Lettering Style Challenge 2023
This collection features all 31 illustrations I created for Aurelie Maron’s 2023 Lettering Style Challenge — a daily art challenge in October, exploring a wide range of lettering styles from Gothic to Art Deco, Slab Serif to Flourishes.
Each day brought a new prompt, and I responded with a “power word” illustration that combined expressive lettering, vibrant textures, and a touch of narrative storytelling.
What made the series uniquely mine was a little black cat who appears in every single piece — a tiny, curious companion whose adventures unfolded through each day's word. This project was created during a time when I was still discovering my style, and it became a joyful space to experiment with type, mood, and form in playful and unexpected ways.
You’ll find all 31 pieces here, each accompanied by the original caption I shared on Instagram — a short reflection or thought tied to the word and its illustrated form. Click through each image to view the full illustration.
Day 1 - "Italic". And what better word to represent the start of all endeavours, but ‘Begin…’? 🌟 Sometimes, taking the first step is the hardest one, but we all have to begin somewhere - your Chapter One might very different from someone else’s, and that’s okay. Remember, you can only finish the book once you actually start it! 🐾
"Shadow". It’s time to ✨Unleash✨ your creativity! We all have unlimited creative potential in us but some of us keep it locked away, hidden from the world, and sometimes ourselves. It’s time we unleashed that power we hold and nurture it so that we can discover ourselves again. 💜
“Decorative”. Let’s light up our imagination! 🤩 Every beautiful composition, every creative pursuit begins with your imagination - you can conjure up the most amazing things when you begin to imagine them, making them clearer in your mind’s eye🌟 The more you practise imagining the details, the more precise the steps in your art would become 🙌🏼💜
“Futuristic”. Here’s my reminder of the ✨Infinite✨ potential our futures hold 🤩 No matter where you are in life or what you have experienced, the future is made up of infinite amazing opportunities and possibilities. You are exactly where you’re meant to be right now, and the whole grand Universe is open to you 💫 So seize the moment, keep going and keep growing! 🌟🙌🏼
“Slab Serif”. Here’s my reminder of just how amazingly ✨Worthy✨ you are 🤩 Having a butterfly choose you as a perch instead of the whole garden full of beautiful flowers, is the greatest honour indeed 🤩💜 You deserve all the riches life has to offer, every single one of them… If you have to work hard to achieve them, then work hard, but do not give up 🙌🏼💫 Remember - you are a child of the Universe. You are enough. You are Worthy.🌟
“Heavy”, and here’s today’s message to remember that you are ✨Empowered✨ No matter the struggles you may face, or the season of life you may be in, remember that you hold the key to unlock your chest of solutions 🗝️✨ So go ahead and OWN your stripes! Be the fearless tiger who knows it holds power in itself 🐯🌟 Wear your superhero cape proudly, no matter what it’s made of, because YOU are your own HERO 🙌🏼💫
“Comic”, so let’s shed some of those burdens and ✨Simplify✨ our lives! We’ve all been there… Ruminating over situations for endless hours, over-complicating tiny details to no end, going stir-crazy and panicking about ALL the tasks we need to accomplish in such little time!! 🫣😶 And in the end, we sometimes forget the main purpose of our lives - to ENJOY it 🌟 Perhaps what we really need to do is to get down to the basics, the roots, and simplify the process to gain more… More time, more fun, more Life! 💫✨
“Art Nouveau”, and what a delightful challenge it was to ✨Create✨ Sometimes, on our creative journeys, we come across hurdles and roadblocks that leave us stumped and clueless about how to proceed - be it a struggle with getting the right colours together, or learning a new art style, or figuring out a specific technique to get the most accurate textures…👀🫣 I’ve found that if we don’t give up and keep on trying, we can sometimes surprise ourselves with how much progress we have made from when we started. 💜 All we need to do is keep on creating, because we learn by doing and not just thinking. So keep working with that light shining brightly in you - it’s a strong, dependable light indeed. It is YOUR creative light 🌟💫
“Flourishes”, and what better word to represent their beauty than ✨Blessed✨ Life’s daily hustle and grind often make us forget the millions of tiny blessings that walk with us everyday… If you have a roof above your head, food on your table and clothes to wear, you are Blessed. If you have a talent, no matter how honed, you are Blessed. If you can feel the warm sunshine on your skin or smell the beautiful flowers, you are Blessed. If you are ALIVE, you are Blessed.🌟💜 Today, remind yourself of all the blessings that have been bestowed upon you, big or small, and give thanks to the Universe for the Spring that we always carry around with us, no matter the surrounding Winter.❄️🌸
