Happy New Year! I thought we'd ease into things with a challenge to help us reflect, set intentions, and dabble in different lettering styles: we will be choosing a word for the year and lettering it 5 different ways!

One of the topics that came up when I asked what you'd like to work on is developing your style. This year, I hope to incorporate more lessons exploring that, as well as trying new font styles and lettering outside of our usual boxes! 

I'll also be creating PDFs for each mini challenge--they will include a checklist to help you stay on track/divide up the practice within the month, worksheets with examples, and a final worksheet to fill out at the end of each month for each challenge. At the end of the year you should have 12 sheets and a fun way to look back on your lettering journey! This month's PDFs include:
 

- Challenge checklist

- Bounce variation worksheet and example

- Spacing variation worksheet and example

- Print variations worksheet and examples

- Final worksheet to letter your word in the 5 different ways we go over

My word for the year is "fearless"--and I don’t mean jumping out of planes or bungee jumping lol. For me it’s being fearless about creative choices, new projects, making mistakes, not being “perfect”, asking questions, not knowing what’s next, asking for help, saying yes to the unknown, the future. It might seem like an odd word to pick for the times we live in but while I have my worries, I want to find the balance between not living in fear, staying safe, challenging myself, and moving forward. I'll be using "fearless" in the examples on the worksheets.

If you want to share with me what your word is and why, I'd love to hear. Just send me an email hello@atiliay.com. (This won't be shared publicly anywhere, it's just because I am curious :))

Word Of The Year, 5 Ways

 

modern style  with bounce using Pentel Fude Touch Sign Brush Pen w/Flexible Tip

2) Bounce variation:
I did the opposite of what I normally do and lettered without bounce, used same pen as #1

 did a monoline version using Stabilo pointMax M08 Pen

my regular print writing, as neat as possible lol, with downstrokes added using Marvy Le PLume II Dual Tip Pen, felt tip to write, brush tip to fill in downstrokes

 I added thick downstroke + serif + round circular/dot ends using Le Plume II felt tip to write and Stabilo Point Max to add the thicker lines and circular ends.

 

Snap some process photos or just your final end of month overview sheet or put together a reel after you're done (who else is a little addicted to making those? :)) so you can share on Instagram or with me! It's always awesome seeing how you use your worksheets and interpret each challenge!

 

The hashtags we'll be using are #betterlettersin15 #bli15mini and don't forget to tag me @atiliay and you can always reach me via email at hello@atiliay.com.

I purposefully broke up the challenge and scheduled it throughout the month because I think it's important we don't feel pressured to do everything all at once or that we HAVE to start exactly on Jan 1st because it's the nee year, etc. My intention with Better Letters In 15 is for us to be able to find time and space to work on our lettering but at a pace that is relaxing and inspiring.

I hope you are enjoying the month so far and I wish you a year ahead filled with many moments of joy, laughter, and creativity!

Take care and talk to you soon!

PS: It's helpful and more fun to have a lettering / accountability buddy! Have a friend sign up so you can do the challenges together and keep each other motivated and on track!