$149.00
Learn to develop a practical and uniquely personal approach to lettering. Perfect for all skill levels—includes FREE 60-page PDF guidebook!
BONUS: Add on the optional the 37-page PDF workbook at checkout for even more instruction.
NOTE: This is a recording of the Foundations of Lettering workshop conducted on November 8, 2025. You will receive the PDF guidebook (and PDF workbook if added to your registration) and a link to the Zoom recording via email within 24-48 hours after checkout. To view the recording, you need to provide the email address associated with your Zoom account. You will have unlimited access to the recording until the link expires on March 1, 2026.
By signing up to view this recording you agree to the Terms and Conditions* listed below.
Whether you’re a beginner new to hand-lettering or a veteran looking to refine and expand your skills, this workshop is for you! In this in-depth, info-packed class, I’ll share the three pillars of my personal creative process, developed over 30 years as a professional letterer. This straightforward and accessible method offers a well-grounded, reliable approach to creating successful hand-lettering for both commercial and passion projects.
You’ll start by getting acquainted with essential letter styles and their origins. We’ll explore their shared qualities, unique characteristics, and best applications. This know-how will form the foundation of your stylistic palette—the toolkit you’ll draw from to create highly personal and innovative lettering.
Next, you’ll discover the many visual factors that influence lettering. We’ll examine how positive and negative shapes work together to define the look of letters, and explore common yet overlooked optical phenomena that affect their scale and structure. You’ll use these key concepts to ensure your lettering has a balanced and steady visual rhythm.
Finally, you’ll learn how to interpret fundamental letter styles through practical drawing and modifying techniques. Using strategies for customizing letter contours and composition, you’ll learn to develop your own one-of-a-kind lettering for a variety of design applications.
You’ll expand your personal lettering practice with the help of a FREE 60-page illustrated PDF guidebook, along with informative slide presentations and live drawing demonstrations. Chose the optional bonus 37-page workbook packed with additional instruction and exercises to help continue sharpening your skills.
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:
• Establish a solid basis for a reliable lettering practice
• Identify and apply important lettering styles
• Form a personal stylistic palette from various sources
• Manipulate visual phenomena to shape letters
• Balance form and counterform to create even rhythm
• Modify letterforms using essential drawing techniques
• Arrange and compose attractive hand-lettered layouts
• Interpret letter styles to produce uniquely personal work
This workshop is ideal for:
• Artists of all skill levels who want to develop a personal and practical approach to lettering
• Newcomers and casual artists interested in understanding the basics of hand-drawn lettering
• Experienced letterers who want to improve and expand their skill set
• Designers looking to level up their work by adding hand-lettering to their portfolio
• Creative directors who would like to confidently hire skilled lettering artists, and improve communication with professional letterers
• Teachers who want to help students develop a dependable lettering practice
• Illustrators and other artists curious about adding hand-lettering to their work
• Students from my other lettering classes who want to dive more deeply into the foundations of successful lettering
I'll give lettering demonstrations on an iPad using Procreate, but you can also use these tools if you want to draw along with me:
• pencil and a pencil sharpener
• an eraser
• tracing paper
• grid/graph paper
• a ruler
• a computer or other electronic device, a reliable internet connection, plus a Zoom account to join the live online meeting and to watch the video recording
• access to a printer if you want to refer to a hard copy of the PDF guidebook
• a copy of my Lettering Manual is strongly recommended
• Although I'll be drawing in Procreate on an iPad, the limited timeframe will not allow for hardware or software instruction.
Class time is approximately 4.5 hours.
*TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TICKET PURCHASE:
1. Ownership and Usage Rights: By registering for access to this recording, you hereby agree to the following stipulations:
a. Individual Use Only: The playback of this recording is exclusively intended for the individual who has purchased a ticket and is strictly prohibited for collective, corporate, or educational group use.
b. Restricted Use of Workshop Materials: All PDF workshop materials, including guidebooks and/or workbooks, are designated solely for personal use and must not be disseminated, duplicated, in part or in whole, or otherwise shared. You are authorized to produce one single copy for your own personal reference.
c. Ownership of Workshop Materials: The Foundations of Lettering PDF guidebook and : The Foundations of Lettering PDF workbook is the exclusive property of Ken Barber.
2. Refund Policy: Due to the nature of this digital product, no refunds will be provided after purchase. It is imperative that you ensure your capability to access a reliable internet connection for viewing the workshop and downloading the PDF materials.
3. Access Expiration Date: Access to viewing the workshop will expire on March 1, 2026.
4. No Guarantee of Success or Profit: You acknowledge and agree that there is no guarantee of the ticket purchaser reaching a level of success or that you will gain any professional profit by viewing this workshop and using the class materials.
5. Non-Acceptance of Terms: Should you decline to acknowledge and abide by these terms, please do not purchase a ticket for this recording.
6. Group Use: If you require access for a group or intend to employ this material in a collective setting, please contact us to discuss group rates and request authorization for such usage.
By proceeding with the purchase of a ticket, you affirm your understanding and consent to the aforementioned terms and conditions.