Born and raised in North Carolina, Hardison graduated from College of Design at North Carolina State University in 2009, with a degree in Art & Design. After graduation and with little prospect of getting a job in the midst of the financial crisis, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to pursue a creative career. 

“I knew I needed to learn more, and specialize to kickstart my career, so I sought out an apprenticeship at New Bohemia Signs to learn about lettering and sign painting,” she later recalled in an interview with The Design Kids. “I slowly grew my sign painting and illustration skills in tandem,” she adds. 

Her intuition proved right and job offers came pouring in. “These days I keep busy with my illustration and sign painting jobs,” says Hardison. “But I’m always looking for ways to bring those skills together. So far, murals, and food packaging have been two of my favorite ways to accomplish that.”

Her tip to other aspiring creatives? Find your voice and refine it, instead of following style trends. “When work is all about style, it’s not that interesting,” she notes. “It also becomes dated and oversaturated very quickly. Style is sort of like an Instagram filter that can be applied to the work; it’s very surface level.” Take a look at some of her timeless pieces in the gallery below.

The post Heather Hardison Cultivated Her Creative Voice Through Sign Painting appeared first on MyTrendTales.

According to Yamaguchi she received this title at the mere age of 14. “Calligraphy is like karate,” she notes. “Until you get the black belt, you have so many ranks to move through.” A recipient of numerous awards, Yamaguchi has received the First Place prize from the Minister of Education at the 44th Asahi Calligraphy Nationwide School Exhibit and the Superior First Place at the 33rd National Students Calligraphy Exhibition, amongst other titles.

“Studying calligraphy is really physical,” says Yamaguchi, “and I was a perfectionist. I would look at my master’s work and try to write it exactly the same, following his brushstroke. My work wouldn’t come out the same, so I’d get frustrated. However, I’m really persistent, so I would strain my back over a sheet of paper, practicing for hours until I could write something nearly identical to my master. I found this process very meditative. To this day, I love the smell of the sumi ink.”

Since moving to the US in 2004, she has performed and exhibited her works in many galleries, museums, universities, and festivals around the States and abroad. Her work explores this juxtaposition between her identities: on the one hand, relying on her background in the traditional Eastern classics and on the other, relating to her contemporary artistic expressions.

Her aim? To transform the two-dimensional art of Japanese Calligraphy into the art of physical expression through performances. Take a look for yourself:.

The post Aoi Yamaguchi Treats the Art of Calligraphy As Performance appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But when it comes to the creative process itself, Milan surprisingly describes it as “basic”. “The hardest part of my job is finding a good quote or a word,” he relayed in an interview with Wix. “I could spend hours looking for a good one.” Once he has a text, he starts making sketches in different styles. After choosing the best one, he then proceeds to trace it with a marker, brush or digitally on a tablet. Finally, he puts the lettering on a photo or image, adding some finishing touches.

“I usually work with tablets like Wacom and iPad Pro with the Apple pencil,” he says, describing his toolbox, “but I also love working with Crayola markers and Tombow brush pens. They’re such great tools for every lettering artist. As for the digital process, I usually work with Photoshop for different cool effects.”

His different approach to both typography and design has attracted brands as big as Apple, Huawei, Facebook, Pepsi, and Adobe, all of which have commissioned work from him. You’d want to see what the hype is all about:

The post This Typography Artist Experiments with Colors, Textures, and Shapes appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But as her brand grew, so has her desire shifted towards teaching others her skills, and passing her knowledge onwards. Defining herself as a teacher and a blogger, Bugbee now teaches calligraphy and watercolor painting and shares her tips and tricks on her blog. Noteworthy blogposts include 10 ‘Stuck at Home’ Project Suggestions and The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy.

“The best advice I can give about learning calligraphy is you have to enjoy your practice,” she writes. “Yes, use structured resources like an online course or a worksheet, but also let yourself have fun. As you start to get the hang of how to use a dip pen, take on engaging projects.” According to Bugbee, as long as your practice is enjoyable, you’ll continue to hone your skills.

Her blog is a great tool for aspiring calligraphers, but you can also enjoy Bugbee’s work without dipping your pen via Instagram:

The post Now is a Great Time to Improve Your Handwriting appeared first on MyTrendTales.

One such online course is aimed at reviving the art of letter writing. Bulger guides through multiple methods of making beautiful mail-art and handmade stationery, teaching the art of writing and storytelling in a letter and helping you forge personal connections and find pen-pals.

