Beautiful Handwriting, Lettering and Calligraphy
Handwriting seems to have lost some of its attraction over the last years. Nobody writes beautiful handwritten letters, and uses digital means of communication with smileys, abbreviations and standard lettering instead. And that’s a pity. Since handwriting is unique, it has a tremendous expressive power a standard lettering isn’t able to achieve.
More than that, handwritten text can be incredibly gorgeous. In fact, there is nothing more valuable than a beautiful handwritten letter sent to your beloved ones. And this post attempts to prove just that.
In the overview below you’ll find excellent examples of beautiful handwriting, creative lettering and professional calligraphy. It’s really amazing to see what one can create out of simple letters drawn with a pencil on a small piece of paper.
For further typographic inspiration you can browse through our previous posts
- Breathtaking Typographic Posters showcases over 50 breathtaking typographic posters designed by artists across the globe. We feature Oriental, Iranian, Hebrew, Japanese, Chinese and Russian typographic posters.
- Typography in Motion with excellent examples of typography embedded into movies and videos,
- Hand-Drawing Style in Modern Web Design demonstrates excellent examples of hand-drawing style in modern web design.
Calligraphy
1800s Lettering Sketchbook:Journal 14
Beautiful calligraphy from 1800s.
Experiment with photographic paper_03
Written by Marina Marjina, a type designer and letterer from Russia.
Claredon Press, Flower
A book cover from 1987. Published by Claredon Press. Created by Sheila Waters.
Cronica de los reyes catolicos, XVI century.
A Spanish manuscript from Berkeley, University of California, The Bancroft Library.
Extra: Natasha Mileshina
Natasha Mileshina’s work. Moscow, Russia.
Daily Type
Calligraphy by Vera Evstafieva.
Tom Gourdie’s gallery
Shakespeare’s Sonnets by Tom Gourdie. Handwriting master’s pieces from 1980s.
French Notarial Handwriting
From Michael Twyman’s 26 November 2007 presentation.
Scripture and Calligraphy
By Denis Brown.
Handwriting, Doodling and Lettering
British Ariways B/W Font
Alex Trochut’s work for British Airways. Sexy, sweet and beautiful lettering!
Panasonic Advertisement
The design by the agency Lowerporta from Chile. An advertisement for Panasonic digital devices.
Art and Life
Joei Lau’s project. Beautiful curves.
all the best
Wishes from Ale Paul.
Estrella Levante Posters
Tasty typography!
Extraverage x The KDU
Karoly Kiralyfalvi, graphic designer from Budapest, Hungary.
Typography
Jeff Finley’s work.
Split in Two
Created by Pawel Janczarek.
Doodles!
Beautiful doodles from Austin, TX.
Handwriting
By Yury Ostromentsky.
takin’ it
Lettering design by Jon Contino.
“R”
By Zeptonn, an illustrator from the Netherlands.
1961 William Mitchell Pen Catalog
inspiredology.com | inspiredology.com
Zapf Games 2005
By Alexander Utkin.
Marian Bantjes: Yale Alumni Magazine
Funeral of the Heart by Leah Hayes – front cover
Experiments with type
Typolight
Type with light.
Feliz Natal | Merry Christmas
By Marina Chaccur. “The 2006 online christmas card started being very real. In the beginning the letters were drawn by hand, then after the final layout was chosen, the white beads were arranged onto a paper with a very pale outline of the lettering. In the end, the paper was photographed, the image was altered in Photoshop, and the beads went back to the package.”
Arabic Poesie
Type and light.
Caligrafia na pele
Calligraphy on the body.
Daily Type
Hmmm, tasty!
Stephanie DeArmond – Gallery
Typographic sculptures.
Handwriting Videos
Sources and Resources
- Jalalaspages Calligraphical Album
- The Gallery of Calligraphy
In Russian. - DailyType.ru
The showcase of Russian typographers. - Handmade Typography Flickr Pool
crss
April 7th, 2008 1:55 amlovely post,
esspecially the Arabic calligraphy part.
such an unrecognized but just dope style.
Christopher Hill
April 7th, 2008 1:59 amCalligraphy is nice to look at, but for any other purpose I always feel it is too hard to distinguish. It is generally too hard to read at a quick glimpse.
zmart
April 7th, 2008 2:04 amlike all the others – a great, fantastic post. thanks (i like the first one)
nikhil
April 7th, 2008 2:34 ambloody good!
Lazer
April 7th, 2008 3:27 amSome great stuff. On of my favorite typographers is John Langdon with his ambigrams. Really amazing work.
doesntmatter
April 7th, 2008 3:28 amSorry for being the stick in the mud, but your RSS feed generally has some html problem in it. This time it’s an “Irreparable invalid markup (‘‘) in entry.”
