Posts in category: Design

I know, I know – it’s been awhile. But I’m back to share with you a list of some of my favorite pens and pencils. I’m listing my top 4 pens and my favorite pencil. These are the tools I use whenever I need something that I know I can count on. Let’s get straight to it!

Favorite Pens and Pencil

Of course, the ultimate duo- the Tombow Fudenosuke . Both hard and soft have different purposes. If you’re a beginner, I suggest the hard tip. It’s very easy to use, and the variation between thick and thins are easier to maintain.

Pigma Microns are some of the most versatile pens for lettering artists and illustrators. There’s a huge variety of tip sizes and I LOVE IT. It’s great for stippling, detailed thin lines, and also really great for monoline lettering. But there are other variations of Pigma pens that are also great, like the graphic and brush pens.

Sai Watercolor Brush Pens are definitely super fun and has beautiful colors. I also really love the dry brush effect that happens when you write with the quickly. If you’d like to see an example of how I used these pens for a wedding invitation head to this blog.

Pentel Sign Pens have a felt-tip and writes very similar to the hard Tombow. The greatest thing is that they come in all different colors and are pretty easy to use.

And lastly, my favorite pencil, in fact, my absolute FAVORITE pencil is a Paper Mate Clearpoint Lead Pencil. Pencils are awesome at drawing everything, making marks, and sketching out all the ideas and layouts you have. There’s something very permanent about pens, and I think it makes me scared to push the limits of letters. Whereas a pencil is much better since it’s not permanent. Plus, I have an absolute love for the sketchy lines. And this lead pencil is awesome because I love the way it feels in my hands and the eraser is the best. Really great wooden pencil that I’ve been using a lot of lately is a Ticonderoga pencil. I love how sharp the lead can get!

Honorable Mentions: Whenever I have to draw on dark paper, I do love me some Sakura Gelly Rolls. They are usually dependable and give great bright colors. For really great guides and articles on pens, I refer to jetpens.com

Many people feel that calligraphy and lettering can be used interchangeably. But technically, it’s not. The designer and word-stickler in me cringe a little bit when someone mixes them up. I don’t think one is better than the other, or takes more skill. I just think it’s important to clear things up a little.

So today, I hope to bring light to what is what and how can you tell the difference.

Calligraphy is beautiful handwriting.

Typically, there are very special tools like nibs and ink or brushes or pens that help you to write words beautifully. Typically, it’s “a single pass of the pen/tool to write as a form of art.”

A photo posted by Ceindy Ton Nunez (@ceindydoodles) on Mar 20, 2016 at 10:56am PDT

A photo posted by Ceindy Ton Nunez (@ceindydoodles) on Jan 17, 2017 at 5:59am PST

My favorite styles of calligraphy are with watercolor, brush, and felt-tip pens- which is also known as modern calligraphy. I depend on the tool to create the look I want. I push down heavier for thicker strokes and lighter for thinner strokes. To achieve the dry-brush look, my favorite, I have to write quickly, which means a lot of practice with spacing and kerning. The ultimate pleasure is making a smooth line and immaculate spacing. If you are looking into doing calligraphy with a pointed pen, there are many awesome resources online. One of my favorites is The Postman’s Knock. So if writing beautifully is calligraphy, then what is lettering?

Lettering is illustrating letters. 

Sometimes, I draw script letters. Sometimes, I do faux-calligraphy where I draw in the thick and thin parts. Sometimes, I make my letters fat or really skinny. My main tool is a pencil, not only to map out where things might go but have a good idea what the letters will look like. Really great lettering should tell a story.

A photo posted by Ceindy Ton Nunez (@ceindydoodles) on Jan 1, 2017 at 6:11pm PST

A photo posted by Ceindy Ton Nunez (@ceindydoodles) on Nov 14, 2016 at 8:27am PST

How can you tell the difference?

I admit this can be difficult. Usually, the easiest way is to see what tools the artist is using. However, if it’s a finished product, typically it’s looking at the letters and seeing if it’s something that can happen in one pass. Learning about different tools and the strokes they make, will help you differentiate the two. Honestly, both ways of letter-making are beautiful and important to appreciate.

So what is it that you do?

In short, I do both. However, I am way, way more interested in lettering. I have an itch to make letters do weird, different, and unique things. The designers I look up to are Jessica Hische, Lauren Hom, Dana Tanamachi, Mary Kate McDevitt, Louise Fili, Martina Flor, etc. (Just noticed these are all women, woop woop!) They may have a style and a look, but each piece of work tells a story.

For more examples as to what the difference is: check out www.letteringvscalligraphy.com and if you have ANY questions, feel free to email me at ceindyton@gmail.com.