“Copperplate”, a delicate, elegant lettering style that can leave one ✨Inspired✨ We all have those moments where we feel lost - about what to create, or how to create it, or sometimes even, why should we create…💜 As an artist, it seems almost essential to have a list of things that keep you inspired to make more art. But what’s more important is to be inspired to enjoy the process of creating, to remember why we started it all, in the first place…🌟 Today, have a think about what inspires YOU to create, keep it close to your heart and remember it when you are stuck. You are more resourceful and resilient than you know 🙌🏼💫
“Script”, a carefree, yet elegant, style of brush lettering🌟 Have you ever felt this? No matter how hard you try, the sketches don’t seem to fit right, the colours are a mess, the brush strokes are just not precise enough, even your equipment seems to be working against you… Your eyes begin to burn from your constant rubbing, you’re starting to get a headache, the fog in your head seems to be getting denser - your creativity has decided to take a break…🥲 Every creator gets this ‘brain fog’ at some point. All ideas fail and nothing seems to be going right. A simple trick can help relieve some of this intense pressure on us - just ✨Breathe✨ The next time you’re in a creative bind, close your eyes and take 5 slow, deep breaths. If those don’t work and clear your mind a bit, take 5 more breaths. Sometimes, that’s all we really need - a pause and a breath, to remind us that we are alive, and that it’ll all be okay 💜
“Vintage”, making you feel like you’ve stepped into a ✨Dream✨ I think our dreams are the pictures of our possible futures that the Universe paints for us. So when you dream big, you’re actually doing yourself a favour 💜 Of course, bigger dreams need stronger actions, but remember - you have those dreams because you are capable of achieving them! Let no one tell you otherwise 🙌🏼 Today, think about the dreams you have for yourself - go big, wild and free! This is YOUR LIFE and you can achieve them all! 🤩 The Universe loves you 🌟
“Geometric” - using simple shapes to create letters🟣🟨🔶 To be creative means to explore daunting unknown territories - vast seas of new concepts and techniques, mountains of challenges and self-doubt, distant lands of our creative potentials that we have still not tapped into…And to explore these territories, we must armour ourselves and be ✨Brave✨ We are creative because we love being creative - the joy of it keeps us going. So let no one’s judgement keep you from being your true Creative Self. BE BRAVE and take on the challenges and struggles that come in your path, for they will make your creative voice stronger. BE BRAVE and show the world your beautiful Inner You 💜🌟
“Victorian” - a vintage style of lettering that lends a magical old-worldly feeling to words 🌟 Have you experienced this? The feeling of exhilaration that you get when you finally complete a creative project and you look at it in wonder - Did I just do that? Is this really my work of art?? 😯 It feels almost too good to be true - almost like a ✨Miracle✨ We carry within ourselves, endless potential for creativity, and our talents often go deeper than what we let ourselves explore. So today, let’s give ourselves a chance and look within for that first flower sprout after winter - our very own Miracle 💜💫
“Gothic” - a style that invokes a feeling of mysticism and surrealism 🌟 Often on our creative journeys, we encounter struggles and challenges that require us to just ✨Trust✨ ourselves and take the next step. Whether it’s a new technique that we’re learning, or completing an old project - when something goes awry, ask that quiet voice in yourself - what can I do to make this better? Am I doing the right thing? Then listen to what it says - most of the times you will get your answer. And if you don’t, ask the Universe for a sign and Trust it to give you one 💜✨
“Condensed” - a style with tall, elongated letters ✨ How often do you let your creativity run ✨Free✨? Do you remember the last time you picked up your tools and just gave your art a go, not caring about the end result, or the response from others? There’s a certain sense of liberty, of freedom, that comes when you stop thinking about the outcomes of your creative efforts and just put your heart into it 💜 Cherish that feeling of being Free and letting your Soul guide you through the magic that is creativity 🌟
“Swashes” - typographical flourishes attached to letters🌟 Today, let’s thank the Universe for the creativity that flows in our veins, making us ✨Radiant✨ and a beacon of light to those who are still discovering their creative potentials. You are truly blessed! 🌅💜
