Feeling Confident with Calligraphy? Let's Dive into Bounce Lettering!
Methods for Initiating Bounce Lettering Artwork
Ready to ramp up your calligraphy game and add some bounce to your letters? You've come to the right place, my friend! Remember when you were struggling with those pesky stroke and alphabet basics? Well, you've made it past that wall, and now it's time to unleash your creativity with bounce lettering!
But what, exactly, is bounce lettering? Noticed how some words on the right-hand side have a playful, springy vibe? That's none other than bounce lettering! This style kicks in once you've got the basic alphabet down pat and are ready to start playing around with stylization.
Sure, there aren't any hard-and-fast rules for bouncing—it's your own modern calligraphy, after all. But to help you avoid making the same mistakes ol' mate made when they first started, here are some friendly tips and tricks to help you master the bounce!
Alrighty, tools first!
- Rhodia Grid Pad Paper - This handy little bad boy will provide you with those essential guidelines to keep your letters in check.
- Tombow Dual Brush Pen - A versatile tool that'll help you create the varying line widths you need for that bouncy effect.
Now, let's brush up on some terminology!
- The X-height: The height of a lowercase letter.
- The waistline: Those lines sitting atop your X-height.
- The baseline: Those lines at the bottom of your X-height.
- Ascenders: Lower case letters, like 't' and 'l', that have a stem up and reach higher than the waistline.
- Descenders: Lower case letters, like 'p' and 'g', that have a stem down and sink below the baseline.
Alright, time to put those terms to use! Remember, we're assuming you know your basic strokes. If not, damn it, stop now and give that video a watch!
- Write the word "Minimum" all with the same X-height.
- Circle the bottom of the final stroke on the letters m, n, and u.
- Re-write the word, but extend those circled parts below the baseline.
- Circle the top of the final stroke on all the m's.
- Re-write the word again, but also extend those circled parts above the waistline.
Voila! That's the very basics of bounce lettering!
With those basics under your belt, let's check out some trickier words, keeping these four main tips in mind:
- Don't forget your basic strokes: Start with those smooth connections between strokes and remember to apply light pressure for upward strokes and heavy pressure for downward strokes.
- Keep all x-heights the same: Consistency is key here, so make sure your letters are all the same height.
- Keep all letters on the same baseline: Treat that baseline like your best mate - stick with it!
- Keep the bounces at reasonable heights: A bit of spring is great, but too much can make your letters look messy, buddy.
And there you have it! The basics of bounce lettering. Over time, this gets easier, and you'll understand what letters have the potential to bounce naturally. Before you know it, bounce lettering will become second nature!
Ready to put these techniques into practice? I've got a traceable worksheet with your name on it! Just head on over to my Patreon page to get access. And if you need even more guidance, I've got a full workbook that dives deeper into bounce lettering.
So, what are you waiting for? Start bouncing those letters and make your calligraphy pop!
- Embrace the versatility of the Tombow Dual Brush Pen as you explore modern calligraphy and create varying line widths for a bouncy effect.
- As you delve into bounce lettering, familiarize yourself with key terms such as X-height, waistline, baseline, ascenders, and descenders.
- Equip yourself with essential supplies like the Rhodia Grid Pad Paper for maintaining proper letter spacing and alignment.
- Infuse your home-and-garden lifestyle with a touch of art as you practice bounce lettering and transform your hand-lettering skills into a distinctive part of your personal lifestyle.
