Have you ever tried lettering drills? It might not sound like the most exciting activity, but drills can be quite relaxing. And they are a great way to reset if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or burnt out. Going back the basics simplifies everything, requires very little mental energy, and provides a rhythmic repetition that many people find very restful. It’s not so very different from a pianist returning to basic scales, or a baseball player hitting the batting cages.
Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, you might want to consider doing some basic drills. Think about how restful it could be to take just 5 minutes away from a screen – away from doom scrolling or playing a mindless game – and calmly create beautiful penstrokes on paper. It can help quiet anxious thoughts, reduce blood pressure, strengthen neural connections, improve memory and focus, and get your creative juices flowing. Plus, you get the joy of improving in a skill, whatever level you might be!
The Basics of Lettering Drills
Many artists offer their own drill sheets, with different approaches to learning and practicing the basic strokes of calligraphy or bouncy lettering (if you’re interested, this is one I highly recommend). Personally, I think the absolute simplest way to start is by picking one specific word that you want to learn how to write beautifully and consistently. For instance, the word thanks. What could be more special than being able to write thanks on the cover of a notecard in your own pretty lettering? Or maybe you want to write a name, or a specific holiday phrase. Short is better – but whatever you’re really invested in learning is best.
So pick a word, grab a sheet a paper, and find something to write with. I used a calligraphy pen for the example strokes shown below, but anything can work for basic lettering drills. Just be aware that some techniques (like high contrast or monoline styles) are more suited to certain types of pens, markers, or pencils.
After you write out your word – or type it in a fancy font, if you want a more challenging goal – all you have to do is break down each letter into upstrokes (when your pen moves up the page) and downstrokes (when your pen moves down, towards you). Upstrokes get light pressure, and downstrokes get heavy pressure. The trickiest part is switching seamlessly between them.
I’ve broken down the word thanks into separate strokes, to show you what I mean.
I recommend starting with the first stroke, and repeating it across the page. If your row looks mostly consistent, and you feel confident in making that stroke again, move on to the next one. If it looks wobbly or you’re still struggling to write it correctly, do a few more rows of that individual stroke.
Do 5 rows or 5 minutes – whatever fits best in your day. Don’t rush through, but don’t be perfectionistic either. Enjoy the process and make it a consistent (almost) daily habit. Not only will you find rest in those few minutes of repetive motion – you will improve your skill and muscle memory along the way.
Once you work through all the individual strokes, put them together and write the entire word. Practice writing that single word for a few days, before moving on to another word (or the same word in a totally different style). Your imagination is the limit: the key is simply to make it a habit.
Do you do lettering drills? Will you give this method a try?
PS. If you want a full worksheet for this word, be sure you’re subscribed to my email newsletter (sign up here). I’ll be sending one out in a few days, and will include a PDF for you to print and practice at home!
PPS. Check out this list if you want more ideas for exploring your creativity!
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