Dragon bookmark and lettering “tutorial”

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

I made this bookmark for @curiousfae in the bookmark swap.

I was pretty happy with how the drawing turned out. It was based on a tattoo I saw.

Personally, I think my partner’s lettering skills are phenomenal. But she said she wanted to learn how I lettered the bookmark, so here’s a quick and dirty, mini tutorial.

I start by laying out the space where I want the lettering to go.

In this case, I wanted to center the lettering so I found the midpoint.

Then I worked out where the center would be for the phrase I wanted to letter.

Roughing in the letters.

Adding flourishes

Inking main lettering

Crossing and dotting

Then you just erase all your pencil lines.

This was done a lot larger than I’d normally do it. Here’s a sample in the scale I’m most comfortable with:

I’m confident that @curiousfae would take this process and create an amazing new art form with it!!

[steiconi (textile junkie)]

Cool tute,thanks!

I never thought to add the flourishes to plain letters, great technique!

[endymion (Pam 🇺🇸 (she/her))]

Beautiful bookmark; that eye is amazing! Thanks also for the tute.

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Thanks!

[Cindy]

Thanks for the lettering tute, I’ve wondered if you could pencil in first and then erase but was always scared to try it and have everything smudge.

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Just make sure that your ink is dry, that’s all.

[TheMistressT (Tara - she/her)]

A bookmark like this might make me stop reading more often! And thanks for including the tutorial for lettering!

[Abbeeroad (Abbie - she/her)]

What a magical book mark! That eye is stunning. Thank you so much for demystifying lettering a bit…your results are fantastic!

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Thank you!

[Magpie (Straight, not narrow 🏳️‍🌈 🇨🇦 🌎)]

Looks really good, nice spark of life in that eye.

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Thanks!