Lettering Examples and Resources

I will end this week with a few more examples of lettering and some options for getting the job done.

This library, done by Garay Artisans, features a quote around the arched window as well as scrolling poets’ names along the low chair rail.

The lettering for this job was provided by “SayWhat?” custom lettering.

The first large lettering job I had, years ago, was to stencil the names and dollar amounts contributed to this non-profit organization, on this column in their lobby. Hugh Hoeger, from SayWhat? lettering, was just introducing his line of custom designed lettering. I never could have done this job without his help and lettering! I gave him the dimensions of the column and all of the text I needed to have included on the column. He laid it all out for me, making sure the text would wrap around the column without problems. It came shipped in a big box, all cut in sections. I had an assistant, and we applied the lettering, section by section and stenciled in gold.

A quick search on Stencilsearch.com will show you a variety of lettering stencils, both custom cut and standard designs.

When I have just a small lettering job to do, I often print out the words I need right from my computer. I use my word processing program and enlarge the letters when I print, to the size I need. I then just cut out the letters with an X-Acto® knife and use the computer paper stencil for my job. I change my fonts to “outline”, so I’m not wasting a lot of ink when I print. Since the stencil is just paper, you must use a very dry stencil brush for this method. It’s a one time use. If I think I’ll use the lettering again for another job, I tape the computer paper to the under side of a piece of glass, lay my mylar over the lettering, on the reverse side of the glass, tape down, and cut my stencil.

As Nancy Schnell mentioned earlier this week, you can also project your lettering directly onto the wall, trace and paint.