it’s a bit boring. If you saw this quote while scrolling through your feed, would you stop and read/look at it? There’s nothing in this composition that tells your viewer what to focus on. And with a longer quote like this one, that’s a problem. It makes the piece feel flat—and worse, it doesn’t visually communicate the point of the quote. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/97115074-41bc-4943-b842-47de86d100bf/all+4+square.png Blog - How to Make your Composition Pop - Four in one Here they are, all in one image. Which one’s your favorite? When you go the varying styles route, you don’t have to make all your important words different styles, like I did. You can do one style for all the basic words and one style for all the important words. While I’m personally a fan of including many different lettering styles within one piece, something to be aware of is that putting too many of them can make your composition messy. It is a thin line between wow and whoa. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/lettering-composition-tip-thumbnails-shapes monthly 0.5 2025-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/6a380b92-c23e-4211-9184-e1a325ee3fa4/IMG_2888.jpg Blog - Lettering Composition Tip: Thumbnails + Shapes! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/the-tools-i-use-and-love monthly 0.5 2025-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/7fbfa038-4618-45b9-920d-614347823992/rhodia.png Blog - The Tools I Use (and Love) - Want to Make Life Easier? If you want a shortcut (and who doesn’t?), pick up some dot grid or graph paper. Built-in guidelines = less setup and more practice. They also help you keep not only your horizontal, but also you vertical spacing consistent. When I first started out, I used Rhodia dot pads and still love them, especially the square ones. The paper is super smooth—perfect for brush pens as it doesn’t tear up the brushes—and holds up really well when you go to ink your lettering. The dots are also not super obvious for when you take photos of your work but you can still easily see them when you’re lettering! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/41f0ad7c-2691-4dac-bc8e-613780e03e47/tools1.jpg Blog - The Tools I Use (and Love) - Start Simple: Pen (or pencil) + Paper The most basic (and honestly, all you need to get started) setup is just a piece of paper and any pen or pencil you’ve got lying around. The only downside to a blank piece of paper is that you’ll need to draw your own guidelines so your letters don’t end up floating off into weird angles or dancing on different baselines. A ruler or anything with a straight edge does the trick, though, and it’s a pretty quick and painless process. That’s it. No excuses—start practicing lettering right now! https://nola-lettering.com/blog/why-do-i-hate-this monthly 0.5 2025-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749772944330-KYUL7WQGE4F1M102IHUR/humidity.jpg Blog - Why do I hate this? - The original that I was not a fan of https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749772944360-RIBW404JT8M6DX74N5V8/humidity+final.jpg Blog - Why do I hate this? - The final - after including suggestions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749773272997-N679LRV6E159BAU9W580/lost+og.jpg Blog - Why do I hate this? - The original ... blech. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749773234756-ZEXWKXBEFYKVP85KJQV8/lost+edits.jpg Blog - Why do I hate this? - Thanks Cozy for the edits! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749773327505-AVRQGNFGEQCYZDMALFU2/lost+edited.png Blog - Why do I hate this? - Final with the suggestions! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749772629396-L2QZ5GZ9Q7LD4NI9C8E4/humidity+suggestions.png Blog - Why do I hate this? - Make it stand out The actual advice I received from my fellow Letternauts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/d76df57c-7305-4724-b6c6-82d0dcbcc024/lost+suggestions.png Blog - Why do I hate this? - Make it stand out Suggestions from The Letterverse. The red marked image is tied to the second poster in this image. