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Beautiful Handwriting, Lettering and Calligraphy

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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

Calligraphy

1800s Lettering Sketchbook:Journal 14
Beautiful calligraphy from 1800s.

Lettering and Handwriting - 1800s Lettering Sketchbook:Journal 14.jpg

Experiment with photographic paper_03
Written by Marina Marjina, a type designer and letterer from Russia.

Lettering and Handwriting - Experiment with photographic paper_03

Lettering and Handwriting - Experiment _process2

Lettering and Handwriting - IMG_8181

Lettering and Handwriting - The sketch_fragment

Claredon Press, Flower
A book cover from 1987. Published by Claredon Press.

Lettering and Handwriting - Claredon Press, Flower

Cronica de los reyes catolicos, XVI century.
A Spanish manuscript from Berkeley, University of California, The Bancroft Library.

Lettering and Handwriting - Cronica de los reyes catolicos, XVI century.

Extra: Natasha Mileshina
Natasha Mileshina’s work. Moscow, Russia.

Lettering and Handwriting - Extra: Natasha Mileshina

Daily Type
Calligraphy by Vera Evstafieva.

Lettering and Handwriting - Daily Type

Pool Word

Lettering and Handwriting - IMG_8570

Tom Gourdie’s gallery
Shakespeare’s Sonnets by Tom Gourdie. Handwriting master’s pieces from 1980s.

Lettering and Handwriting -

French Notarial Handwriting
From Michael Twyman’s 26 November 2007 presentation.

Lettering and Handwriting - French Notarial Handwriting

Scripture and Calligraphy
By Denis Brown.

Lettering and Handwriting - Scripture, Denis Brown

Handwriting, Doodling and Lettering

British Ariways B/W Font
Alex Trochut’s work for British Airways. Sexy, sweet and beautiful lettering!

Lettering and Handwriting - British Ariways B/W Font

Panasonic Advertisement
The design by the agency Lowerporta from Chile. An advertisement for Panasonic digital devices.

Lettering and Handwriting

Art and Life
Joei Lau’s project. Beautiful curves.

Lettering and Handwriting - Art and Life

all the best
Wishes from Ale Paul.

Lettering and Handwriting - happy holidays and wishes

Lettering and Handwriting - all the best

Estrella Levante Posters
Tasty typography!

Lettering and Handwriting - Estrella Levante Posters

Lettering and Handwriting - Estrella Levante Posters

Digeridoo Festival

Lettering and Handwriting - Digeridoo Festival

Extraverage x The KDU
Karoly Kiralyfalvi, graphic designer from Budapest, Hungary.

Lettering and Handwriting - Extraverage x The KDU

Lettering and Handwriting - Lettering

Lettering and Handwriting - Aquasky flyer

Typography
Jeff Finley’s work.

Lettering and Handwriting - Typography

Split in Two
Created by Pawel Janczarek.

Lettering and Handwriting - Split in Two

Doodles!
Beautiful doodles from Austin, TX.

Lettering and Handwriting - IMG_2809

Handwriting
By Yury Ostromentsky.

Lettering and Handwriting - Daily Type

takin’ it
Lettering design by Jon Contino.

Lettering and Handwriting - taking it

“R”
By Zeptonn, an illustrator from the Netherlands.

Lettering and Handwriting - R

1961 William Mitchell Pen Catalog

Lettering and Handwriting - 1961 William Mitchell Pen Catalog

inspiredology.com | inspiredology.com

Lettering and Handwriting - inspiredology.com | inspiredology.com

Zapf Games 2005
By Alexander Utkin.

Lettering and Handwriting - Zapf Games 2005

Daily Type

Lettering and Handwriting - Daily Type

inspiredology.com

Lettering and Handwriting - inspiredology.com

Sostav.ru

Lettering and Handwriting - Sostav.ru

Unit.nl

Lettering and Handwriting - Unit.nl

Daily Type

Lettering and Handwriting - Daily Type

on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Lettering and Handwriting -

zutto

Lettering and Handwriting - zutto

STEREOTYPE

Lettering and Handwriting - STEREOTYPE

Typography

Lettering and Handwriting - Typography

Arabic calligraphy

Lettering and Handwriting - Arabic calligraphy | creativebits

si scott design

Lettering and Handwriting - si scott design

Rolling Stones: Rolled Gold +

Lettering and Handwriting - Rolling Stones: Rolled Gold +

timeless

Lettering and Handwriting - timeless

on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Lettering and Handwriting -

