Modern Calligraphy and Hand Lettering

Chapter 5

Raw Brush

Pointed Brush Letters

The brush is a universal tool and has been used in lettering for thousands of years. The Chinese have used brushes for lettering since the invention of paper. Some say the original Roman inscriptions that were carved with a hammer and chisel began as sketches using a flat brush. (This might explain the thin entrances and exits, called serifs, at the ends of the letters; they were caused by the brush as the artist began and ended each stroke.) Few lettering tools can convey the speed, emotion, and spontaneity of the brush. You can achieve a variety of weights and textures using this single tool. Contemporary brush lettering can be seen on packaging, logos, and signage. It appears alive and fresh, almost ...