Tag: decorative text

Lifestyle illustrator: Hand-drawn type and drawing words

14 June 2022 0 comments Article Blog, Illustration discussion

I have always loved decorative type – from delicate, swirling calligraphy, through neon bubble writing, spray-painted graffiti and colourful mixed-up fonts, to ornate chalkboard writing. And, my absolute favourite …

Illustrated block of text in variety of colours, which says 'HAND drawn TYPE'. Hand-drawn type by Tasha Goddard

I absolutely love the loose, handwriting-style that I can get from a dip-pen or fountain pen – or, more often, my Apple pencil! I like mixing up lower-case and capitals, and throwing in some font-like letters here and there. (I do have to switch off the editor in me, because she can get a bit antsy when I go all out with mixing up lower- and upper-case.)

Hand-drawn type (mostly) on its own

I use hand-drawn type a lot. I use it on its own for positive, life-affirming messages …

Illustrated text with a decorative rainbow. Words are "Chase away the blues". Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustrated text with a decorative thought clouds. Words are "Let your thoughts wander". Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustrated text. Words are "It's OK to do nothing". Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.

… or shouty activism (yeah, I need to do a lot more of this one!) …

Illustrated text with decorative elements. Words are "Strong Women. May we be them. May we know them. May we raise them." Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustrated text with illustrative elements. Words are "I am not my gender. I am myself" Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustrated text with illustrated arms. Words are "Break the Bias." Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.

… or celebratory words …

Illustrated text with illustrative elements. Words are "Congratulations". Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustrated text with illustrative elements. Words are "Thank You". Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustrated text with illustrative elements. Words are "Stay Warm". Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.

Hand-drawn text within illustrations

I use it within illustrations a fair bit. On bottles and packaging or wall art …

Bedroom illustration with lettering on wall art. Words are "Stay Calm". Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Living room illustration with lettering on wall art. Words are "Be You." Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Kitchen illustration with lettering on items on shelf. Words are "Art. Literature. Psychology. Drink Me." Text illustrated by Tasha Goddard.

… in the words for my alphabet series …

Illustration of Marmite jar, with decorative elements and hand-drawn text. Words are: "M is for Marmite. Yeast Extract." Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustration of Radish with decorative text. Words are: "R is for Radish." Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustration of an okapi with decorative text. Words are: "O is for Okapi. NOT a zebra. Really. But may be a giraffe." Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.

… as captions on individual spots …

Illustration of positive Covid test with illustrative text. Words are: "My Turn." Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustration of teenager with bright pink hair dancing. Words are: "Let's Dance." Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustration of two hands shaking with text. Words are: "Reach out a hand in friendship." Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.

… as text in speech or thought bubbles, or not …

Illustration of a woman smiling. Words in thought bubble. Words are: "Reach Smile, wave, nod, smile, wave, nod... REPEAT." Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Cute penguin illustration with speech bubble. Words are: "Season's Greetings." Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Quirky unicorn illustration with words directed at reader/viewer. Words are: "Do you believe?." Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.

… in illustrated recipes …

Illustrated recipe: Vegan Green Spaghetti. Ingredients: wholemeal spaghetti, kale, peas, nutritional yeast, vegan cream cheese (I used plant-based Philadelphia) and salt and pepper. Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustrated recipe: Aubergine and Tomato Sauce. Ingredients: 2 aubergines, diced and salted, 1 tin of tomatoes, 4 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tube tomato puree, 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, salt. Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.
Illustrated recipe: Vegan Banana Muffins. Ingredients: 4 mushed ripe bananas, 100 g dark brown sugar, 75 ml vegetable oil, 200 g self-raising flower, 1 tsp baking powder 2 tsp cinnamon powder. Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.

Hand-drawn type within patterns

I even use it in patterns sometimes!

Baking pattern with hand-drawn text included. Illustrated and designed by Tasha Goddard.
Cute doodle pattern with hand-drawn letters included. Illustrated and designed by Tasha Goddard.

Hand-drawn type on book covers

Oh, and of course for book covers.

Book cover design with hand-drawn text. List Happy: 75 lists for happiness, gratitude and well-being. By positive psychology expert Vanessa King. Illustrated by Tasha Goddard. (Book to be published 28 June 2022.)

Do you love

Dark, chalkboard banner with the words 'illustrated WORDS' on. Illustrated by Tasha Goddard.

too?

What’s your favourite decorative type, illustrated words, hand-drawn text (…)? Leave a comment and tell us what you love about illustrative text. Or link to some of your own hand-drawn type, if you like!

If you’re looking to commission some hand-drawn type, do get in touch!