learning something new

Do not adjust your wireless frequency. You are in fact reading another post here today. I know this may come as a shock but I figured it might be fun to do a little catch up here and there and some things I've been working on and not blogging about.

Today I'm talking about hand-lettering.

My friend, Lori, encouraged me to take a class she had taken on Skillshare. Skillshare is a website that has online classes (extremely reasonably priced) in a variety of creative industries. I have taken and am currently enrolled in a few and have learned so much. The classes have lifetime access and you can watch the lessons on your own pace as many times as you like.

So anyway, back to Lori. I'm going to brag about her for a minute. Being in the creative industry and owning a shop, it's sometimes difficult to find people that aren't trying to compete with you and instead be an encouragement. Lori is the best encourager I've ever met, she's crazy talented and she gives me awesome critiques.

When she suggested the class on lettering, I was a little hesitant. I'd long admired others' lettering but didn't know where to begin.

That's where Mary Kate McDevitt comes in. She is a mega talented artist and works mainly in hand-lettering. I'm sure you've seen her work, even if you didn't realize it was her.

She is the teacher on the class Lori told me about. The class is, "The first steps to hand-lettering: concept to sketch."  The class doesn't really dive too much into creating actual letters but more about working through your concept, developing thumbnails and then digitizing your sketch in Illustrator. I loved the class. I have been using Illustrator and Photoshop for nearly 15 years and picked up some handy little tricks in the class.

All that to say, if you're interested in pursing hand-lettering and don't know where to start, take the class. It's only $20. And if you leave your email address in the comment section, I'll send you a $10 off code for your first Skillshare class! That's only $10!! The new promo is 3 months subscription for only $.99, join here.

Now I'll show you what I've been working on since taking the class.

Project one: how big is your brave (funny fact - this quote has also become my accidental "word" for the year)

Project two: to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow

Then I did a little chalk art over at my sister's house and turned the initial concept into a chalk-art print: linger a little longer You can read her post about the quote here.

And then I was hired by Tulsa People, a local magazine, to do the artwork for a couple of feature articles! My art. In print.

I loved that I got to do artwork for the downtown issue since I used to live so close to downtown and fell in love with that part of town. So many great shops, restaurants, events and everything else you can imagine.


So that's where I am right now. Very much an amateur in the whole hand-lettering biz but very much obsessed.

And I kind of enjoy seeing other artist's process so I've been making little videos and sharing them on instagram (@lesleyzellers) when I finish a print.

Here's the garden one:



And brave:



Thanks for all the encouragement you guys have shown me on the instagrams and in my shop. You're the best.

Also. I feel like I should say this post is not sponsored. I just love the classes and think some of you will too :)