“Ligature” - a style combining letters with a single stroke or glyph ⭐️ As an artist, having a clear ✨Vision✨ of your creative end goals and the process that gets you there, is essential. Whether your result ends up being the same as part of your initial vision, is still a question to be answered 🤓 Having a bird’s eye view of your project, right in the beginning, clears up a lot of confusion. Your Creative Vision is uniquely yours - it’s moulded by your thoughts, your perspective, your feelings. So harness the power that your Vision holds and create a bright future for yourself today! 🙌🏼💫
“Graffiti”, a casual, yet ✨Vibrant✨ typeface with increasing range of complexities - simple straight brush strokes or highly detailed script lettering🌟 What’s your go-to style when you choose colours for your creative projects? Is it shades of the same colour, or black and white, or perhaps you have a set of particular colours you feel comfortable with? Why do you love these colours? What emotions do they incite in you? 🎨💫 Colours have the power to influence our feelings and emotions on a daily basis. Which ones do you choose to play with today? 💜🌟
“Art Deco”, a style reminiscent of the Golden Gatsby era🌟 When was the last time you paused for a second and just felt overwhelming love for yourself? Your pure, soft, ✨Precious✨ inner self? The one that always lives within you, gently guiding you along your path. The one that never gave up on you. The one that is so grateful to have you.💜💫 Your creativity allows that Precious Inner Self to shine through and let you know that you are loved and oh so valuable! Today, remember to take a moment, close your eyes and smile with your gentle Inner Self. You deserve all that unconditional love 💜🌟
“Sans Serif”, a simple, yet bold typeface demanding attention and ✨Focus✨ Every creator has a unique way of working - some prefer pin-drop silence when creating, others like heavy metal blasting through their headphones; some wake up early to work on their projects, others prefer being nocturnal instead; some have to have mugs of coffee steaming beside them, while others enjoy sips of wine in between strokes of paint🌟 So, today, figure out the things that help you Focus when you create - what time, room temperature, lighting or other conditions suit you best? What items can you keep near yourself to complete tasks without distractions? What mindset do you need to be in to achieve complete Focus in your creative state? 💜
“Outline”🌟 Have you ever felt that wave of delightful astonishment after creating something you thought you were never capable of? What was the ✨Spark✨ that set your creative process in motion? Today, let’s thank the Universe for those little Sparks of inspiration that ignite our creativity stupendously! 💜🙌🏼
"Blackletter" Do you believe in ✨Magic✨? People usually conjure images of wands and spells when thinking of Magic, but what about Everyday Magic? The sun rising and setting everyday like clockwork, your computer whirring with electricity, the new hot frothy cappuccino concoction you just tried the other day, the sudden inspiration that guided you to finally finish that art piece, the way everything feels right when it all falls slowly into place…💫 Most of us tend to forget the gentle delight that Everyday Magic offers us - the opportunity to believe in something greater than just ourselves…that there is GOOD in this beautiful world we live in. So today, let’s remember one thing, no matter how small, that made the day Magical for us 💜🌟
“Extended”, where the letters are stretched horizontally, unlike the condensed typeform, where letters are stretched vertically 🌟 Ah! It’s a thrill, isn’t it? The rush that you get when you’re in your element, creating away...the adrenaline charging through your veins, keeping you going through hours and hours of hard work… And it feels amazing! You feel like you can go on this way forever! 🙌🏼 Until, you don’t. The crash comes in quicker than you anticipated it would…fatigue had creeped in sometime when you weren’t noticing, your hands and eyes were getting more tired way too quickly, and the dreaded creative block was just an inch away, it’s sneaky claws ready to cage your vulnerable mind… Except, it doesn’t have to be this way. How about taking that little 10 minute break you should have taken 2 hours ago, now, before you lose your creative flow? That ✨Pause✨ could generously reward you with much more clarity and creativity than the long stride of hustle we sometimes let ourselves struggle through… So today, remember to take that much needed break and be kind to yourself.💜
