I recently stumbled across Days of the Year, which is a website that tells you about little-known holidays and observations. Through Days of the Year, I discovered that May is “Get Caught Reading” month. That was the excuse I needed to provide you with a list of my eight favorite artistic books and magazines! Each of these written works will inspire you to get creative and try something new.
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Every time I make a tutorial like this watercolor cactus + quote artwork, I wonder why I don’t make more watercolor pieces. There’s a certain satisfaction in watching a blank piece of paper transform into a vibrant, eye-catching work of art! I know that many people find watercolors to be intimidating, but there’s a secret to using them: embrace mistakes and run with them! Watercolor seems to have a mind of its own, and that’s the basis of its beauty. Understand that, and you’ll enjoy making artwork like this. Here’s how to do it:
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Whether you keep a bullet journal, take notes for work or class, or jot down lists here and there, you’ll love implementing these hand lettering ideas! Any one of them can add personality and creative satisfaction to your work. They’re great for eye-catching headers, envelope art, handmade signs, or anything else you may want to take on!
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If you like calligraphy and/or hand-lettering, knowing how to draw a banner is bound to come in handy eventually. In this post, you’ll find some tips for drawing banners, plus you can download the free Five Banner Tutorials printable!
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I enjoy playing with new lettering techniques. It’s amazing, really, how much artistic license you can take and still produce a piece that is gorgeous — and legible! This lettering tutorial is based off of the Theo Chocolate logo, which features an eye-catching color scheme and whimsical writing. You can use the “watercolor melt” lettering technique to write virtually any word! Here’s how:
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This birthday card tutorial may look intimidating from the get-go, especially if you’re new to watercolors. Before you discount this as a project you can’t do, let me assure you that you can! This design is 100% traceable, which makes it prefect for both watercolor and dip pen beginners. Here’s how to make it:
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There are many reasons to dive into the world of pencil calligraphy. First of all, pencil calligraphy offers a new way to explore lettering! It’s also something you can easily practice anywhere, and, if you have kids, there’s no ink to keep track of (that may or may not end up spilled on a carpet). Pencil calligraphy is cost-effective, challenging, and creative — and I hope that after reading this post, you’ll try it for yourself!
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I have been a fan of Molly Suber Thorpe since I stumbled upon her first book, Modern Calligraphy, three years ago. With its gorgeous photos and encouraging tone, Modern Calligraphy can’t help but inspire you! Based on how much I enjoyed Modern Calligraphy, I was excited when Molly offered to send me a copy of her latest book: The Calligrapher’s Business Handbook. It arrived a couple of weeks later in a gorgeous envelope!
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As I mentioned in last week’s tutorial over how to make a wifi password sign, Hernán and I recently remodeled the apartment in our basement. We purchased our house in April, and at that time, the basement felt a bit sparse and too modern for a house built in the 1950’s.
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After years of apartment living, Hernán and I bought a house here in Boulder three months ago. We were lucky enough to find a home that has a separate apartment in the basement. For us, that’s perfect because both of our families live out of state, and they enjoy coming for long visits! When family members aren’t visiting, we plan on renting the basement apartment out on Airbnb. Since the day we moved in, we’ve been working on remodeling the basement. As you can see from Hernán’s paint-stained shirt, it has been quite an undertaking!
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