How to Illuminate a Letter
- 1
Sketch out the basic shape of your letter lightly in pencil. A good working size is 2 to 3 inches wide and/or tall to give you plenty of room to decorate without losing sight of the letter itself. Widen the outlines at certain points to give it a ribbon or calligraphic look. - 2
Measure out a boundary line around your letter in whatever shape you choose. This line can be one that is used as a visible border or just one to keep your decorations in check. Squares and rectangles are most common, but circles are particularly nice around blocky letters. - 3
Fill the space with decorations, still working in pencil. Acanthus leaves, ivy and swirls are all very good filler patterns to start with followed by fruit and small figures as your skills progress. A simple checkered or diamond pattern can make for a striking background for a letter as well. - 4
Outline your letter and decorations in pen. For best results this should be a waterproof, archival ink pen in black, though red, green or blue can work if it fits with your design. Erase any visible pencil marks once the ink has dried completely. - 5
Paint in the base colors of your letter and decorative elements. Work with flat sections of color first and then build upon them in successive layers. - 6
Add highlights to your basic colors by either mixing a bit of white with the original paint and overpainting or painting pure white directly on top of the figures and elements. - 7
Touch up any of your outlines that might have been painted over in the process. This is also a good time to add additional pen-work outside the original structure.
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