Get the skills You Need to finally start lettering with confidence!

Trying to master lettering can feel like an endless journey. There are so many things to remember, tools you are told to secure, and oh yes, that elusive monster called “practice, practice, and more practice!” How can an otherwise busy person not only connect with, but excel in this discipline?

Even as a calligrapher I found lettering to be tough to navigate. I knew my way around letterforms, however with no tool to execute what I wanted to do, I was forced to learn how to draw letters and that’s essentially what hand lettering entails. Letter construction, playing with contrasting styles, etc. The possibilities are endless which is part of the reason I was drawn to it.

I’d love to be the person to introduce you to the satisfying world of crafting letters. A great foundation will ensure that whatever medium you end up working in will be coupled with best practices that have been handed down from hand lettering artists, sign painters and alphabet designers who have paved the way for us all.

IF ANY OF THE BELOW DESCRIBES YOU, PLEASE KEEP READING…

• Are you stuck in the rut of grabbing freebies from the web and cobbling together CONFLICTING advice?
  
  

• Do you find yourself overwhelmed with what you are seeing online as it pertains to calligraphy and lettering?
  
  

• Is your lettering STILL not looking like the lettering that you admire?

• are your lettering layouts (EITHER PERSONAL PROJECTS OR CLIENT WORK) being lost in a sea of other more polished design solutions?
  
  

• Does it feel like you will never get tO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE no matter how hard you try?
  

MY OWN LETTERING JOURNEY

My own love affair with letters was born out of a desire for my lettering to look more like what I was seeing out in the world. As a competent calligrapher, I felt like I HAD some of the individual pieces: letter construction, letter decoration, the ability to create a few design elements, etc. but putting them altogether so that they resembled the strong, cohesive, graphic layouts I would see on my social media feeds was a real challenge.

What pens/tools should I use? How do I get better at drawing florals? How many design elements do I need to add? Where do I need to add them? Do I need an iPad?

These were the questions that haunted me and may be bugging you as well.

My philosophy is that every lettering enthusiast needs is a “toolbox of skills” that you can dip into as you are building your layouts or creating design solutions. The more tools you have, the more your work will end up looking more and more:

Polished
The “aha” moment when layouts come together

Dynamic
The distinctive look that only your lettering has

Surprising
the less obvious design solutions that bring a smile TO THE VIEWER

Shareable
more saves and shares

BEFORE AND AFTER CASE STUDIES

Who Am I AGAIN?

Hey, my name is Christy Toney and I have been a calligrapher for 15 years. I began by doing mostly envelopes, place cards and also printed stationery for weddings. Then around 2011, the industry changed, becoming characterized more and more by uber personalized events. With that personalization came more wedding signage. My career evolved into doing a variety of custom signs on a multitude of surfaces. It was the love of this physical signage that drove my passion for hand lettering.

WHO SHOULD LEARN FROM ME?

THE BEGINNER / THE CURIOUS LOOKING TO FINALLY START
Someone who wants to learn calligraphy, lettering or both… For fun, for card making or for an eventual business/side hustle… Perhaps you’ve felt the pull in this direction, but don’t feel like you have the time or you don’t know where to start. You’ve been sifting through free resources, but still don’t feel like you are on a sustainable track for success. Perhaps you’ve taken some baby steps and want to see improvement. In short, you want your work/efforts to mirror what you have been admiring…

CALLIGRAPHERS / HAND LETTERERS
An existing calligrapher/hand letterer who wants to get better at specific disciplines within calligraphy (i.e. sign making, re-visiting foundational concepts, etc). I can help you make your work look more distinctive, and stand out from the crowd. I also still do custom work so by actively working with clients, I can pass along best practices that will ensure more successful deliverables.

WHY LEARN FROM ME?

I have a somewhat unique, technical background (seriously, I attended a technical H.S., took 4 years of drafting, set metal type in a graphic arts shop, etc.) and love to show how important analog (non-digital) tools can be to your lettering process.

In short, I can show you how to letter better from a solid foundation! This foundation will translate to your eventual digital renderings of lettering as well.

The meditative quality of calligraphy & hand lettering is more enjoyable when you are creating something that you are proud to share with others. Why not consider finally reaching your full potential as an artist?

GRAB ONE OF THESE DIGITAL RESOURCES TODAY SO YOU CAN FINALLY START BEING HAPPIER WITH YOUR WORK!

Hand Lettering Basics is the resource you have been looking for. It is the foundational title that you need to be able to understand what is going on “under the hood” as it pertains to letters. It will additionally help you have a more cerebral approach to your design solutions.

This title will give calligraphers who are accustomed to only using pointed pen a chance to dive into drawing letters perhaps for the first time. At the same time it will provide lettering enthusiasts with a great starting point to crafting strong layouts with confidence.

Faux calligraphy is a skill that all calligraphers and letterers NEED to master in order to create signage and custom signs with flair and personality. Check out this title in order to get up to speed on this style and add this “tool” to your creative toolbox. This 12-page guide is great for beginners.