Lettering and Things
I'm Carla Hackett: letterer, designer, illustrator
and dreamer from Berlin.
Ask me anything
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Behind the scenes
I am really enjoying my latest project Deutsch Doodles and everyone’s feedback is exciting!From the moment I bought some black gouache and a paintbrush I’ve been hooked on painting letters. The flow and the tactile quality is so enjoyable to work with; so enjoyable I’ve leveled up and bought an entire set of colours! I can’t wait to keep experimenting with other forms of lettering, colours and styles.
For the “Lecker” post I wanted to do an illustration of the little girl that didn’t have outlines. And these Letraset brush markers! They are almost like watercolour, and if you let them dry and draw back over them, you get some great tones and brush marks. I must own every colour. Lucky we live right next door to the “kunst” (“art”) supplies shop.
Keep up the Deutsch requests and feedback! More process shots to come.
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My visit to smallcaps Studio, Berlin
Yesterday I was lucky enough to meet Sabrina from smallcaps letterpress printing studio in Berlin. I came across her work on her blog and etsy shop and immediately wanted to get my hands on a copy of the gorgeous Hello Berlin book. She collaborated with an illustrator to create a fun, workbook-style city guide where you can colour in the illustrations of items from the local spätkauf and write down what songs you sang at your Berlin karaoke experience. Very sweet!She showed me her two presses and her metal type collection. She has managed to aquire a lot of gear over the two years in her studio - a former brewery that house all sorts of other creative people.
Sabrina’s work really is a labour of love, printing 250 passes on a heavy machine can be hard on your body, but it’s this love for the craft and the unique result that keeps her going. The cards and notebooks are sold online and in boutique stationery shops from Berlin to Amsterdam.
Sabrina thinks the letterpress printing method is only getting more popular, with clients coming to her to get their business cards and wedding invitations printed on lush cotton paper that leaves a real impression (boom-tish!).
Sometimes, she will get artwork of illustrations made to a plate and use her metal type collection to create cute and unique designs. The turn around for these plates is about 3 days, so the technology is there to keep her collection fresh, it’s just a matter of printing a large quantity by hand, and especially if it is a two colour card, it really is a lot of work. She is always on the look out for new sets of type, on ebay and old printery’s, but it is hard to find complete sets these days, and she spends a lot of time sorting type.
It was really lovely to meet her and see her busy little studio in action. Thanks Sabrina! I hope I get the chance to letterpress some of my lettering work one day, or collaborate on a project with her.
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I’ve started a little side project called Deutsch Doodles!
It’s a place for me to practice my lettering and illustration, and of course my German! There are lots of words/phrases I have learned that I love, hate, or sometimes giggle at that I want to illustrate.The header was painted in gouache. This was a first attempt and I must say I loved the process of painting! You can still see the rough edges and the brush strokes which I think is a nice touch.
I’ll still be posting my other lettering experiments and designs here.
Tchüss!
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I was comissioned to letter some quotes for the newly released Offscreen magazine. Offscreen aims to take a look at the people working on the web, but in a printed collectable magazine. The first quote I lettered was “Work hard, be nice” and the second “Think first google later”. Here are a few work in progress shots previously posted on the blog.
It was my first time working to a brief with lettering pieces. We had a few challenges as the magazine was being designed as I was creating the art. The first piece needed to be re-worked as the cupcake concept was a little too cute for how the look and feel of the magazine was coming along. I simplified the type and colour palette and made the cupcake secondary to the typography.Unfortunately the second piece didn’t end up being used in the magazine as it didn’t really fit with aesthetic of the magazine. I am happy with how both pieces turned out and I will be even more stoked to see it printed in amongst the beautiful spreads of Offscreen designed by the super talented Kai Brach.
From what I’ve seen it looks like a great read. You can buy a copy here. I’m sure its going to be well received amongst the web and design community and it’s already being picked up by stockists including my favourite book shop in Berlin Do you read me?
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The piece I created for Go Fish Magazine had it’s exhibition opening on Valentine’s Day at the Advision Gallery in Wagga. Missy and Michael did a great installation with the pieces, which when together form a varied and beautiful collection. Purchase the magazine here.
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A work in progress shot of a commissioned piece for the first edition of Offscreen Mag. I am lettering two inspirational webby related quotes for the magazine.
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So I got a bamboo pen! It’s a day in and I must admit it takes a bit to get used to. I am using it with my left hand, which means I have my right hand on the keyboard for the shortcuts (which I am going to have to get better at). It just didn’t feel right to hold the pen in my right hand. This is my first attempt, playing around with pen pressure and writing. I think I’m going to have fun with this! Also glad I got the pen not the pen and touch. Don’t think I need hand gestures, and this model is super cheap. The active area is quite small, but I’ve never used a tablet, so it’s not taking much to get use to the size.
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I’m kinda obsessed with umlauts and their little shocked and happy faces.
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My friend Kallie is an amazing crafty person and makes gorgeous quilts. She asked me letter a K for her to embroider on the back of the quilt as a little brand mark. Can’t wait to see it in thread!
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