Events
The Art of Tattoo Lettering
with Jessie Fora
A great tattoo deserves great lettering! Refine your skills as a tattooer or designer and create ink that lasts a lifetime.
- Date
- Time
The Art of Tattoo Lettering explores the foundations of the Script, Pike, and Blackletter styles, tracing their origins, structure, and lasting influence on tattooing. Through historical context and application, you'll gain a deeper understanding of where these letter styles came from, why they evolved the way they did, and how they've become essential parts of tattoo culture.
We'll examine the anatomy of letterforms, discuss valuable references, and cover techniques for refining lettering specifically for tattoo design. Rather than simply copying existing styles, you'll learn how to build stronger, more intentional lettering that holds up visually on the body and communicates with clarity.
This workshop is designed to help you understand how lettering shapes the visual language of a tattoo while creating a meaningful emotional connection between the artwork and the wearer. Whether you're designing a single word or a fully custom composition, thoughtful lettering can elevate a tattoo from decoration to storytelling.
Perfect for tattooers looking to expand/refine their skill set or designers creating custom lettering for tattoo clients, this workshop will give you practical tools, historical insight, and a stronger foundation for creating timeless tattoo lettering with confidence!
Diversity and Equity Scholarship
Diversity and Equity are important to all of us at Letterform Archive, and we are committed to increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups within the type and design communities.
We are offering one BIPOC/Equity scholarship seat in this workshop.
To apply for this scholarship, please complete and submit to us the short form linked here at least a week prior to the start of the workshop.
Jessie Fora
Jessie Flora is a lettering artist and tattooer based on the East Coast. She’s been working in this craft professionally since 2001 with a focus on tattooing hand-drawn lettering, calligraphy, typography. She also makes paintings featuring letterforms.
Jessie’s work draws inspiration from a wide range of historical references, often reinterpreted through a more modern lens while staying rooted in classic composition. Working by hindsight. 🙂
Alongside tattooing and painting, Jessie is a board member of Society of Scribes in NYC, a calligraphy guild where she continues to engage with the traditions in calligraphy and study of lettering as a craft.
