The Art of the Letterform

Contributed by LOU SIMEONE

I have nothing but the highest respect for the art of lettering. I don’t think most people would dispute it when I say that lettering and typography have to be one of the biggest challenges for many illustrators and designers to either create properly or integrate effectively into their work. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, whether lettering and typography is a challenge for you or you simply have a pure love for the art form, below are two great references for instruction and or enjoyment.

Letter as Image

Letter as Image is a great website that contains the work of 6 masters of the letterform, Michael Doret, Louise Fili, Gerard Huerta, Tom Nikosey, Daniel Pelavin and Tom White. I’ve admired the work of these great artists since I could read and it’s fantastic to be able to view their work on one site.

Logo, Font and Lettering Bible

This book has been out since 2004 but it is absolutely one of the best books out there on the subject and definitely worth mentioning if there’s a slim chance that you might not know of it yet. Written and designed by Leslie Cabarga this book contains everything you need to know to create logos, fonts and icons, all of which, often start with the ability to draw letterforms. Leslie Cabarga has been an illustrator, graphic designer and font designer since 1975. Needless to say he knows a thing or two about the art of the letterform.