The aim of this course is three-fold: to teach you how to conceive and build a cohesive design using lettering as well as graphic motifs; how to draw and construct traditional and contemporary letterforms; and how to carve V-cut – or incised – lettering and line imagery with a mallet and chisel.

The initial goal for this course is to familiarise you with the basic tools needed to carve lettering and linework – namely a mallet and chisel – and teach you the basic techniques of carving, as well as how to sharpen and maintain your tools.

Learning to carve, however, is really only a means of rendering a design. Topics such as conceptualising a design, sketching and building a layout, and drawing appropriate letterforms will be given special emphasis. While the focus of this course is on hand-drawn lettering, Matt will also touch on how he integrates digital tools into his traditional practice and workflow.

Everyone is free to bring their own words or simple inscriptions to carve, or Matt can help you develop them. You are encouraged to bring any examples or reference images that may inspire you or inform what you carve. Some reference books and examples will be available for you to look at.

Beginners will focus on the basic elements of drawing and carving letterforms, with an aim of completing a carved word or simple inscription by the end of the course.

More advanced students may bring existing designs to work on, if they prefer, provided they fall within the realm of simple inscriptions or linework and are not too large.

For more information and to book please go to this link: West Dean Courses

Please note: the specifics of the courses are not vetted or endorsed by the Lettering Arts Trust.