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/pencil-first-or-pen-first monthly 0.5 2025-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749137252583-TU91HC80TFWY8LRKFCDC/IMG_2508.jpg Blog - Pencil First or Pen First? - Lettering the alphabet practice https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749137253624-UD38G3SVMZBRJRSX7QRB/IMG_2509.jpg Blog - Pencil First or Pen First? - Composition practice with random words https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749136990968-OOV65TQEMMEC4E16CVKW/IMG_2505.jpg Blog - Pencil First or Pen First? - Trying different layouts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1749136990438-57AS9AXLQ9WNZFX9YDXO/IMG_2506.jpg Blog - Pencil First or Pen First? - Final design! https://nola-lettering.com/blog/its-not-talent-its-practice monthly 0.5 2025-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/7014ffdc-06fc-4e5d-b382-a36f3a773a24/IMG_2425.jpg Blog - It’s Not Talent. It’s Practice…. - 2019 This is my first ever attempt at a lettering composition in 2019 (not including brush calligraphy since I had been learning and practicing that prior to lettering). It’s simple … and it’s honestly not that great. But it was a starting point! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/276b52d9-dfa9-408f-91b4-869557079721/Photo+May+28+2025%2C+18+13+16.jpg Blog - It’s Not Talent. It’s Practice…. - Script Practice This was pre-letteirng, but when I was learning calligraphy, the amount of pages I filled with random words, or words from whatever show I was watching at the time, was a lot. And you know what kept me going with all this practicing? The fact that it was so enjoyable and such a great stress relief. There’s something about breathing in and out while my strokes go up and down that sent me into a meditative state. I didn’t care if it looked great, I was just trying to get that muscle memory down. Down stroke heavy, up stroke light, down stroke heavy, up stroke light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/3b9e29b5-d506-426a-b123-20a4f761e677/Photo+May+28+2025%2C+18+00+01.jpg Blog - It’s Not Talent. It’s Practice…. - A lot of practice. Like, years of it. Like, “here’s some of my old work so we can cringe together” levels of practice. These are all the journals I practiced in, starting way back in 2019. And it’s not including all the loose leaf papers I lettered on or all the digital lettering I’ve been doing on the iPad this past year. So yah, a lot of practice. I’ll be peppering this blog post with some of my old pieces; prepare yourself! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/16617538-40c4-4c17-8cdf-90a349c179b7/Photo+May+28+2025%2C+18+08+28.jpg Blog - It’s Not Talent. It’s Practice…. - Late 2019 Looking back at this today, I realize I was way more adventurous back then in my lettering. I did all sorts of styles that I no longer do. Does it look great? Not really, but again, it’s part of the learning process. I can look back at my work and learn from it. Definitely would never do “The” that way again, but I might try that “morning” style again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1748478233379-JCBH8CK23HRZ9S0QZPBN/IMG_2421.jpg Blog - It’s Not Talent. It’s Practice…. - 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1748478227209-VPG32AB1KK5VYB1F2O5B/IMG_2420.jpg Blog - It’s Not Talent. It’s Practice…. - 2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1748478438531-L3WQP05D57NRAAEUIZKE/Photo+May+28+2025%2C+19+27+02.jpg Blog - It’s Not Talent. It’s Practice…. - 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1748478441319-IWD0AS30YTNJDCT2STJT/Photo+May+28+2025%2C+19+27+02.png Blog - It’s Not Talent. It’s Practice…. - 2025 https://nola-lettering.com/blog/why-does-my-lettering-look-weird monthly 0.5 2025-05-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/b188f31e-fad1-4f65-9140-04a6a9d1b6ee/slanted.png Blog - Why does my lettering look weird? - Letters tilting in different directions If one leans left and the next leans right, it creates a tug-of-war effect for the eye. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/106aedd0-2b06-4305-b9d0-07207c54321b/bonus.jpg Blog - Why does my lettering look weird? - Bonus tip! This one’s more for composition, but consistent spacing is important as well between words not just between letters. If it’s inconsistent, then your whole piece won’t look cohesive and will also look off. Whatever style you decide, always make sure your spacing is consistent! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/78711d0b-d96a-4aa9-b9a1-6cc988388379/baseline.jpg Blog - Why does my lettering look weird? - Inconsistent baselines Your letters aren’t sitting along the same invisible line—they’re dipping or floating randomly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/6e826598-9014-4e5a-880a-f48c1cd40fbb/perfect.jpg Blog - Why does my lettering look weird? - Do all that and your lettering will look clean and pleasing to the eye. Keep in mind, though, that it doesn’t have to be perfect. Good enough will do because the eye/brain will fill in the little imperfections. And those imperfections will also give your lettering more character. