Why Is Everything in Pencil?

Apr 9

Written By Stacey

Actually, that’s only half true.

I began using pencil in the majority of my lettering compositions early in the school year after I found most of my students in my virtual classes didn’t have many art supplies at home.

At first, it was just a way to stand in solidarity, sharing the full pandemic experience with them (and to make sure they understood everything we did could be done with pencils and paper or markers if they had them). It took me back to my own roots…and it didn’t hurt that most of the lettering styles I was beginning to enjoy at that time could be accomplished better using pencil.

But over time, as my blog and my IG feed became my little escape from all the things going on in my behind the scenes, it was soothing to see what felt like a calm, safe space to me.

I still used other materials like chalk and ink. But, I think the overall tonality of my pieces went grayer and softer overall like these sketches from the current lettering challenge I’m working on.

It’s ironic that as colorful as I started this lettering journey, the everyday colors I’ve always surrounded myself with have been muted grays and tans. From the majority of what I wear to my furniture and the walls in my home…everything is toned down.

Maybe it has always been my way of keeping myself together over the years.

Occasionally, I still do projects bursting with color. This one was a thumbnail reject from the challenge. I still liked the vibe and I thought it’d look better on a mug than the one I originally settled on (see the photo above).

They are just used as accents in what I do right now….like this little mug. It definitely brightened my day today!

I sincerely think, like scents or song, color and tone are able to do powerful things to our psyche. We can use that to our benefit. They can excite and invigorate us. They can warn and cause us to be on alert. They can even help calm a mind working overtime.

All color is creative power!