deeperthanwar

Lettering is a HUGE part of tattooing; it always has been.  At least 50% of my clients want some lettering in their tattoos, and many choose to have lettering as the sole element in their design.

Recently, I've found that I'm wanting to move away from using computer based typefaces so much.  They're perfect for smaller pieces, where legibility is the key, but they can be a little limiting, and if you're not careful, you might choose a typeface that ends up as the next Comic Sans or (possibly worse) the next Papyrus.

BJ Betts is a legend in the industry.  Most custom artists will have one if not all of his Lettering Guides 1-3.  So when I was wanting to work on my custom lettering, I had no question as to where I would look.
Betts looks at the art of custom tattoo lettering in a whole new way.  Here's what he has to say on the matter in the introduction to his second Guide:

 “I think, looking at a name or a character that you'll be tattooing, you should approach it as an illustration, versus a typefont. “Draw” the name, instead of “writing” it, if that makes sense. Draw the lettering as if you're drawing a heart, panther, eagle, whatever.

People say their handwriting absolutely sucks. I say draw that name, don't write it if your writing sucks.”

It's a whole different approach, and it makes for great results.  I drew the piece above for a friend's scrapbook.  I feel much more confident now in my custom lettering, which is invaluable when you work in the way I do.

Do you have a piece that you want me to create with custom lettering?  Drop me a line!