“It’s time,” reads her website. “Time to pick up a pen and write a letter to Nanna. Surprise Facebook friends with a handwritten postcard. Send a thank-you card to your child’s school teacher. Leave a loving post-it note for your partner. No matter what your reason for writing, I will help you make it special and beautiful.”

“Life today is busier than it has ever been!” she acknowledges. “But I think that is all the more reason why it is so special to slow down enough to write something meaningful, and personal, and show the person you’re writing to how much you care.” According to Bulger, we all have the creative potential within us, which she hopes to push forward.

But even if you don’t follow her guidelines, her Instagram page alone will provide you with all the inspiration you need to write that letter.

The post Naomi Bulger Will Teach How You to Write a Letter appeared first on MyTrendTales.

“We are both very creative and visually minded,” said James in an interview with Say Yes. “I have the design and illustration skills, but Sabrina is also a great art director and has a really good sense of design. Sabrina is, however, way more left brained than I am – she’s good with numbers and strategic planning and that kind of thing.”

While James, a gifted illustrator, is obsessed with the craft of letterpress, Moyle, a creative entrepreneur, dove in to get Hello!Lucky off the ground with its first collection of letterpress printed greeting cards which pushed the envelope with exuberant illustrations and fun puns. Years later, and with almost 80k followers on Instagram alone, Hello!Lucky is an award-winning design studio working with dozens of partners to design products ranging from best-selling children’s books to bedding, ceramics, socks, stationery, custom photo albums and more.

With positivity at its core, the sisters’ life philosophy is straightforward enough: “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!” they say, adding a worthwhile reminder: “Have a positive attitude and always be nice.”

The two practice what they preach. Since 2015, they have consistently used our brand platform and talent to give back—co-founding the non-profit Write_On Campaign with Egg Press, creating protest posters for the Women’s March on Washington, selling cause pins that have raised over $20K for various charities, and more. But, their Instagram page is worth following for their quirky illustrations and puns alone.

The post This Greeting Cards Brand Promotes Creativity, Kindness, and Peace on Earth appeared first on MyTrendTales.

If lettering is all about that personal touch, Griffo’s got it in spades. Her posts are playful and inspiring without being too preachy. But she admits it took her much practice to get to where she is. “As a graphic designer, typography has been a passion of mine as long as I can remember,” she admitted. “I used to write, and rewrite my class notes until they were as close to perfect as possible. I learned so much about the art of type as a design student, and I interned at a letterpress studio to learn more about the origin of type. I wanted to learn more about hand lettering because I knew it would bring a unique and personalized touch to the work I was doing with my design clients.”

Her curiosity about hand lettering would blossom into a full-time job a while later. “I took the class as a creative outlet,” she says. “While it related directly to the work I do daily, it was a step away from the computer, a new challenge. I was excited to have some direction, and someone to inspire and motivate me.”

Now she motivates others through her writing. It seems we’ve come full circle!

The post Ilana Griffo’s Writing Will Keep You Motivated appeared first on MyTrendTales.

With experience, so came fame. A number of her projects have received the Award of Typographic Excellence from the New York Type Directors Club, and in 2016 she was named one of PRINT Magazine’s New Visual Artists: 15 under 30. She has also collaborated with numerous global brands and publications including Apple, Google, Adobe, and The New York Times. But her typography art also garnered the attention of online fans, with well over 200k followers on Instagram.

But oddly enough, O’Brien didn’t start out as a typography enthusiast. In fact, she originally went to law school before realizing she needed to do something creative. It was only after switching to a design degree that she fell in love with typography, having learned hand-set type in a letterpress studio. “From that point forward I have been developing a practice that sits between art, illustration, design, and typography,” she stated in an interview with PRINT Magazine.

Her art takes many shapes and forms, but the end result is always delighting. Take a look for yourself.

The post Loose, Energetic, and Bold: The Typography Art of Gemma O’Brien appeared first on MyTrendTales.

She then opened a blog to share her typography experimentations. “It ended up going viral, landing me a book deal, and circulating my work around the web,” she recalled. “Within about a year, I had enough freelance work to comfortably leave my full-time agency job, and I’ve been paying the bills with lettering ever since.”

Featured on publications like TIME Magazine, and collaborating with the likes of Starbucks, Google, AT&T, and YouTube, her happy accident clearly paid off! Join in on the hype, and follow her Instagram page for more.

