B&L Monogram

23 Responses

1. Pro Ryan Hamrick

   First draft of a tattoo design for my wife that incorporates our kids first initials. Still working out the thicks and thins and where they should be and would love some feedback if you see anything particularly crazy. I already see I need to work on the spacing under the ampersand there.

   Specific thought: does the ampersand look too much like an 'E'? Haven't drawn many in this style, so still trying to get comfortable with it, lol.

   Peep the attachment for a bigger version of this, a detail shot showing some of my failed attempts in the paper, and the actual scan for a straight-on look.

   9 months ago

2. Pro Joshua Bullock

   That's effing heroic.

   2likes

   9 months ago

3. Pro Michael Spitz

   Looking great Ryan. The '&' plays well for me, but I am getting a stong 'F' vibe from the resulting cossbar.

   5likes

   9 months ago

4. Pro Virginia Poltrack

   This is really lovely - really nice work Ryan - I would have a really hard time making any suggestions on this!

   9 months ago

5. Rokas Sutkaitis

   Very nice Ryan, I love that B!

   9 months ago

6. Brian Hanson

   This is gorgeous! Personally I see the ampersand right away.

   9 months ago

7. Pro Glen Thorpe

   Agreed with @Michael Spitz. Would also like to see the ornamental strokes a touch thinner so the monogram stands out to the eye a bit clearer - absolutely beautiful as usual though Ryan.

   2likes

   9 months ago

8. Pro Jeff Jenkins

   I saw the ampersand instantly. Love how you incorporated a heart into the B-L connection. I think perhaps more thick-to-thin contrast is needed, but I've only experimented with this style, so take that with a grain of salt. I don't know how big this is going to be, but one thing to keep in mind is that over time the ink will 'bleed' and fill in small areas of negative space. Pretty fantastic stuff, man.

   2likes

   9 months ago

9. jackson alves

   like it!

   9 months ago

10. Pro Sean McCabe

    Your ampersand reads well as an ampersand to me (more on that below). However, I would be more concerned with the right letter, as it read as an 'F'. I always make a point to look at the shot long and hard before reading titles or descriptions so I can make an unbiased call.

    As someone with an ampersand tattoo, be prepared—no one will know what it is. Since tattoos are rather personal, that isn't always a big concern as you typically have an opportunity to explain when someone asks about it. But just know that those who aren't designers will see an 'E', and even when you tell them it's an "ampersand," close to 50% will proceed to ask what as ampersand is!

    I'd recommend a more common ampersand (this shape → &) to solve both the issue of the 'L' appearing as an 'F' as well as give the best chance of it being read as an ampersand by non-designers. The latter reason is secondary and more preferential—in my case I like mine, but I do have to explain it to everyone unless I'm at a designer meetup.

    1likes

    9 months ago

11. Pro Neil Tasker

    love this, I read it as an F too, thought it was supposed to be that at first.

    9 months ago

12. Pro Neil Tasker

    by the way your getting really good at drawing letters too man!

    1likes

    9 months ago

13. Mylo

    very..... nice!

    9 months ago

14. Pro Muhammad Ali Effendy

    Whenever i see your works, i feel so happy. Great work mate.

    1likes

    9 months ago

15. Dan (Hypagraphic)

    The & is a bit like an E. But of more concern is the L gets lost in all the loops around it.

    9 months ago

16. Pro Ryan Hamrick

    Thanks for all the kind words and awesome feedback, guys!

    9 months ago

17. Pro Ryan Hamrick

    @Michael Spitz @Glen Thorpe @Sean McCabe @Neil Tasker @Dan (Hypagraphic) - Yes, the 'L' definitely needs some love. I actually noticed the 'F' effect shortly before posting yesterday, but seeing as how I knew good and well what it was supposed to be, my brain told me it was still clear enough...but now it's all I can see, lol.

    Improving the contrast between letters and swashes should help a lot with part of it, I think. Got carried away with curve smoothing and ended up damn near at a monoline, lol.

    Then if I change the 'L' to align more horizontally at the bottom instead of ending so much higher than the loop, I think that should pull it back from Effsville.

    Thanks for the help, guys!

    9 months ago

18. Pro Ryan Hamrick

    @Glen Thorpe @Jeff Jenkins - Definitely need some contrast work, yes. Thanks, guys. Redrawing right now to get things a bit cleaner!

    9 months ago

19. Pro Florin Capota

    lookin very nice, can't wait for your update and fixing that F problem

    9 months ago

20. Pro Ryan Hamrick

    Thanks, @Florin Capota!

    9 months ago

21. Pro Andy Anzollitto

    You got some smooth lines there! I would watch how the bottom swash passes through the bottom of the B and L. The line quality of a tattoo might not be able to get as thin of a line as that which would in turn just absorb those smaller negative spaces.

    9 months ago

22. Pro Ged Palmer

    The curve on the bottom counter of the ampersand is flawless. Real tight work man. Agree with the above comments on the legibility and looking forward to seeing more!

    9 months ago

23. B&L Monogram II Alright, I think most or even all of the issues have been fixed (or at least improved). Anything crazy you see BEFORE IT GOES TO INK?!?! Huge size attached.

    Rebound

    B&L Monogram II

    by Ryan Hamrick

    Alright, I think most or even all of the issues have been fixed (or at least improved).

    Anything crazy you see BEFORE IT GOES TO INK?!?!

    Huge size attached.

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    9 months ago