Modern Brush Lettering Calligraphy with Jade Scarlett

Subscribers Only Seminar

This seminar is for CreativeLive subscribers only. Not subscribed? Start here!

The Modern Brush Lettering Essentials seminar introduces beginners to the foundational techniques behind contemporary brush lettering. Modern lettering blends traditional calligraphy principles with a relaxed, expressive style often used in branding, social media, stationery, and creative projects. In this session, participants learn how brush pressure creates contrast and how mastering basic strokes leads to clean, confident letterforms.

Through guided demonstrations and structured practice exercises, this seminar covers pen control, stroke consistency, letter formation, spacing, and composition. Participants will learn how to create thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes, combine strokes into lowercase letterforms, and build simple words with rhythm and balance. By the end of the session, attendees will understand the mechanics behind brush lettering and feel confident practicing independently.

This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Jade Scarlett.

What You'll Learn

  • Understand what modern brush lettering is and how it is built on pressure contrast.
  • Practice pen control and the core strokes that form every letter.
  • Create thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes with consistent pressure and rhythm.
  • Build lowercase letters by grouping them by structure rather than alphabet order.
  • Connect letters into words with smoother transitions and better spacing.
  • Explore style and flourishing after fundamentals are mastered, while maintaining legibility.

Who It's For

  • Beginners with little or no calligraphy experience
  • Creatives interested in hand lettering for personal projects or branding
  • Designers who want to incorporate custom typography into their work
  • Stationery and craft enthusiasts
  • Anyone looking for a relaxing, skill-based creative practice

Required Materials

  • Brush pens (small and medium tip recommended, such as water-based brush markers)
  • Smooth practice paper (marker paper or laser printer paper recommended)
  • Pencil and eraser
  • Ruler
  • Printed practice sheets (basic strokes and alphabet guides)
  • Optional: Tombow Fudenosuke or similar firm-tip brush pen for beginners
  • Optional: tracing paper or lightbox

How to Join

  • This class is available exclusively to CreativeLive subscribers. Not a subscriber? Join here.
  • The class will be delivered via Zoom-style live sessions through CreativeLive.
  • To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited.
  • A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers prior to the class date.

About the Instructor


Jade Scarlett

Jade Scarlett is a watercolor artist, modern calligrapher, educator, and confessed craftaholic. It is her deepest belief that people can be happier and more fulfilled when expressing themselves creatively, and she's intensely passionate about teaching and making art accessible to all.

Her desire is to uplift and encourage everyone to live their best creative lives.

Her motto in life is “Make art, feel happy!"