Artist Talk - Letters by Gigi
About me
I’m a lettering artist, cat lover, and creator of @letters_by_gigi. You can see my art regularly posted on Instagram and TikTok. I was born in Colombia, raised in the city of Bucaramanga, known for its picturesque vistas, parks, and gardens. I came to the US five years ago and have been living in Los Angeles for the last few years. Since moving to LA, I've met and connected with a number of artists and creative professionals who have influenced my lettering journey.
Hand lettering is a form of artistic expression
I became interested in art at a very young age. My father is a painter who loves oil on canvas, but also knows a lot about traditional calligraphy. Growing up I watched him paint and was influenced by all the beautiful art on the walls of my childhood home. Both my parents encouraged creative thinking and because of them, I was able to pick up the artistry and technical skills.
A few years ago, I decided to focus and hone my lettering skills. At first, it started out as a hobby, but by 2019, I was doing hand lettering on a daily basis. I evolved my style by studying the art form, researching new materials, and finding inspiration through other artists.
Letters by Gigi is an art appreciation community
It felt wonderful to create beautiful letters and this activity brought back fond childhood memories, so I decided to create @Letters_by_Gigi on Instagram to show others my learning process and connect with like-minded people. Through the inspiration and support of the lettering community, I've focused on creating art with words of positivity.
Supporting women through positive words
Most of my followers are women and through this community, I've connected with so many people from around the world and learned their story of how lettering has been a positive influence in their lives.
I look forward to celebrating International Women's Day because it's an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions and amazing talents of women around the world.
Sometimes a few empowering words is all a person needs to brighten up their day and it's even better when those words are beautifully hand drawn.
How to get started with hand lettering
Lettering is something anyone can learn with practice. If you're interested in learning brush lettering I recommend first determining the style you like best. There are many ways to letter and you can develop your own unique style.
Next, invest in a brush pen and start practicing. Learn the basic drills, which will help you master the correct techniques.
This includes correct hand placement and body posture. Good posture is important. Believe it or not, the way you breathe can be helpful when it comes to technique and maintaining a steady hand.
Once comfortable, practice the letters of the alphabet and learn to create complete words by discovering ways to connect different letters. It's a fun and therapeutic process, which really anyone can learn. Once you start to add color, a new world of vibrancy opens up.
Practice sheets can simplify the learning process
Practice sheets are a great way to learn and develop confidence in your lettering. I’ve developed a set of digital practice sheets (available on Etsy here), which you can download at home to get started. I’ve also made a set of follow-along (tutorial) videos to help guide hand placement and improve techniques.
You can join @letters_by_gigi community for daily art inspiration.