PS: Nice post, as usual. :)
PPS: I don’t know how else to draw your attention to this without posting it in a comment. I hope you delete this after reading it.
dagobert renouf
April 7th, 2008 3:51 amDope post.
Really refreshing inspiration source.
seekbus
April 7th, 2008 4:29 amYou guys post some great stuff, but how about splitting up your articles or editing some things out? A lot of your posts are just overwhelming. Too much to take in all at once.
Shahar
April 7th, 2008 4:49 amGreat post, for anyone thinking of improving their day-to-day penmanship, I found this site – full of resources: http://www.iampeth.com/lessons.htm
Jeff
April 7th, 2008 5:01 amArabic calligraphy looks great. Anyone got any tips on how to recreate something like it?
Hannes
April 7th, 2008 5:08 amBORING! we want posts about webdesign, tutorials and showcases of great websites. this doesnt get me anywhere…
shantel
August 18th, 2010 2:37 pmwhy is boring.
Dominic
April 7th, 2008 5:27 amJust wanted to say that your posts, including this one are just amazing. A great source of inspiration. As a matter of fact I consider smashing magazine the best source of webdesign resources!
To the rest of you guys, have any of you any idea what kind of font is used on Hostpattern (www.hostpattern.com) logo? I am searching for few hours now without any success.
Sebastian
April 7th, 2008 5:30 amGreat post
@ Hannes
Your comment is boring! Ever thought about that you might draw a little inspiration out of posts like that which you could use in your webprojects? And dont say “we want” because its “you want”
Kevin
April 7th, 2008 5:35 amAbsolutely stunning collection.. thanks for this.
James
April 7th, 2008 6:04 amI wrote my handwriting out, scanned it, sent it to my brother on the other side of the planet and he sent it back as a ttf.
Fake my handwriting, if you like:
jamesspratt.org/blog/2008/02/07/fake-my-handwriting/
Jay Selway
April 7th, 2008 6:10 amPosts like this are why I love this site.
mikemike
April 7th, 2008 6:54 amWhat about web design? I thought this site was about that.
Parker
April 7th, 2008 7:04 amI don’t usually comment on here, but I want to balance out the discussion away from the naysayers. Typography is an essential part of good design. No true designer would bash typography the way some people here have today. Many thanks to Smashing Magazine for covering all aspects of aesthetically pleasing design, even the ones amateurs might scoff at and find boring. It was a great post, and very inspiring to me. Please post more content like this from time to time!
Matt Radel
April 7th, 2008 7:07 am@ mikemike: This is inspiration, which falls squarely in the realm of design. I for one would like to see even more inspirational posts. :)
Johanna
April 7th, 2008 7:15 amWhat a surprise it was to see a page of my sketchbook on an RSS feed I read!
Thanks. :)
If it matters–my doodles are no longer from Austin, TX, as I live in NYC now.
Johanna
PS-
http://www.teplin.com is pretty interesting
ryan
April 7th, 2008 9:07 am@ mikemike: you obviously do not frequent this site often enough to assume Smashing is only about webdesign.
this post is wonderful! how the hell am i supposed to get anything done today now?
Braintrove
April 7th, 2008 10:29 amFun post! Thanks.
Scott
April 7th, 2008 10:31 amwhy does it tell me that the videos no longer exist?
imaginepaolo
April 7th, 2008 11:12 amBeutiful post, great smashingmagazine…
Shane
April 7th, 2008 11:13 amVery nice post – some stunning examples of calligraphy.
Thanks :)
imsraaia
April 7th, 2008 3:27 pmvery nice.. gr8 effort…
Geoff
April 7th, 2008 3:52 pmI’m dismayed that a Smashing Design would put together a list like this, yet have no mention of graphic design legend Tim Girvin (www.girvin.com). He was one to champion translation of calligraphic design and storytelling to the brand/interactive/online space while most of us were still in grade school. Unforgivable.
Massimo Nastasi
April 7th, 2008 4:21 pmJoei Lau is the creator of the Scriptina Font?
pikon
April 7th, 2008 5:16 pmEpic. Thanks.
O Jones
April 7th, 2008 5:27 pmVery inspirational. Yesterday I saw this doodled type that I thought was pretty hot too. All such great pieces, thanks for sharing.
Nat
April 7th, 2008 5:36 pmVery inspirational post!
Alex Trochut spoke at Sydney’s SP08 last weekend. His work has definitely inspired me to create my own typefaces, where possible.
dubyasee
April 7th, 2008 7:04 pmI was disappointed that any examples from the Book of Kells were omitted. Kept at Trinity College in Dublin, the Book of Kells has numerous examples of European Biblical calligraphy at it finest.
gr8pixel
April 7th, 2008 9:18 pmgreat post! thanks SM!
