How to Be a Rule-Breaking Letterer - by Huyen Dinh (Paperback)

About the Book

"This book is for anyone who's felt the pressure of perfection. As a schoolgirl in Vietnam and later in lettering classes, Huyen Dinh was always told to perfect her penmanship. Instead, she started embracing her own imperfect style-with squiggly lines, cheeky messages, and candy colors. In this upbeat guidebook, Dinh walks you through the basic rules of lettering so she can teach you how to break them in clever and creative ways. She shares challenges and triumphs from her own artistic journey and offers inspiration as well as technical tips. Use your new lettering skills to tell your personal story, support a cause you care about, or decorate your tote bags and sneakers! Fully illustrated in Dinh's signature pastel palette, this book is the perfect companion for any aspiring creative"--

Book Synopsis

Break the rules, embrace imperfection, and express your unique self through lettering art!

This book is for anyone who's felt the pressure of perfection. As a schoolgirl in Vietnam and later in online lettering classes, Huyen Dinh was always told to perfect her penmanship. Instead, she started embracing her own imperfect style--with squiggly lines, cheeky messages, and pastel colors.

In this upbeat guidebook, Dinh walks you through the basic rules of lettering and then teaches you how to break them in clever and creative ways. She shares challenges and triumphs from her own artistic journey and offers inspiration as well as technical tips. You can use your new lettering skills to tell your personal story, support a cause you care about, or decorate your tote bags and sneakers! Fully illustrated in Dinh's signature pastel palette, this book is the perfect companion for any aspiring creative.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE BOOK: This fresh and fun guide includes:

• Affirmations for a positive mindset
• Lettering language 101
• A step-by-step guide from brainstorming to finished art
• Inspiration for telling your story through lettering
• Fun DIY projects with how-to instructions
• And much more

MAKES LETTERING FUN: No need to sweat over creating technically perfect calligraphy. Instead, let this guidebook infuse your creative projects with fun. Lettering is a chance to explore your personal style and share your passions with the world.

EMPOWERING MESSAGE: By sharing her own story, Dinh offers inspiration for anyone who dreams of a creative career, especially other young Asian American women. This is an approachable and inclusive handbook for pursuing your artistic goals.

RISING STAR: Huyen Dinh's refreshing honesty and irresistible illustration style have resonated with thousands of fans online. Her lettering art has graced murals, sweatshirts, magazine covers, and more. With this book, she welcomes anyone to join her in creating perfectly imperfect lettering.

Perfect for:

• Letterers, artists, and illustrators looking for a fun and practical resource
• Students of all ages looking for a creative outlet
• Casual creatives and hobbyists who love hand lettering, drawing with letters, and font, alphabet, and script design
• Fashionistas who want to add personal flair to their accessories
• Engaged couples doing hand-lettered DIY wedding invites
• Pinterest addicts and bullet journaling enthusiasts seeking new letter design ideas and inspiration

Review Quotes

"Cute, playful, and perfect for pastel lovers! Huyen's tips will help any artist struggling with perfectionism, delivering just the right dose of encouragement, inspiration and lettering tips!" ----Belinda Kou, lettering artist

"Have you ever had a friend who was so excited to share something with you that you could feel it in their words, their energy? That's what it felt like reading Huyen's book. She is so patient, encouraging, kind and enthusiastic you can feel it as she instructs you to learn to walk with the basics before you dive in to learn and run with your own style." --Samantha Leung, Owner Designer of HEMLEVA

"Huyen has developed a unique style that breaks the rules of traditional lettering in a fun and playful way! This book will help you think outside the box and push you to take yourself not-so-seriously!" --Steffi Lynn, muralist and illustrator

"The cutest lettering book ever and perfect if you love all things pastel!: ) Huyen beautifully shares her creativity and lettering process in such a fun and relatable way! It's the perfect book to gain lettering inspiration and just have fun creating for yourself!" --Shelly Kim, creator of Letters by Shells and author of Digital Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy

"This book is a whimsical pastel mermaid in a sea of old conventional sharks. Huyen's creative process and friendly approach to imperfect lettering will inspire a new generation of creatives to proudly embrace the flaws and happy accidents of art-making." --Ann Chen, illustrator

"A book for readers who have started and stopped a bullet journal after too many imperfect pages, uneven letters, off-center designs, or less-than-Pinterest-worthy drawings. It is a permission slip to learn rules in order to break them and to tell stories as unique as each person's pen stroke. The author shares clear instructions for simple and highly creative DIY projects in an open, self-aware fashion that encourages readers to take creative risks." --Library Journal

About the Author

Huyen Dinhis a lettering and illustration artist. Her clients include Southern Living Magazine, the Washington Post, Canon, and Trader Joe's. She was raised in Vietnam and now lives in sunny Los Angeles.