Last post we explored the difference between calligraphy and a font. Today we are talking about what makes calligraphy different than hand lettering or faux lettering.
Now the definitions I am going to use may vary between the people you ask. These are MY understanding of them and MY definitions that I have learned through my own studies.
What is the difference between calligraphy and lettering?
Calligraphy
As a refresher, Calligraphy is the art form of writing beautiful or decorative letters with a specialized tool such as a pointed pen or brush. It is different from handwriting or cursive due to the beautiful heavy down strokes and the light up strokes. Unlike handwriting or cursive, calligraphy is created through strokes that make up the letters verses the fluid, one line of handwriting or cursive.
Lettering
Lettering, though similar to calligraphy, is the art of drawing letter forms. Unlike calligraphy, lettering you can create using any tool such as pencil, marker, brush or pen.
Like calligraphy there are many varieties of hand lettering. Think about back in grade school when you would use bubble letters for notes or posters. This is a style of lettering. Lettering can be cursive letters or printed letters that mimic fonts or handwriting.
Faux Lettering
Then what is faux calligraphy? This style of lettering falls in both the camps of calligraphy and hand lettering. Your goal is to create letters that look like calligraphy but using a different tool like a marker or pen. You are using strokes like calligraphy to make your letters, but going back in filling in the downstrokes, like hand lettering, to make your letters look more calligraphy like.
Like the chalkboard above, these are beautiful calligraphy letters created with a chalk marker. I went back in and filled in the downstrokes to give the calligraphy style but with a simple marker.
To recap:
Calligraphy - strokes to create letterforms with specialized tools.
Handlettering - drawing letter forms and using any tool to do so.
Faux Lettering - Using tools and style of hand lettering to create the look of Calligraphy style letters.
All three art forms area beautiful option for anyone of your parties, cards and posters. What are you going to use next?