Ms. Draper
April 7th, 2008 9:43 pmThe goobers unable to appreciate the value of an art form as richly textured and various as those shown here actually give goobers a bad name. I hope for their sakes that they’ve become capable of eptitude, for they seem certainly shielded from becoming educated.
If incapable of appreciating what’s been gathered with so much obvious care and affection, go collect your own magazine, gather an audience, then hear how well we like what you’ve done. Therein lies the rub. That would take an educated person witih a various background to pull off.
I have new appreciation for the depths of your shallowness.
Javster
April 8th, 2008 2:48 amHave you checked the work of Claude Dieterich? He thaught me Calligraphy a few years ago, and is magnificent!
http://www.claudedieterich.com
He is a French Calligraphist that lives in San Francisco.
Tiago Gerken (Brasil)
April 8th, 2008 8:31 amThank´s Smashing Magazine!
Julian Waters
April 8th, 2008 12:50 pmSome of these examples are not credited to the artists who created them. For instance, the yellow/black “Clarenden Press Flower” is the work of Sheila Waters, world renowned calligrapher, teacher and author of the book “Foundations of Calligraphy.” http://waterslettering.com/
sheila waters
April 8th, 2008 2:01 pmClare(n)don Press Flower
This is my artwork, executed in 1987 and was published in the book “Florilege” by Alain Mazeran, in two facing pages (74 and 75) of a diptych of winter and summer, the two using the whole poem of “The Idle Flowers” by Robert Bridges, the image above being the second side, representing “summer” the first half representing “winter”. It was never a cover. I was one of the two judges of the calligraphic artwork submitted for inclusion in “Florilege” (see page 154). I have not been credited here, nor on the 4 images gallery website, presumably being your source. In “Florilege” this work was noted as being copyrighted by The Clarendon Press (note spelling), Oxford, GB. I have no idea how Clarendon Press got hold of it, as publication in “Florilege” was the first, and only, publication of the diptych to my knowledge.
I still own the original artwork and it is my copyright, no-one else’s. Please rectify omission of a credit to me as the artist and notify any publication source that has obtained it from you or that you send it to. Thank you.
Sheila Waters
April 8, 2008
(SM) Thank you, Sheila, and sorry for any inconvenience! The article was updated.
james
April 8th, 2008 5:09 pmIf you don’t see how this post relates to web design and design in general then maybe you should get a new hobby.
ps: That “10 ways to get a job” piece is amazing!
Roberta Seldon
April 9th, 2008 5:16 amWonderful article! Very inspiring.
hardface
April 10th, 2008 2:30 amYeah man…. Alex Trochut rocks! again…..
Anitza
April 11th, 2008 1:39 pmRight, three examples, but only one really credited to him. The one titled “Typography” and the Rolling Stone’s (Rolled Gold) cover are his as well.
Blue Buffalo
April 15th, 2008 7:15 amSuper talented artists – excellent collection of type.
Olja
May 10th, 2008 10:18 amThis is sooooo nice…
priya
May 29th, 2008 10:37 pmThey are amazing works.
i am very much inspired by this
ibrahim abu touq
July 28th, 2008 12:23 amnice , impressive . . . . hoping to see more
ibrahim abu touq
July 28th, 2008 12:26 amthe Arabic prototype is very bad , , , while other images are so creative
Martin
August 7th, 2008 5:39 amYou should’ve mentioned Ray Fenwick, the guy is brilliant!
deshpande prakash(pune)india
August 14th, 2008 10:15 pmFirst time i seen this type of beautiful-handwriting
very nise!
I want to add some example of devnagri scrip (marathi)lettering
pl advice about this
Erin Nolan
August 25th, 2008 8:46 pmAlthough I am flattered that my acrylic painting from 2003 entitled, “Digeridoo Festival” was showcased in your article, you failed to request permission to use the image. The image was taken from my Flickr account without my consent or knowledge, despite being clearly marked as copyrighted.
I still own the original artwork and it is my copyright, all rights reserved. Please rectify omission of a credit to me as the artist and notify any publication source that has obtained it from you or that you send it to.
Thank you,
Erin K. Nolan
August 25, 2008
Erin Nolan
August 30th, 2008 9:43 amUPDATE: Thank you for changing the link to “Didgeridoo Festival” to read “Erin K. Nolan.” I appriciate you kind follow-through and cooperation!
(SM) Thank you, Erin, indeed, the article was updated.
Aady JB
September 7th, 2008 5:37 pmI have never seen such an exciting and awesome works before in my life. Its looks so good and crazy and these people who have done these calligraphy work, I think they have a very deep creativity. These may be preserved as a memorable work of these guys who made it.
I wish these people to grow furthur in there life on calligraphy.
ibrahim abu touq
October 9th, 2008 4:18 amvery nice site
ibrahim abu touq
November 1st, 2008 4:29 amday by day i find more materpieces at this unique site
Lucky Stars
December 21st, 2008 11:16 amI love the old manuscripts.