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1444f0e4-c07c-4a9a-afb2-50c286c412db/spacing.jpg Blog - Why does my lettering look weird? - Uneven gaps between letters (aka: kerning chaos) Some letters feel too close. Others feel too far. The word looks jumpy or squished in places. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/exploring-lettering-styles-using-simple-shapes monthly 0.5 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/4f327de9-038a-42a6-bbbd-f50bd1fa5bac/Shapes.gif Blog - Exploring Lettering Styles Using Simple Shapes - Takeaways: Let go of perfection. Some versions will be weird, some unreadable—and that’s totally okay. This is playtime. Experiment with structure. Use shapes to push your lettering in directions it wouldn’t normally go. Customize your strokes. Elongate, curl, compress—whatever it takes to fit the form. Layer if needed. Letters don’t always have to line up in a row. Try overlapping, stacking, or weaving them through the shape. Harvest ideas. Even if the overall design doesn’t work, you might stumble onto a stroke, connection, or composition trick to use later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/4de49c11-f282-45eb-ab01-3cad3368b60e/Shapes+only.png Blog - Exploring Lettering Styles Using Simple Shapes Today’s post is all about letting loose, getting weird, and embracing the beautifully imperfect process of developing your own lettering style. We are going to use basic shapes as the inspiration and boundaries for creating different styles of the same word: poppycock. Yep, poppycock. It's fun to say and to letter! For this practice, I used the following six shapes: A circle An oval A square A rectangle A rectangle with rounded tops and bottoms A wave I wrote the word poppycock inside each shape in monoline, and let me tell you—some turned out wild, some were barely legible, and all of them taught me something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/faae5a82-54ea-4948-8cc6-4ac8aaef0733/words+only.png Blog - Exploring Lettering Styles Using Simple Shapes The Rectangle: Okay... so … this one looked like I wrote poopyock. But! I kind of loved the accident. I tried to contain the “ock” within the shape of the “C,” and while legibility isn’t the best, it sparked a fresh idea I want to revisit. Sometimes the best breakthroughs come from "mistakes." The Square: Although squares typically make us think of rigid, angular lines, I wanted to step away from that expectation. So instead of sharp corners and blocky letters, I filled this shape with curls and swirls. There are still a few straight strokes to hug the edges of the square, but the inside was a total free-for-all. It’s not my favorite of the bunch, but it was a blast to try something so different. Sometimes just flipping the script on what a shape should look like leads to unexpected creativity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/d52c0069-8852-4848-abb9-808e2248f40b/Shapes+and+words.png Blog - Exploring Lettering Styles Using Simple Shapes - Let’s break it down! The Circle: Circles are soft and symmetrical, so I leaned into rounded letterforms. Everything had to tuck into this cozy loop, so I squished and curved the letters to follow the arc. I couldn’t fit the entire word on one line, so I split it into two: poppy and cock. Some words have natural separation points, so use that to your advantage when needed. The result? A compact, whimsical version of poppycock that is still pretty legible. Win! The Oval: This one felt similar to the circle, but a bit roomier left to right. Which made it possible to fit the entire word in on one line. I found myself elongating strokes (like the y) and experimenting with spacing. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/29w7ui8ncmf7tv4ms1s4qyads2rvzw monthly 0.5 2025-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1746800687498-NFN7BOO2P00TC05M4469/Untitled_Artwork.JPG Blog - How to Develop Lettering Styles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1746800685887-CA9GAARGFI6MF2Q9IFWE/Untitled_Artwork.gif Blog - How to Develop Lettering Styles https://nola-lettering.com/blog/its-all-in-the-details monthly 0.5 2021-02-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614470240949-JQNKI495611271B62LR5/Doodles.png Blog - It’s All in the Details! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614470322316-O3N3A8W9UJKK9TD11LX9/Dots.png Blog - It’s All in the Details! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614470324845-O6RU8HKNYMJVPS4WN057/Lines.png Blog - It’s All in the Details! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614470326086-7QV4YYRVQ807V554X6UL/Sparkle.png Blog - It’s All in the Details! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614470326197-514M1E1DUYZZDLIRJ4XA/Stars.png Blog - It’s All in the Details! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614470322722-094O4T9CWAAR385HTVC2/Crystal.png Blog - It’s All in the Details! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614470324624-DUCEP1JHNPY7MOKPQVPF/Drops.png Blog - It’s All in the Details! https://nola-lettering.com/blog/how-many-styles monthly 0.5 2021-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468539917-2A1SUCFIDR4LZU8C8W4G/1.jpeg Blog - How many lettering styles should I use? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468539990-RVAQI1U00VC3PSSCCAB1/2.jpeg Blog - How many lettering styles should I use? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468540711-W89ZX1U37W3A74NMJZET/3.jpeg Blog - How many lettering styles should I use? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468540872-2O00KKA074OSOUUJS5A1/4.jpg Blog - How many lettering styles should I use? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468541425-X6FR6MHU9RNGFXL9E2MD/5.jpg Blog - How many lettering styles should I use? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468542169-VS32RQ5OTUBH57UIDH3Y/7.jpeg Blog - How many lettering styles should I use? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468652894-P3T13IO76Q35LT2CA7HT/final.jpeg Blog - How many lettering styles should I use? - Let's take a look at my IG post from this week. I have "coffee," "my," "sarcasm," "your," and "stupidity" as the same style - block letters. Then, I tweaked each word to be a little different, for example by adding dots or lines to the inside of all the letters, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468347386-K05R272RBHPIMX41KPWZ/final.jpeg Blog - How many lettering styles should I use? https://nola-lettering.com/blog/how-to-choose-part-1 monthly 0.5 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614469260190-O2PELG5U7HXWFPXQRRDB/But.png Blog - How to Choose Lettering Styles - 2) Use faux calligraphy if you have a lot of extra space to fill. So for example in my post this week, I knew I wanted to put "but" in a line all on its own, but it's such a short word and I didn't want to make it too big. So, faux calligraphy was a great choice because it has the beginning and ending swooshes to fill in the space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468837250-F1KZGO249HKA1YZ6IFS9/final.jpg Blog - How to Choose Lettering Styles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614469154251-RSIPO2DPPVGOUSXO858E/Shapes.png Blog - How to Choose Lettering Styles - Step Three. Choose your overall composition shape. Knowing the overall shape helps me decide what styles to use because I want to choose styles that will fit well together and fill in my chosen space. I like to think of lettering composition like playing Tetris with the words being the individual pieces that you want to fit together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614469409066-LEAXB9NVZS1W9K541YZ0/L.png Blog - How to Choose Lettering Styles - 5) Lastly, don't be afraid to play around with the sizing of letters within a word. For example, in "unlikely" I shrank the "i" and "y" so they'd fit above the lower arm of the L. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614469051663-GSM8YISS2EKPJ6A0W89E/Composition.png Blog - How to Choose Lettering Styles - Side tip for composition I like quotes with two parts that are connected by a conjunction, like "but" in this case, because it's a natural breaking point. Furthermore, it allows you to be somewhat symmetrical in your design if the number of words before and after the conjunction are similar. So in this case, we have four words before (I may be wrong) the conjunction and three words after (It's highly unlikely). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468956923-TPGM5X7OCFURH2U716U8/Emphasis.png Blog - How to Choose Lettering Styles - Step Two. Choose the words you want to emphasize. Emphasize the words that are important in getting the meaning of your quote across. So in this week's piece, the quote I used was "I may be wrong, but it's highly unlikely." So, in this case I wanted the focus to be on "wrong" and "unlikely", which means I would be making them bigger and in different lettering styles. Everything else can be smaller and in the same or a similar style. