Illuminated letters are colorful, illustrated letters that are decorated with gold or silver. In early manuscripts, they served as placeholders in the text, and added interest to documents. Illuminated letters were traditionally created using real gold in the form of a fine powder. You can still purchase real gold powder or gold leaf. However, this technique is expensive and complex. Luckily, there’s an easier way to achieve the metallic appearance of gold.
Tips:
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We’ll be using a gold Pentouch®, made by Sakura. This is a pen with paint-like ink, that covers beautifully and has the bright shine we want. Choose either a fine or extra fine nib size.
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You’ll also need a pencil with a good eraser. I prefer Sakura’s Sumo Grip®, which is comfortable to use and has an extendable eraser.
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I’m using Sakura’s Pigma® Micron® pens to outline and add color to my letters. These come in a variety of nib sizes and shades.
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Finally, you’ll need a transparent ruler. I bought mine in a pack of three from the dollar store. You can add a masking tape tab to one end to easily lift it without the risk of smearing freshly drawn lines.
Today I’m going to demonstrate a few different styles of the same letter. You can draw endless variations by mixing and matching different serifs, themes, and patterns. I’m going to draw a grid of squares to make a series of mini canvases for my letters. An inch and a half is a good size.
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This first letter is inspired by the Roman alphabet. It features straight lines and triangular serifs. You can add dimension by drawing interior triangles at the end of each stem. Connect the center point of the triangles with a center line. Divide crossbars with a center line, then connect to the stem’s center line at a diagonal. Shade the right half and bottom segments. Draw a flower behind the letter.
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This next letter will have curved ball serifs. Add a curved crossbar with a center point. Give the illusion of depth by drawing slits in the stem and making the crossbar extend behind the letter.
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Here are additional ideas for decorating your letter:
Use geometric shapes.
Add jewels, cuffs, or beads.
Hooks and spurs add interest to the outline of a letter.
Flourish a tail or intertwine a crossbar.
Make an inline border and fill the shape with a pattern, such as harlequin diamonds or filigree.
Draw inspiration from traditional lettering styles, such as Gothic, Blackletter, or Celtic.
Illustrate with a theme, such as birds and feathers, fruit and flowers, ribbons, vines, or rope, or Biblical motifs.
The square background is often a part of the illustration. You can fill it with a pattern or add a border.
Outlining
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Now that you’ve seen how you can add variety to your letters, I’m going to switch over to a sketch I’ve done of the entire alphabet. I’m going to color this one and turn it into a PDF that you can print and use for reference. I’m starting by outlining everything with a black Micron® pen.
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Erase the pencil lines within your letters.
Adding Gold Ink
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Next we’ll add the gold ink, using a Pentouch®. Shake the pen and depress the nib on a piece of scratch paper to get the ink flowing.
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Choose which areas of your letter you’d like to emphasize, and color with the Pentouch®. This gold ink catches the light beautifully!
Adding Color
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Finally, add color to your letter with Micron® pens. I’m sticking with primary colors, plus green.
This project gives you a chance to focus on a single letter at a time, rather than an entire hand lettered layout. Although these letters are intricate, you don’t need to fuss with layout or kerning or any of the other challenges of a standard hand lettered design. For that reason, illuminated letters are great practice for beginners!
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WOW! This video is a bit advanced for me right now, but I look forward to the day I can do these letters. I appreciate the wonderful way you simplify the directions.
Thanks for sharing.
I am so impressed. What a wonderful intro to Illuminated Lettering!! What a clever girl you are. I am very old, so I doubt that I will ever manage to do this (I’m 90)… but I am one of those jack of all trades, so fascinated with everything. I was taught to knit, crochet, embroider, etc. by my grandmother, studied art, and m latest craft is bookmaking, which I studied quite seriously. Perhaps I will try an illuminated letter in one of my handmade books… thank you, I love all your craft work, and I am MOST impressed!
Hello to you Marzi from Melbourne, Australia. I am writing to thank you for your super video on illuminated lettering. It was a great introduction for my five Grade 3 classes today. They responded really well and did a fantastic job on their initials. They are looking forward to working with the gold and silver markers to embellish their letters.
Many Thanks again
Yvonne Osborn,
Visual Arts Specialist Teacher,
Taylors Lakes Primary School
Victoria, Australia.
I saw your illuminated letter tutorial on YouTube. You said something about a free download but I cannot find it. I have checked both the Sakura site and yours.
Pls advise where I can find the letters for download. I usually make my own illuminated letters that I attach to the back of my quilts but new ideas are always welcome.
Thank you very much for your tutorial on illuminated letters, this was just what I was looking for on the internet. And being able to print the alphabet was a bonus. Great work! Thanks from The Netherlands!
Finished?
Great tutorial! Thank you!
WOW! This video is a bit advanced for me right now, but I look forward to the day I can do these letters. I appreciate the wonderful way you simplify the directions.
Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful and a great tutorial – thank you!
I am so impressed. What a wonderful intro to Illuminated Lettering!! What a clever girl you are. I am very old, so I doubt that I will ever manage to do this (I’m 90)… but I am one of those jack of all trades, so fascinated with everything. I was taught to knit, crochet, embroider, etc. by my grandmother, studied art, and m latest craft is bookmaking, which I studied quite seriously. Perhaps I will try an illuminated letter in one of my handmade books… thank you, I love all your craft work, and I am MOST impressed!
I love making books! I bet you do beautiful work!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, hope there would be more youtube tutorial in hand lettering. God bless :)
Hello to you Marzi from Melbourne, Australia. I am writing to thank you for your super video on illuminated lettering. It was a great introduction for my five Grade 3 classes today. They responded really well and did a fantastic job on their initials. They are looking forward to working with the gold and silver markers to embellish their letters.
Many Thanks again
Yvonne Osborn,
Visual Arts Specialist Teacher,
Taylors Lakes Primary School
Victoria, Australia.
My class really enjoyed your video and I liked being able to print out the examples. How did you get Sakura as a sponsor?
I saw your illuminated letter tutorial on YouTube. You said something about a free download but I cannot find it. I have checked both the Sakura site and yours.
Pls advise where I can find the letters for download. I usually make my own illuminated letters that I attach to the back of my quilts but new ideas are always welcome.
Thank you and cheers, Barbara
Downloads are located directly above the supply lists :)
the link reads ‘illuminated letters pdf’
The supply list shows up in 2 ways. I was confused too :-)
Thank you Marzipan..very inspiring video!
All the best.
Thank you so much. Your work is beautiful. Your directions are easy to follow and you inspire others to create! Bravo!
Thank you very much for your tutorial on illuminated letters, this was just what I was looking for on the internet. And being able to print the alphabet was a bonus. Great work! Thanks from The Netherlands!
Thanks for the brilliant tutorial which has given me loads of ideas.