Basic Hand Lettering: The Ampersand

Friends, it’s time for our next post in the Basic Hand Lettering series! We’ve worked on the alphabet, now it’s time to learn a basic ampersand that you can customize and embellish in all kinds of fun ways.

You will need:
a marker {any kind will do; mine is a black Tombow Dual Brush Marker}
paper

Step 1: Draw a shape that resembles a backwards “3” or a cursive capital “E.”
I like to add a little loop in the center, but it’s totally up to you.

Step 2: Add a loop with a curving line to the bottom.
Ideally, steps 1 and 2 will become one fluid motion, but for now as you’re practicing, it’s totally fine to work one step at a time.

Step 3: Add a loop to the top.
Again, this is totally optional, I just like to add it as an extra embellishment.

Step 4: Go back and add an extra line to the downstroke areas.
This is the same thing we did with our basic letters. If you like, you can leave your ampersand just like this with the open double line look. Or, you can move on to step 5.

Step 5: Color in between your lines to thicken the downstrokes.
This is a basic ampersand. There are lots of stylistic choices you can make, though, to embellish and personalize it!

For example, instead of coloring in the lines, you can add stripes, polka dots, or any other pattern you like instead!

Or, you can fill in the double lines with a different color, like I did in this piece.

If you want your ampersand to stand out, it’s fun to accent one or both sides of it with three short lines, like this.
Here’s an example of that on a recent project, my coffee mug!

See? There are lots of ways to make this little embellishment your own. Now it’s your turn! Break out that marker {any kind will do!} and let’s see your ampersands. Be sure to share them in the One Artsy Mama & Friends Facebook group so we can all encourage each other! And, don’t miss the other posts in the Basic Hand Lettering Series!

Basic Hand Lettering