Marian Bantjes: Yale Alumni Magazine

Lettering and Handwriting - Marian Bantjes: Yale Alumni Magazine

When Love Dies

Lettering and Handwriting - When Love Dies

Libertyland grand selection

Lettering and Handwriting - Libertyland grand selection

Funeral of the Heart by Leah Hayes - front cover

Lettering and Handwriting - Funeral of the Heart by Leah Hayes - front cover

Experiments with type

Typolight
Type with light.

Lettering and Handwriting - Typolight

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.”

Lettering and Handwriting - Feliz Natal | Merry Christmas

Lettering and Handwriting - Feliz Natal | Merry Christmas

Flickr in Lights 2

Lettering and Handwriting - Flickr in Lights 3

Lettering and Handwriting - Flickr in Lights 2

Arabic Poesie
Type and light.

Lettering and Handwriting - Poesie

Caligrafia na pele
Calligraphy on the body.

Lettering and Handwriting - La Grafía: Caligrafia na pele

Daily Type
Hmmm, tasty!

Lettering and Handwriting - Daily Type

Stephanie DeArmond - Gallery
Typographic sculptures.

Lettering and Handwriting - Stephanie DeArmond - Gallery

Lettering and Handwriting - Stephanie DeArmond - Gallery

Lettering and Handwriting - Stephanie DeArmond - Gallery

Lettering and Handwriting - Stephanie DeArmond - Gallery

Handwriting Videos

Sources and Resources

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  1. 1.

    crss (April 7th, 2008, 1:55 am)

    lovely post,
    esspecially the Arabic calligraphy part.
    such an unrecognized but just dope style.

  2. 2.

    Christopher Hill (April 7th, 2008, 1:59 am)

    Calligraphy 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.

  3. 3.

    zmart (April 7th, 2008, 2:04 am)

    like all the others - a great, fantastic post. thanks (i like the first one)

  4. 4.

    nikhil (April 7th, 2008, 2:34 am)

    bloody good!

  5. 5.

    Lazer (April 7th, 2008, 3:27 am)

    Some great stuff. On of my favorite typographers is Link [www.johnlangdon.net] with his ambigrams. Really amazing work.

  6. 6.

    doesntmatter (April 7th, 2008, 3:28 am)

    Sorry 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.” You can see the problem yourself at: Link [syndicated.livejournal.com]

    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.

  7. 7.

    dagobert renouf (April 7th, 2008, 3:51 am)

    Dope post.

    Really refreshing inspiration source.

  8. 8.

    seekbus (April 7th, 2008, 4:29 am)

    You 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.

  9. 9.

    Shahar (April 7th, 2008, 4:49 am)

    Great post, for anyone thinking of improving their day-to-day penmanship, I found this site - full of resources: Link [www.iampeth.com]Link [www.iampeth.com]

  10. 10.

    Jeff (April 7th, 2008, 5:01 am)

    Arabic calligraphy looks great. Anyone got any tips on how to recreate something like it?

  11. 11.

    Hannes (April 7th, 2008, 5:08 am)

    BORING! we want posts about webdesign, tutorials and showcases of great websites. this doesnt get me anywhere…

  12. 12.

    Dominic (April 7th, 2008, 5:27 am)

    Just 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.

  13. 13.

    Sebastian (April 7th, 2008, 5:30 am)

    Great 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”

  14. 14.

    Kevin (April 7th, 2008, 5:35 am)

    Absolutely stunning collection.. thanks for this.

  15. 15.

    James (April 7th, 2008, 6:04 am)

    I 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:

    Link [jamesspratt.org]

  16. 16.

    Julius (April 7th, 2008, 6:05 am)

    No mention of Sadhu?
    Link [www.dailymotion.com]

  17. 17.

    Jay Selway (April 7th, 2008, 6:10 am)

    Posts like this are why I love this site.

  18. 18.

    mikemike (April 7th, 2008, 6:54 am)

    What about web design? I thought this site was about that.

  19. 19.

