Brush Pen Lettering Book Review

If you are looking for a book to help you learn hand lettering, Brush Pen Lettering by Grace Song is an excellent choice. I have read many books about brush pen lettering, and can tell you this book has a lot to offer. Thank you to Ulysses Press for providing me with a review copy.

In Brush Pen Lettering, Grace Song explains how to get started in the art of brush pen lettering. The book includes step-by-step instructions, tips and tricks, color photographs, DIY projects, inspiring ideas and practice sheets. It is a wonderful resource for beginners and anyone who wants to continue developing their brush pen lettering skills beyond the basics.

I want to get better at hand lettering is so I draw pretty cards, address envelopes and make my bullet journal look artsy! I learn so much from hand lettering books written by brush pen calligraphy artists like Grace Song. Follow her Instagram account @gracesongcalligraphy to see her inspiring designs.

It’s probably easiest to give you an idea of what you will find inside the Brush Pen Lettering book by listing the chapter titles. Next to each chapter title, I wrote what each chapter is about in a nutshell.

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Brush Pen Lettering Contents:

Chapter 1: Getting Started Brush Pen Lettering Supplies and How to hold a brush pen

Chapter 2: Let’s Get Technical Teaches beginner skills including basic strokes and practice drills

Chapter 3: Letterforms Teaches how to form letters and how to connect letters to form words

Chapter 4: Practice Makes Progress Helpful tips for lettering practice

Chapter 5: Embellishing Your Lettering How to add creativity and style to your letters using different techniques such as: Adding highlights and shadows; Adding effects like stippling, outlining, doodles, layering colors, ombre effect (4 methods), and blending. How to develop your own lettering style. How to add flourishes. How to create layouts.

Chapter 5 is my favorite chapter! There is so much great advice and lettering examples to look at in here. This is the chapter that helped get me out of a recent lettering rut.

Among other things, Chapter 5 showed me how easy it can be to give my script lettering a whole new look. I got inspired to practice adding flourishes to my letters. My daily lettering practice has been a lot more fun since applying the techniques I learned from this book.

Chapter 6: DIY Projects – Putting It All Together Six practical project ideas to put your lettering skills to good use. Step-by-step instructions for making gift tags, watercolor greeting cards and more. 

Chapter 7: Faux Calligraphy How to make faux calligraphy on paper, chalkboard, glass and embossed faux calligraphy.

Chapter 8: Beyond Lettering Personal thoughts from the author about her lettering journey

At the end of the book, there are 15 different hand lettering practice sheets. Use the practice sheets over and over again by drawing on a sheet of marker paper on top of the practice sheet. You will be able to see through the marker paper to the practice sheet below.

I love the variety of practice sheets included with the book. They include several guide sheets with different line heights, a basic strokes practice sheet, upper case and lower case script alphabet sheets, and a common words practice sheet.

I do my daily lettering practice with Tombow Fudenosuke brush pens on Rhodia grid paper. I keep practice fun by rewarding myself from time to time with different kinds of pens.

Are you ready to learn hand lettering? Below is a handy shopping list of basic brush pen lettering supplies to help you get started. I listed a variety of my favorite beginner brush pens. These are also some of the pens recommended in the book.

Brush Pen Workbook:

Brush Pens:

Practice Paper:

Do you want to learn brush lettering? What are your favorite brush pens and hand lettering supplies?