HAND-LETTERING | ISAIAH 40:8

Last week I shared a simply drawn quote, and today I'm back with the same. Completing small projects like this in busier weeks is an easy way to do at least some art everyday, while not feeling behind or in an art rut. 

Isaiah 40:8 reads "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever," and is one verse that stuck out to me while reading last week. So of course I decided to draw it because who am I really but someone who loves handwriting. 

This was drawn on 11 x 14 inch, white paper. My goal in drawing on large white paper is to enable a clear scan that can be blown up or shrunk and printed on any size, style, and color of paper. This drawing differs somewhat from past drawings in the use of a "frame" (the wreath), and is an effect I rather enjoy.

Isaiah 40:8 | Hand-Lettering

S. Thomson

March 2015

Pen & Ink on Paper

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"The worst bankrupt is the person who has lost his enthusiasm."

- A. W. Arnold

HAND-LETTERING | PEN & INK QUOTE

Over the past couple of days, I have been working on trying new fonts and styles with different quotes and verses. Today I am sharing a quote from Anne Frank that reads "Whoever is happy will make others happy too." 

This was a quick and easy project, on crisp white paper. My intention is to draw several designs on white paper, enabling them to then be taken and printed to whatever color or texture of paper desired. This is the first of several drawings to be shared over the next weeks.

Happiness | Hand-Lettering

S. Thomson

Pen on White Paper

8 x 11.5 inches

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"The only talent is perseverance."

- Jesse Raphael

PORTRAIT PT. II | PENCIL ON PAPER

Last week, I shared the portrait of my sister, Maggie, and today, I am back with another! Here is a portrait drawing in pencil that I completed about a week ago. I was sent a photo...

...and drew this:

S. Thomson

March 2015

Pencil on 11 x 14 " Paper

I will be redrawing this photo in a more stylized manner (similar to this woman), but am glad I drew them somewhat realistically first. Now I know the face shapes and can be more creative with stylizing.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit."

- Aristotle

PORTRAIT | PENCIL ON PAPER

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to delve into portrait drawing (and will be sharing more photos soon). However, I took a moment (okay, several hours) to play around and do a little extra. I decided to draw my older sister, Maggie. For the first time I tried out actual artist's drawing pencils. I usually end up drawing every picture with my loyal friend, the mechanical Paper-mate pencil. I definitely saw the benefit of higher grade tools.

Now I need to practice a bunch more and understand how to utilize their benefits on a much higher level.

Maggie Jo

S. Thomson

March 2015

Pencil on Paper

This paper is actually beige pastel paper, but due to poor lighting, the color has faded.

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"No sky is heavy if the heart is light."

-Anonymous

JOSHUA 1:8-9 | HAND-LETTERED PASSAGE

After posting last Monday about my hand-lettered verse, I was contacted by a friend about doing another similar drawing, but with a different passage. He chose Joshua 1:8-9, which is a great comfort as well as a challenge to believers...

" This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Of course I said yes because I am always up for a new challenge, and quickly set to work. First I had to lay everything out in pencil to make sure that everything would fit and would be straight (as well as pleasing to the eye). After that I spelled a word wrong (in pen), and then began again, using my original sketch as a stencil, and drew the sketch again, spelling everything correctly.

After several hours, this is the end result:

Joshua 1: 8-9 | Pen & Ink Lettering

S. Thomson

March 2015

Pen & Ink on 11 x 14" Drawing Paper

If you too have a favorite quote, Bible verse, or saying that you would like to have as a permanent fixture in your house, please contact me! I would love to collaborate with you.

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"Faith is a living and unshakable confidence. a belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake." 

— Martin Luther

HAND-LETTERING | PEN & INK

Hand-lettering is something quite popular right now. In a world where everything is online and/or mass produced, the hand-written or hand-made note is becoming more and more desirable. Creative fonts, designs, and shapes make a certain quote more interesting or meaningful, and even though I used very few of those tools in the following photos, I still decided to share my attempts at hand-lettering.

I wish desperately I had the foresight to photograph all the hand-made/written/designed thank you notes, envelopes, and sketches I have made over the past year, since there are many more impressive drawings I could be sharing. However, I did not, so I will be sharing this drawing I made a couple months ago. 

After listening to a sermon regarding I John 5:4-5, I drew this sketch.

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"Now and then, when I am writing, I have begun some little drawings. It is nothing special but I see it all so vividly before me."

-Vincent van Gogh