The Good Hour Issue 008: The Art of Letters
Take a Letter Do you know what came before autocorrect and hypertext? It was you, sitting at your desk, carefully tracing one cursive capital E after another, trying to make each loop more perfect than the last. We called it handwriting. I cramp at the mere thought of it. In this digital day and age, a […]
Take a Letter Do you know what came before autocorrect and hypertext? It was you, sitting at your desk, carefully tracing one cursive capital E after another, trying to make each loop more perfect than the last. We called it handwriting. I cramp at the mere thought of it. In this digital day and age, a […]
Table of Contents
- Take a Letter
- We Want It
- Faber-Castell Polychromos Coloured Pencil Set
- Calligraphy for Swifties
- New/Now/Next:
- The Conversation
- One Small Practice
- Final Thought
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Take a Letter
Do you know what came before autocorrect and hypertext? It was you, sitting at your desk, carefully tracing one cursive capital E after another, trying to make each loop more perfect than the last. We called it handwriting. I cramp at the mere thought of it.
In this digital day and age, a hand-formed word feels closer to sculpture than text: the tension in a serif, the weight of a downstroke, the incidental slant of concentration. Long before you read what that word says, you vibe with it. A quote drawn using a brush pen carries a different mood than the same words stamped in Helvetica. This Good Hour, we’re following that instinct wherever it leads. Different tools, different tempos, same root impulse: writin’ by hand.
– NAOMI SKWARNA, EDITOR
We Want It
Featuring a beloved teacher’s starter kit, blendable pencils, and an “Eras”-inspired workbook, here’s what we’re recommending for you letter lovers.
Some links in this email are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase.
Paperfinger Supply Kit #1: The Basics
Why we like it: Curated by calligraphy teacher Bryn Chernoff, this ground floor kit takes the guesswork out of beginning calligraphy. Specially priced for Skillshare students, this bundle includes smooth-writing Nikko G nibs, a dinky dip to keep ink mess-free, a Speedball holder, quality sumi ink and a Rhodia practice pad. Pair it with Bryn’s Calligraphy Essentials class and you’re off to the races.
Why it might not be the right fit: You’re not in the market for a nib.
Verdict: This high-value kit is a great way to kickstart your calligraphy journey.
Faber-Castell Polychromos Coloured Pencil Set
Why we like it: These Polychromos pencils are a joy to use — buttery, richly pigmented, and endlessly blendable. Their fine point holds beautifully for calligraphy and hand lettering, while true, lightfast colors layer into soft transitions or bold depth.
Why it might not be the right fit: You are in the market for nibs.
Verdict: This tidy, versatile set is great for hand-lettering, but wonderful for drawing and illustration, too.
Calligraphy for Swifties
Why we like it: Five eras, five scripts. Maybe you’ll never know what it’s like to write dozens of chart-topping hits, but this workbook invites Swifties to letter their way through Taylor’s discography. With practice pages, styling tips, and project ideas for cards, journals, and decor, this is a playful way to fall for calligraphy.
Why it might not be the right fit: I don’t know, you tell me?
Verdict: This is really more for the T. Swift fans out there, but practicing your calligraphy is a knock-on benefit!
New/Now/Next:
In the newest episode of Creative Recess, our own Alison Kendrick hangs out with Skillshare stalwarts Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo (Goodtype) for a delightful creative play session. Join them as they critique some truly incoherent AI-generated logos, then dive into timed prompts like “dopamine,” “monument,” and “do it again.” Along the way, Katie and Ilana talk about creative perfectionism and some of the projects they’re most excited about currently, including their new book Follow Your Art, and Typecast podcast.
And you heard it here first! Get your specially-priced earlybird ticket to Goodtype’s October Kernference, which brings together working designers, letterers, and creative business owners from around the world, fully online, no travel required.
Sessions this year dig into the stuff that actually keeps a creative business (and the person running it) intact: beating burnout through play, building a system for ideas instead of waiting for inspiration, and staying recognizable in your work without chasing every trend. This year’s lineup includes Verònica Fuerte, Meg Burk, David Oku, Snooze One, and many other talented artists. If you make things for a living, or want to, these three days are built around creating for business and pleasure.
The Conversation
Noun Project is the world’s largest icon and mission-driven photo library, offering resources to every kind of creator. Its podcast, Design Icons, features close-up conversations with today’s top designers and creative leaders, exploring their career journeys, creative process, and the evolving role of design in shaping culture.Design Icons just launched their latest round of interviews, beginning with the prolific Christian Watson: graphic designer, hand letterer, and analog craftsman. Christian (@1924us) is the founder of the boutique branding agency 1924us and the creator of the mega-viral animated character Mr. Skelly. Rooted in craftsmanship of the 1920s, his work is entirely hand-drawn, using vintage techniques to create modern brand identities.Listen to the episode now on Spotify, Apple, and Youtube.
One Small Practice
The ubiquitous (to some) Cool S: it needs little introduction, and yet it deserves one, doesn’t it? That pointy, plump, interlocking zigzag — doodled on notebooks, skateboard decks, school desks and lockers since at least the 1970s — spread with no clear origin, no creator, no brand. It just appeared, passed hand to hand across schoolyards and continents. Some call it the “Stussy S,” others the “Subaru S,” but nobody agrees, which is the whole point. It belongs to everyone and no one, a true rebel.
This week, our One Small Practice is inspired by Katie and Ilana of The Goodtype, who doodled a Cool S in their episode of Creative Recess. Just 14 strokes and you too can join the lineage of bona fide cool guys. And if you enjoy this type of expressive lettering, may we direct you to Vinitha Mammen’s Unwind with Words: A Chill Practice for Better Lettering?
Find your starting point. Pick your surface — notebook margin, sticky note, bathroom wall, whatever's in front of you. Get your writing implement (Sharpie is the classic, but feel free to mix it up.Watch this very informative 1-minute video.Now draw your Cool S. Good grief you’re cool.
Final Thought
Cue the confetti cannon (and maybe a little hot sauce)! Graphic designer and Skillshare member Liz Volpi turned her Procreate lettering practice into a spicy birthday card, now sitting on Trader Joe’s shelves nationwide. It all started with Jess Miller’s class, Hand Lettering for Illustrators: Creating Greeting Cards in Procreate, where Liz sharpened the exact skills that shaped her card’s playful lettering.
From class project to checkout aisle — real-world proof that a Skillshare skill can travel farther than you’d think. Congrats to Liz! We can’t wait to see what you do next.
Enjoy ALL your hours, folks! Until next time. 🖋️
The Good Hour
A biweekly dispatch for creative humans and their brains.
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