    Parker (April 7th, 2008, 7:04 am)

    I 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!

  20. 20.

    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. :)

  21. 21.

    Johanna (April 7th, 2008, 7:15 am)

    What 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-
    Link [www.teplin.com] is pretty interesting

  22. 22.

    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?

  23. 23.

    Braintrove.com (April 7th, 2008, 10:29 am)

    Fun post! Thanks.

  24. 24.

    Scott (April 7th, 2008, 10:31 am)

    why does it tell me that the videos no longer exist?

  25. 25.

    imaginepaolo (April 7th, 2008, 11:12 am)

    Beutiful post, great smashingmagazine…

  26. 26.

    Shane (April 7th, 2008, 11:13 am)

    Very nice post - some stunning examples of calligraphy.

    Thanks :)

  27. 27.

    imsraaia (April 7th, 2008, 3:27 pm)

    very nice.. gr8 effort…

  28. 28.

    Geoff (April 7th, 2008, 3:52 pm)

    I’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.

  29. 29.

    Massimo Nastasi (April 7th, 2008, 4:21 pm)

    Joei Lau is the creator of the Scriptina Font?

  30. 30.

    pikon (April 7th, 2008, 5:16 pm)

    Epic. Thanks.

  31. 31.

    O Jones (April 7th, 2008, 5:27 pm)

    Very inspirational. Yesterday I saw Link [iamintricate.com] doodled type that I thought was pretty hot too. All such great pieces, thanks for sharing.

  32. 32.

    Nat (April 7th, 2008, 5:36 pm)

    Very inspirational post!

    Alex Trochut spoke at Sydney’s SP08 last weekend. His work has definitely inspired me to create my own typefaces, where possible.

  33. 33.

    dubyasee (April 7th, 2008, 7:04 pm)

    I 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.

  34. 34.

    gr8pixel (April 7th, 2008, 9:18 pm)

    great post! thanks SM!

  35. 35.

    Ms. Draper (April 7th, 2008, 9:43 pm)

    The 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.

  36. 36.

    Javster (April 8th, 2008, 2:48 am)

    Have you checked the work of Claude Dieterich? He thaught me Calligraphy a few years ago, and is magnificent!
    Link [www.claudedieterich.com]
    He is a French Calligraphist that lives in San Francisco.

  37. 37.

    mariana allves (April 8th, 2008, 2:50 am)

    It’s very beautiful. I’m Brazil. See my site about calligraphy:
    Link [caligrafiaconvites.blogspot.com]
    Tell me what do you think about my work.

  38. 38.

    designlabel (April 8th, 2008, 7:14 am)

    Good List this can be of immense help when it comes to inspiration Link [designlabel.blogspot.com]

  39. 39.

    Tiago Gerken (Brasil) (April 8th, 2008, 8:31 am)

    Thank´s Smashing Magazine!

  40. 40.

    Julian Waters (April 8th, 2008, 12:50 pm)

    Some 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.” Link [waterslettering.com]

  41. 41.

    sheila waters (April 8th, 2008, 2:01 pm)

    Clare(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

  42. 42.

    Le Roi (April 8th, 2008, 4:30 pm)

    An excellent post (again)

    Alex Trochut’s work is stunning. Maybe you should mention his personal site:

    Link [www.alextrochut.com]

  43. 43.

    james (April 8th, 2008, 5:09 pm)

    If 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!

  44. 44.

    Roberta Seldon (April 9th, 2008, 5:16 am)

    Wonderful article! Very inspiring.

  45. 45.

    hardface (April 10th, 2008, 2:30 am)

    Yeah man…. Alex Trochut rocks! again…..

  46. 46.

    Anitza (April 11th, 2008, 1:39 pm)

    Right, 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.

  47. 47.

    Blue Buffalo (April 15th, 2008, 7:15 am)

    Super talented artists - excellent collection of type.

  48. 48.

    Brian (April 18th, 2008, 1:47 am)

    That hand writing is wicked, we have seemed to lost our way in writing, maybe we have to much technology at our finger tips.

    -Britec- Link [www.pcrepairhertfordshire.co.uk]
    Link [www.britec.org.uk]

  49. 49.

    Olja (May 10th, 2008, 10:18 am)

    This is sooooo nice…

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