A DAY ON SCRIPT LETTERING

We call script a group of drawn letter forms that derive from the cursive writing. Usually with a strong calligraphic character, scripts have as a main feature the continuous stroke, but from here we have a very wide span of possibilities. When people think about “lettering”, what they have in mind is probably a script. It’s a style that it’s not exactly calligraphic, because the letters are drawn and not written, but definitely not typographic, since it has a strong hand-written root anyway.

In this practical workshop, we’ll learn how to approach a script lettering piece, from the first sketch to the final work. After practicing the foundations of brush-written calligraphy and through slide presentations and demonstrations, we’ll see the basics of lettering, sketching techniques, the logic of rhythm, composition and all that technical stuff that make a difference. We’ll also see the different ways of starting a script lettering work, and everyone will get to do their own project that will consist of a logotype or a short sentence, with the help of Ivan Castro.

Schedule

• Semi-formal Italic calligraphy with a round brush
• Variations on the formal structure
• Lettering foundations
• How to engage a lettering project in script style
• Personal project with Ivan, from the first sketch to the finished inked work
• Closing critique

Materials needed

• A fude brush, ideally Pentel Arts Color Brush. As an alternative, Tombow will be OK, but I prefer the hairy stuff.
• 2H pencil
• Eraser
• Sharpener
• Sharpie Twin Tip black
• Regular paper A4 / letter
• Tracing paper A4 / letter (the thin one, about 50 gsm)

About the instructor

Ivan Castro is a graphic designer based in Barcelona, Spain, who specializes in calligraphy, lettering, and typography. His work involves everything from advertising to editorial, and from packaging to logo design and gig posters. Although Ivan claims to have no specific style, one could say that he has a strong respect for the history of popular culture. He has been working in the field for 20 years, and has been teaching calligraphy and lettering for about 15 years in the main design schools in Barcelona, such as Elisava or BAU. He travels frequently, holding workshops and giving lectures at design festivals and conferences. He’s the author of The ABC of Custom Lettering, Lettering a tope (in Spanish) and two lettering online courses in the Spanish platform Domestika.

www.ivancastro.es