Hand-Drawn Letters

Sampler

•  These are but a small sample of my lettering. All were originally hand written or hand drawn. Afterwards each was brought into the computer for whatever finishing was desired or needed. I have over 700 hand drawn alphabets to refer to for ideas.
•  Each request may be written out or sketched out first. Finished lettering may be all hand work, if requested. After the general shape is decided on, it may be brought into the computer for touch-up or re-drawing and finishing. This is not a quick process and is not cheap. The addition of the computer makes great lettering available to many more people than is possible with completely custom work.
•  The finish process might be simple touch up for later printing or for use on a web site. Modifications might be done at that time. The modifications might be for shape, size, outline, etc. Compression or extension as needed can also be applied at that time.
•  The biggest bonus is that you can take a completely original piece of lettering and make it last. You can resize it for different uses. You can display it in color for the customer to see, and then print an outline to apply to the body, to leather, for a sign, or to glass.
•  Most all of the lettering here is acceptable for use on the body, on glass, leather, or for signs and printing too.

Originally hand drawn. Possible heading for a replacement certificate, yet to be finalized.
This would be to update the work I did on a similar certificate for the State of Arizona some 20-plus years ago. The heading was used for quite some time for all official resolutions given by several Arizona Governors.
Click here for a version of a printed blank certificate.

Hand written, modification by hand drawing the letters again, and
then brought into the computer for finishing and the addition of decoration and the drop shadow.
Each letter is considered individually for decoration and how best to use the space around it.
This is time consuming - but only once. Then you have it available forever.

Heading for demonstration of effect - lined drop shadow.

Hand written, hand drawn modifications, computer finishing for display.
Lined drop shadow similar to the effect used on certificates created in the early part of the last century.

Created for the 25th Anniversary Celebration fo the group.

Hand drawn on paper, re-drawn with modifications and finished with a stylus on a tablet in CorelDRAW.
Combined curve and straight letters of different sizes. A graphic seal is positioned below the lettering.

Originally hand written 1983 with a flexible copperplate nib, brought into the computer for finishing.

Simple heading to show a curved style heading with a double drop shadow.

Simple title based on hand written letters, redone in a graphics program on the computer.
This is a sample heading to show a curved style. Has a double drop shadow.

Hand written letters redrawn on the computer, modified by expansion, finished on the computer.
This is expanded horizontally - which would mean a complete redraw without the computer original to work with.

Hand written letters redrawn on the computer, slight compression, finished on the computer.
This sample has been horizontally compressed from the original hand lettered version.
Again redrawing was not needed because it had been redone and saved on the computer.

Proposal for certificate heading for certificate.

Proposed replacement calligraphy for a certificate given out by the Governor's office.
Completely hand written and then brought into the computer for finishing for printing on original certificates.
This lettering would be a replacement for the current computer genrerated certificate.

Proposed replacement calligraphy for a certificate given out by the Governor's office.
Completely hand written and then brought into the computer for finishing for printing on original certificates.
This version is colored for on screen display, or hand coloring / painting.

Hand written, redrawn, and tattood near the base of the neck on the back.

Done for Skin and Ink magazine. Published in the March 2002 issue.

Combination of a hand written and redrawn letter in the center, drawn and modified letters for the text.

BRANDT INVESTIGATIONS - ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA

Graphical treatment of a company name. The striking simplicity works well as a logo for visual recognition.

Site creation by A2Z Computer Works