Does anyone know of Photoshop tutorials to help clean up calligraphy for digital printing? I don’t know the program terribly well and most of the tutorials aren’t focused on hand lettering. When I need to scan lettering, I spend more time cleaning smudges and smoothing lines than creating the original work! I would appreciate any help.
peewee
February 8th, 2009 6:35 amIncredible!
I cannot believe how wonderful these are!
The “R” one is super cool.
Great Web page, it really inspired me!
WhiteTiger
April 10th, 2009 7:49 ami dont know white handwriting is the best
maarja
April 17th, 2009 11:49 amHi from Estonia :) .. wow, super! :) very beautiful pics! … it’s also hard work to do smth like this. Väga kaunid pildid! :)
Karl Petersen
April 27th, 2009 8:51 pmGee, I read the whole thing. I started hand composing for letterpress sixty years ago and stopped when I found how difficult it was to have fonts designed and cut for what I really wanted to print. The love of typography is still there, and I guess I waited long enough to do it digitally!! Is there a senior’s discount for typography classes on line?
Kiran
June 21st, 2009 12:18 amI love calligraphy , i u too love it
kathy
August 10th, 2009 4:51 amNice stuff there. I love handwriting as art perhaps all the more b/c my own handwriting is such a disaster! The Magic Calligraphy was amazing. That guy writes more beautifully upsidedown than i do rightsideup!
franz
August 20th, 2009 4:24 amamazing and interesting posts.
I suggest also this website (wonderful things!)
link (www.gentlepeople.it)
Shahed S Sabir
January 12th, 2010 1:16 amSimply amazing!!!!
sana ali
February 8th, 2010 12:26 amHEY ED!I AM 14 YEAR OLD.I LOVE OUR MAGAZINE….IT IS WORLD BEST MAGAZINE MY REQUEST IS THAT PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ PINUP A POSTER OF ashley tisdalePLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..MAY ALLAH BLESS YOU.YOU ROCK
KABIIR
April 6th, 2010 10:41 amu r a bastard!!cmpliment 2 u sana…….
Meghana
March 20th, 2010 3:03 amhey ! your magazine is superb .
u all rock it .
may god bless u all .
subodh
June 4th, 2010 11:23 pmAmazing collections………!!!!
Steve
April 9th, 2010 4:07 pmGreat post! So many excellent calligraphers here.
Cheers
Steve
John Widmark
May 31st, 2010 5:07 pmWow! Inspiring calligraphy and typography styles.
I did this kind of art since my younger days and I thought that my styles aren’t good. But now that I see styles and art similar to mine posted here, I think now I will be proud of my own art as it should be.
Thanks everyone!
ajit
August 3rd, 2010 8:28 amamazing collection……..i like to suggest to post some more designs.
shantel
August 18th, 2010 2:36 pmi love everybodygood handwriting.
nicolas
September 21st, 2010 2:18 pmI like handwriting nice, my letter is now terrible bad.
What can I do?
Nicolas
Nazmul Kavir
November 15th, 2010 10:49 amThis is BANGLADESHI Singer. Nazmul Kavir, I lIKE SONG & nice handwriting , my letter is now terrible bad.
What can I do for develop?
nAZmul Kavir
BANGLADESHI Singer
safrin hameed
February 16th, 2011 10:09 amit’s very tough to write like this
Jay
May 17th, 2011 7:27 pmAny freelancer willing to take up jobs?
isra
June 27th, 2011 10:42 amawsome maann !!!!!!!! really necer saw sm off such hanriting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roshan poudel
July 22nd, 2011 6:54 pmYo,its a good collection but please give us available writing tips which are cool but not fancy
Roshan poudel
July 22nd, 2011 6:55 pmYo,its a good collection but please give us available writing tips
vanessa
August 22nd, 2011 3:56 amI Love this very much >3
bianca
August 26th, 2011 12:47 amgreat but i thought i can learn how to write in all of them types of style and it was quite hard
sharadhi
October 18th, 2011 6:27 amits very beautiful how to lern in computer
shan
November 5th, 2011 12:34 amwonderful site thnks for for this site
ahmad zafar kharal
November 6th, 2011 5:26 ami like this collection and your taste
cristi
December 4th, 2011 11:09 amim just learning so free materials to help learn would be great . beautiful work that ive seen so far.
RENU BEHAL
February 14th, 2012 11:41 amI like the entire Presentation of calligrafy. I also want to learn the way of creative writing.
Sam
February 21st, 2012 8:24 pmGreat work!
Shrinidhi
February 26th, 2012 5:26 amAwesome. Kudos to creativity of calligraphers.
karol joy
July 16th, 2012 10:04 amwow