Expressive Lettering with Swashes and Flourishes
A course by Dan ForsterDesigner and lettering artist
A course by Dan Forster, Designer and lettering artist
Take your lettering to the next level with swashes and flourishes! Learn how to create unique, expressive compositions.
In this online course, you'll dive into the captivating world of lettering with the renowned lettering artist, Dan Forster. Discover the art of crafting custom lettering across a wide range of projects, from brand marks and logos to book covers and packaging designs. With Dan as your guide, you'll explore the beauty of swashes and flourishes and learn how to incorporate them into your compositions.
Dan will start by explaining the differences between calligraphy, lettering, typography, and type design, giving you a solid foundation to build upon. You'll then delve into the fundamental principles of lettering, followed by Dan's expert recommendations for creating your best work.
What will you learn in this online course?
25 lessons & 39 downloads
Influences
14 minutes, 41 seconds
Materials
3 minutes, 24 seconds
Definitions
11 minutes, 54 seconds
Lettering Principles
14 minutes, 25 seconds
'Pen Influence' in Practice 1
20 minutes, 11 seconds
Swashes and Flourishes Basics
20 minutes, 59 seconds
What's included in this course?
To start, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of lettering by exploring its various forms and their distinctions, including calligraphy, lettering, typography, and type design. After grasping the fundamental principles of lettering, you'll receive invaluable recommendations from Dan to elevate your work and achieve your best results.
Next, you'll dive into the world of calligraphy and learn how it informs lettering. With hands-on practice, you'll discover the art of flourishing and explore different techniques to create beautiful swashes and flourishes.
Once you've honed your skills, it's time to sketch! Dan will guide you through sketching on paper and digital tablets, using both traditional and modern tools. You'll explore the Serif and Script styles, unleashing your creativity to design expressive and captivating lettering compositions.
In the final stages of the course, you'll choose the name of your favorite city or place as your project. You'll gather inspiration, sketch your composition, and bring it to life using Adobe Illustrator. Dan will show you how to create a stunning vector design, adding depth and dimension to your artwork. Finally, you'll refine your piece using Photoshop for the finishing touches.
By completing this course, you'll have the skills and knowledge to breathe life into your lettering projects, conveying ideas and messages with style and creativity.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
For the course project, you will have the exciting opportunity to letter the name of your favorite city or place. Using the techniques and concepts learned throughout the course, you'll create a unique lettering composition that captures the essence and character of your chosen location. This project will allow you to apply everything you've learned and showcase your newfound skills in a personal and meaningful way.
Who is this online course for?
This course is perfect for anyone with a passion for lettering and a desire to create beautifully crafted bespoke designs. Whether you're a beginner looking to explore the world of lettering or an experienced artist seeking to enhance your skills, this course offers valuable insights and techniques to take your work to the next level. Join Dan Forster on this creative journey and unlock your potential in the realm of lettering.
Requirements and materials
To fully enjoy this course, you'll need some knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, as well as pencils, pens, and ink for sketching. If desired, you can also use a drawing app and a stylus for digital sketching. Dan will guide you through both traditional and digital techniques, ensuring you can follow along regardless of your preferred tools. Get ready to immerse yourself in the ultimate creative playground of lettering!
Reviews
- 3 months ago
A wonderful course and very clear presentation of the material, a good basis for understanding and starting practice. A great teacher! Thank you!
- 1 year ago
I enjoyed the Course tremendously...exceptional teacher and freely parted with his valuable knowledge. I am very impressed. More from Dan Forester please. Doug Australia
- 1 year ago
I think this course is perfect if you are looking for improve the design of lettering, digital lettering and also teach how to get better flourish
- goutamPLUS1 year ago
You did more than teach. Thank you for being that rare kind of guide.
- 1 year ago
Very detailed course and yet easy to follow.
Inspired by his award-winning father, Tony Forster, Dan learned the importance of studying the structures and details within letterforms from an early age. His work often features swashes and flourishes, which provide further expression and tell stories inspired by his travels and the local culture, architecture, and signage.
Drawing inspiration from his journeys, Dan seeks to incorporate aspects of different places into his lettering work, whether through visual references or capturing the attitude and approach of a location. His dedication to scale, detail, and craftsmanship is evident in projects that mirror architectural masterpieces like the Sagrada Familia or St. Peter's Basilica.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me and My Work
- Influences
- U2
Lettering Foundations
- Materials
- Definitions
- Lettering Principles
- Attitude and Approach
- The Importance of 'Pen Influence': How Calligraphy Informs Lettering
- 'Pen Influence' in Practice 1
- 'Pen Influence' in Practice 2
- U3
Exploring Lettering: Techniques and Swash Styles
- Swashes and Flourishes Basics
- Options for Sketching
- Serif Style: Brief History and Examples
- Serif Style: Making a Composition with Flourishes 1
- Serif Style: Making a Composition with Flourishes 2
- Script Style: Brief History and Examples
- Script Style: Making a Composition with Flourishes 1
- Script Style: Making a Composition with Flourishes 2
- U4
Lettering Your Favourite City
- Project Planning: Gathering Ideas and References
- Sketching the Composition in Procreate or with Pencil and Paper 1
- Sketching the Composition in Procreate or with Pencil and Paper 2
- Vectoring Techniques and Adobe Illustrator Set-up
- Creating a Vector of the Composition in Illustrator 1
- Creating a Vector of the Composition in Illustrator 2
- U5
Adding Texture and Depth
- Preparation in Illustrator: Lighting the Design
- Finishing Touches in Photoshop
- FP
Final project
- Expressive Lettering with Swashes and Flourishes
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for learners with some experience in lettering or calligraphy who want to deepen their understanding of letterform construction, expressive techniques, and digital workflows.
You’ll need pens (broad nib, pointed, brush), tracing paper, transparent ruler, erasers, gouache, Procreate or iPad, and access to Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for digital work.
You’ll learn advanced letterform drawing, flourishing, integrating architecture influences, digitizing artwork, vectoring, texturing, and designing expressive typographic compositions for branding, packaging, and editorial design.
Yes, the course teaches both traditional hand-drawing methods and digital processes using tools like Procreate, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
Basic familiarity with Illustrator and Photoshop is helpful, but the course provides step-by-step guidance for digitizing and enhancing hand lettering.
Yes, you’ll learn how to design and integrate flourishes, swashes, and ornamental details to create expressive and harmonious compositions.
Yes, Procreate is included as a tool for sketching, refining, and experimenting with digital lettering and flourishes.