“Old Style”, an angular typeform with thick to thin transitions🌟 It’s a mad rush... Seems like we’re all caught up in trying to be everything we can to everyone around us, most of the time… It’s almost become a norm to ‘follow the trends’, yet there’s never been a better time to discover and show your True ✨Authentic✨ Self. How well do you know yourself? More importantly, how well do you accept and love yourself? Because, at the end of the day, you’re the one who has the privilege to live with yourself, the rest of your life 💜 Your quirks and talents set you apart, making you unique in the sea of the people trying to be like someone else. So today, give your delightful Inner Self a chance to speak up and be discovered 💫🙌🏼
“Serif”, the little extensions at the ends of letters like blocks, flares or even fancier shapes🌟 It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and joy that creativity brings along…we could probably spend hours making projects we love and not notice the time passing by 💫 While this beautiful flow of creativity is something we should cherish, our physical bodies can only handle so much… So today, remember to ✨Nourish✨ yourself with the basics - food, water, exercise and time. You don’t need to go all out but even a 10 minutes session of exercise and self care time is worth more than doing none at all 💜
“Bevel”, an effect in type form that gives the illusion of a 3D raised structure🌟 It’s easier to be positive about life when things are going your way…other than a few hiccups here and there, life’s rolling along smoothly.. Except, when it doesn’t. Hardships and difficult times are inevitable and inescapable part of life…but there’s one thing that can carry us through the struggle - when we ✨Believe✨ in ourselves and our abilities. We are so much stronger than we think, and capable of so much more than we know! Hardships test our strength, in every way possible. We just need to remind ourselves that it’s a phase of life, and this too shall pass…💫 So today, remember to Believe in your amazing self and the gifts that the Universe has bestowed upon you 💜
“Bold”, a style that needs no more explanation than being ✨Strong✨ Sometimes, life gives us no choice but to be Strong…to keep ploughing through the dark times, searching for even the tiniest ray of light - anything, that lets us just hold on and hope for a brighter tomorrow…💜 Sometimes, life is a struggle, but remember, it is struggle, not comfort, that makes average people heroes. Nothing worth having comes easily…but know that you have it in you to reach whatever goals you set yourself. You are your own limit..so be Strong and today, give yourself a chance to grow and shine like the diamond you are 💫
“Western”, a style that beckons us to ✨Explore✨ the wild beauty of the West One of the best ways to get out of a creative slump is to try new things - new techniques, new materials, new subjects…a new perspective can change the way you think and create 🌟 Exploration is rarely an easy task - it requires bravery, insight, patience and a strong will. But it can also help us learn so much more about ourselves, our passions, our quirks, our limits and strengths! Without the knowledge of these essential elements, our creative journeys would remain quite stunted…💫 So today, let’s take a step beyond our comfort zones on an exploration journey to find our creative voices 💜🙌🏼
“Contrast”, a type form with contrasting elements like thick and thin strokes, colours, even mixed font styles in one 🌟 The world may tell you that you need more and more of everything in your life, but today, be grateful for that which you have already… Remember, if you have food, water, a roof over your head and clothes on your back, you are ✨Abundant✨ If you have a dream and the power to develop your skills to reach that dream, you are ✨Abundant✨ If you have even a single soul on this huge planet that cares for you and wants the best for you, you are ✨Abundant✨ Surprisingly, it really doesn’t take much to feel abundant at all… So today, let’s cherish our blessings and celebrate the little joys that light up our lives everyday 💜
Day 31 - “Ampersand”, a short form of the Latin word ‘et’, which means ‘and’🌟 Here you are… That was a long journey, wasn’t it? You’ve worked hard… You’ve stayed up day and night… You’ve beamed with delight… You’ve cried in frustration… You’ve refilled your coffee mug a hundred times… You probably forgot to eat a meal or two… You’ve struggled… But, here you are… Finally, at the journey’s end 🙌🏼 Each creative project brings along a mix of emotions and experiences - anticipation, excitement and nervousness in the beginning, leading to relief, a sense of wonder, and peace when you finish 🌟 And if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably already started planning out your next creative venture! Because creativity never sleeps, never takes a pause, and can be a faithful companion 🤓 So today, just like the word ✨&✨, promise yourself, that you will never give up on yourself and your dreams… Keep going… Keep creating… The Whole Universe is waiting for you 💜