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614469343993-QF3NRUPIWG09GQPQLUVC/G.png Blog - How to Choose Lettering Styles - 4) Similar to faux calligraphy, you can use ascenders, descenders, crossbars, etc. to fill in extra space between lines and words. For example, I curved and extended the bar of the G in "wrong" to fill in that extra space I had at the end of the word. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614468908642-F7WSKG82SY29132LGUSS/Quote+.png Blog - How to Choose Lettering Styles - Step One. Write down your quote. If you're just starting to create lettering compositions, I would choose a shorter quote maybe with 5 words maximum. Once you feel more comfortable with composition, then move on to longer quotes. https://nola-lettering.com/blog/category/Tutorial monthly 0.5 https://nola-lettering.com/blog/category/Tutorials monthly 0.5 https://nola-lettering.com/blog/tag/tutorial monthly 0.5 https://nola-lettering.com/blog/tag/lettering+tutorial monthly 0.5 https://nola-lettering.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-03-02 https://nola-lettering.com/home daily 1.0 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/4ba6e48f-248a-42bb-8835-02232d0c779d/Coverv2.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/5a53398d-8a7e-46b6-8547-08c5348f9e64/Nolalettering-09.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/ffb3afe2-b2ae-40ac-9184-49161ade9fc3/illustration.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/2dec3b17-27d2-4f3b-847e-90d6b92aad61/a+frame.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/30aea76a-e588-42e0-9cfa-18bafdd3844c/columbia.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/16688869-e896-4fef-be2e-958b05abfb7d/LA+food.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/8e205bc6-afa5-471b-9aca-b77e1ad98a5f/appa.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/d40b5787-efe2-4aeb-8870-a40d5ea42992/old_NL.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/2568980e-2a6f-4c77-81df-011400103cad/tea.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/df7066a8-39dd-42ef-b8ec-64f5d27c5c6c/lettering.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/05568969-26f1-4f17-9a50-9c1a41411948/earlier_NL.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/75d63d7c-fc51-4798-a823-7485754aa84d/Lisa+funny.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/e8925fb6-7854-458c-8022-5a75d0c8d4be/logo2_crop.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/e244f5b8-5789-4585-91aa-5138457a2f15/community.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614476520162-TKJMWLCWPTR2MP9PNK1K/banner.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/5a02c050-12fe-4c8b-a5a5-021a2af577d6/freebies.png https://nola-lettering.com/about daily 0.75 2025-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/f54bffc3-f9e5-4d1e-8d4a-7c83f773aecc/lisa+photo+square.jpg About Me - It’s Me, Lisa! Aka Nola. I know there are many folks out there who think my name is Nola thanks to my Instagram handle, but no, I am Lisa (which isn’t even my official name. What!) So where did NOLA come from? It is actually the acronym for New Orleans, Louisiana, which was where I was living when I first started my IG account. It’s stuck so well that I can’t imagine myself being anything else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614479930282-JP0DKGYGQMXAJFMUMEKC/Photo+Jan+21%2C+20+56+20.jpg About Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614480030979-7VN3KVJRHVDWS4C79PQO/Pointed+pen-2.jpg About Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614480281216-58RV4VK0RY7983NAFHC4/Photo+May+24%2C+07+15+17.jpg About Me https://nola-lettering.com/lettering-guide daily 0.75 2021-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614533702297-3MGQM2PD4MKWCE97CC78/banner_transparent.png The Lettering Guide - THE LETTERING GUIDE FREE DOWNLOAD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614536816313-WHRPKDA5COFOTIR8PFNM/tools+banner.png The Lettering Guide - Lettering Tools Guide My most frequently asked question is what pens do I use along with what are my favorite pens, so here’s a guide of ALL the materials I use. Pens, pencils, paper, streaming tools, and so much more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614537479199-8FRV816CP3SHU68K8XTL/alphabet+banner.png The Lettering Guide - Lettering the Alphabet To help provide some inspiration and save you some time when it comes to creating lettering compositions, I’ve put together this PDF with 16 different lettering styles for each letter of the alphabet. https://nola-lettering.com/thank-you daily 0.75 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614565651694-WIEKGZJELLEP38PEB4ZV/Thanks.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614572454447-J342PCTJUA92A5UZBRWB/alphabet-cover.