The post Lauren Hom is THE Master of Typography appeared first on MyTrendTales.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Hardison graduated from College of Design at North Carolina State University in 2009, with a degree in Art & Design. After graduation and with little prospect of getting a job in the midst of the financial crisis, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to pursue a creative career. 

“I knew I needed to learn more, and specialize to kickstart my career, so I sought out an apprenticeship at New Bohemia Signs to learn about lettering and sign painting,” she later recalled in an interview with The Design Kids. “I slowly grew my sign painting and illustration skills in tandem,” she adds. 

Her intuition proved right and job offers came pouring in. “These days I keep busy with my illustration and sign painting jobs,” says Hardison. “But I’m always looking for ways to bring those skills together. So far, murals, and food packaging have been two of my favorite ways to accomplish that.”

Her tip to other aspiring creatives? Find your voice and refine it, instead of following style trends. “When work is all about style, it’s not that interesting,” she notes. “It also becomes dated and oversaturated very quickly. Style is sort of like an Instagram filter that can be applied to the work; it’s very surface level.” Take a look at some of her timeless pieces in the gallery below.

The post Heather Hardison Cultivated Her Creative Voice Through Sign Painting appeared first on MyTrendTales.

According to Yamaguchi she received this title at the mere age of 14. “Calligraphy is like karate,” she notes. “Until you get the black belt, you have so many ranks to move through.” A recipient of numerous awards, Yamaguchi has received the First Place prize from the Minister of Education at the 44th Asahi Calligraphy Nationwide School Exhibit and the Superior First Place at the 33rd National Students Calligraphy Exhibition, amongst other titles.

“Studying calligraphy is really physical,” says Yamaguchi, “and I was a perfectionist. I would look at my master’s work and try to write it exactly the same, following his brushstroke. My work wouldn’t come out the same, so I’d get frustrated. However, I’m really persistent, so I would strain my back over a sheet of paper, practicing for hours until I could write something nearly identical to my master. I found this process very meditative. To this day, I love the smell of the sumi ink.”

Since moving to the US in 2004, she has performed and exhibited her works in many galleries, museums, universities, and festivals around the States and abroad. Her work explores this juxtaposition between her identities: on the one hand, relying on her background in the traditional Eastern classics and on the other, relating to her contemporary artistic expressions.

Her aim? To transform the two-dimensional art of Japanese Calligraphy into the art of physical expression through performances. Take a look for yourself:.

The post Aoi Yamaguchi Treats the Art of Calligraphy As Performance appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But when it comes to the creative process itself, Milan surprisingly describes it as “basic”. “The hardest part of my job is finding a good quote or a word,” he relayed in an interview with Wix. “I could spend hours looking for a good one.” Once he has a text, he starts making sketches in different styles. After choosing the best one, he then proceeds to trace it with a marker, brush or digitally on a tablet. Finally, he puts the lettering on a photo or image, adding some finishing touches.

“I usually work with tablets like Wacom and iPad Pro with the Apple pencil,” he says, describing his toolbox, “but I also love working with Crayola markers and Tombow brush pens. They’re such great tools for every lettering artist. As for the digital process, I usually work with Photoshop for different cool effects.”

His different approach to both typography and design has attracted brands as big as Apple, Huawei, Facebook, Pepsi, and Adobe, all of which have commissioned work from him. You’d want to see what the hype is all about:

The post This Typography Artist Experiments with Colors, Textures, and Shapes appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But as her brand grew, so has her desire shifted towards teaching others her skills, and passing her knowledge onwards. Defining herself as a teacher and a blogger, Bugbee now teaches calligraphy and watercolor painting and shares her tips and tricks on her blog. Noteworthy blogposts include 10 ‘Stuck at Home’ Project Suggestions and The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy.

“The best advice I can give about learning calligraphy is you have to enjoy your practice,” she writes. “Yes, use structured resources like an online course or a worksheet, but also let yourself have fun. As you start to get the hang of how to use a dip pen, take on engaging projects.” According to Bugbee, as long as your practice is enjoyable, you’ll continue to hone your skills.

Her blog is a great tool for aspiring calligraphers, but you can also enjoy Bugbee’s work without dipping your pen via Instagram:

The post Now is a Great Time to Improve Your Handwriting appeared first on MyTrendTales.

One such online course is aimed at reviving the art of letter writing. Bulger guides through multiple methods of making beautiful mail-art and handmade stationery, teaching the art of writing and storytelling in a letter and helping you forge personal connections and find pen-pals.