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614566454809-AJRVONKMQWXXO14T97CJ/Community.png https://nola-lettering.com/links daily 0.75 2025-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614614337629-C7OJVSO57K5YQ0DWHJ6X/Links.png https://nola-lettering.com/coloring-page daily 0.75 2025-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1616122390436-TTOPEFOQS5ZQTT9CUSK7/Springsprung.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/ca8db093-0165-44e0-9406-c07cd965cdd3/GDGB-17.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/2ead1cff-77f0-4434-bc52-bae8fdd9f205/iso+house+coloring+page_Lisa.jpg https://nola-lettering.com/lessons-in-lettering daily 0.75 2023-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1619027008971-0ITYRNTTSOZVICH3H3KE/banner.png Lessons in Lettering FREE DOWNLOAD https://nola-lettering.com/thank-you-lessons daily 0.75 2022-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614565651694-WIEKGZJELLEP38PEB4ZV/Thanks.png Thank you Lessons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/1614566454809-AJRVONKMQWXXO14T97CJ/Community.png Thank you Lessons - Join a Community The Letterverse is a free Discord community with folks from all over the world supporting each other’s lettering journey. 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Greeting Cards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/19d2d694-4dba-4618-9a4d-8059d85e6cea/Untitled_Artwork+1.png Portfolio - Greeting Cards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/4d7ae007-3f45-42d8-a69a-afddf58576cf/Tea.png Portfolio - Greeting Cards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/4813a9c3-174d-4191-aa57-fa0c17451383/Avo.png Portfolio - Greeting Cards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/05d752f8-fb21-44d9-b7e0-1c16c7b24013/thank_you.jpg Portfolio - Greeting Cards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/9ed34a58-2cf0-48ac-a810-176fe2299b95/Untitled_Artwork+4.png Portfolio - Greeting Cards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/e012f4a5-61c0-4328-b772-bed5c19d3a2d/be+thankful.png Portfolio - Greeting Cards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/5459b5a1-ae2b-4846-9881-41829628f392/Untitled_Artwork+3.png Portfolio - Greeting Cards https://nola-lettering.com/portfolio/hammond monthly 0.5 2025-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/948ad603-4e5b-4b62-a492-59c23699cba0/columbia.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Columbia Theater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/da18d1c6-a7f0-4515-896f-0f4ccec082f5/arts+center.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Hammond Regional Arts Center https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/5891abdb-09b6-42ba-bc1d-b4de776e398e/bennys.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Benny's Bar and hangout spot for many locals. I have ended a number of nights here at Benny's. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/02b89334-184f-43ae-88a8-0b51aff8ac63/Luma.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Luma https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/cbf83cbd-d115-4a87-977a-ec84ca47afd7/topela.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Tope La https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/3b1d3969-463c-4b59-893f-9785da6e4e92/gnarly.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Gnarly Barley Brewery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/e4fb8ced-12e5-412a-a464-6725300df3cc/guys.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Guy's Quality Food - Though shuttered now, the building is still distinctive in its color and shape. This building illustration was a commission, and the client provided some older photos, so I was able to add in some original aspects of the building from when it was still in operation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/130a136d-fb5d-4a23-b833-66a1ca639723/red+white+and+brew.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Red White and Brew https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/256b7b4c-a26f-4e19-806b-5fdd9334ff98/skateboard+shop.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Still Pushing Skate Shop A very distinctive building for its small footprint between two larger buildings. It's now home to Still Pushing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/2248e465-154e-4428-91a9-84ebcebba3e4/bayou.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Bayou Bookseller https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6039c70f9959d83fcdbdbf5b/da8cd549-bd5f-4d85-a413-564c7e51fd57/streetside.png Portfolio - Hammond, LA Streetside Market