“It’s time,” reads her website. “Time to pick up a pen and write a letter to Nanna. Surprise Facebook friends with a handwritten postcard. Send a thank-you card to your child’s school teacher. Leave a loving post-it note for your partner. No matter what your reason for writing, I will help you make it special and beautiful.”

“Life today is busier than it has ever been!” she acknowledges. “But I think that is all the more reason why it is so special to slow down enough to write something meaningful, and personal, and show the person you’re writing to how much you care.” According to Bulger, we all have the creative potential within us, which she hopes to push forward.

But even if you don’t follow her guidelines, her Instagram page alone will provide you with all the inspiration you need to write that letter.

The post Naomi Bulger Will Teach How You to Write a Letter appeared first on MyTrendTales.

“We are both very creative and visually minded,” said James in an interview with Say Yes. “I have the design and illustration skills, but Sabrina is also a great art director and has a really good sense of design. Sabrina is, however, way more left brained than I am – she’s good with numbers and strategic planning and that kind of thing.”

While James, a gifted illustrator, is obsessed with the craft of letterpress, Moyle, a creative entrepreneur, dove in to get Hello!Lucky off the ground with its first collection of letterpress printed greeting cards which pushed the envelope with exuberant illustrations and fun puns. Years later, and with almost 80k followers on Instagram alone, Hello!Lucky is an award-winning design studio working with dozens of partners to design products ranging from best-selling children’s books to bedding, ceramics, socks, stationery, custom photo albums and more.

With positivity at its core, the sisters’ life philosophy is straightforward enough: “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!” they say, adding a worthwhile reminder: “Have a positive attitude and always be nice.”

The two practice what they preach. Since 2015, they have consistently used our brand platform and talent to give back—co-founding the non-profit Write_On Campaign with Egg Press, creating protest posters for the Women’s March on Washington, selling cause pins that have raised over $20K for various charities, and more. But, their Instagram page is worth following for their quirky illustrations and puns alone.

The post This Greeting Cards Brand Promotes Creativity, Kindness, and Peace on Earth appeared first on MyTrendTales.

If lettering is all about that personal touch, Griffo’s got it in spades. Her posts are playful and inspiring without being too preachy. But she admits it took her much practice to get to where she is. “As a graphic designer, typography has been a passion of mine as long as I can remember,” she admitted. “I used to write, and rewrite my class notes until they were as close to perfect as possible. I learned so much about the art of type as a design student, and I interned at a letterpress studio to learn more about the origin of type. I wanted to learn more about hand lettering because I knew it would bring a unique and personalized touch to the work I was doing with my design clients.”

Her curiosity about hand lettering would blossom into a full-time job a while later. “I took the class as a creative outlet,” she says. “While it related directly to the work I do daily, it was a step away from the computer, a new challenge. I was excited to have some direction, and someone to inspire and motivate me.”

Now she motivates others through her writing. It seems we’ve come full circle!

The post Ilana Griffo’s Writing Will Keep You Motivated appeared first on MyTrendTales.

With experience, so came fame. A number of her projects have received the Award of Typographic Excellence from the New York Type Directors Club, and in 2016 she was named one of PRINT Magazine’s New Visual Artists: 15 under 30. She has also collaborated with numerous global brands and publications including Apple, Google, Adobe, and The New York Times. But her typography art also garnered the attention of online fans, with well over 200k followers on Instagram.

But oddly enough, O’Brien didn’t start out as a typography enthusiast. In fact, she originally went to law school before realizing she needed to do something creative. It was only after switching to a design degree that she fell in love with typography, having learned hand-set type in a letterpress studio. “From that point forward I have been developing a practice that sits between art, illustration, design, and typography,” she stated in an interview with PRINT Magazine.

Her art takes many shapes and forms, but the end result is always delighting. Take a look for yourself.

The post Loose, Energetic, and Bold: The Typography Art of Gemma O’Brien appeared first on MyTrendTales.

She then opened a blog to share her typography experimentations. “It ended up going viral, landing me a book deal, and circulating my work around the web,” she recalled. “Within about a year, I had enough freelance work to comfortably leave my full-time agency job, and I’ve been paying the bills with lettering ever since.”

Featured on publications like TIME Magazine, and collaborating with the likes of Starbucks, Google, AT&T, and YouTube, her happy accident clearly paid off! Join in on the hype, and follow her Instagram page for more.

The post Lauren Hom is THE Master of Typography appeared first on MyTrendTales.