Hello, I’m Doris, the owner and hand lettering artist behind Love Lettering, a Toronto based company focused on the art of hand lettering, calligraphy and grand ideas of lettering beyond paper.

As a graduate of the Ontario College of Art & Design in Illustration, what I loved to draw most is letters. Each font, each typeface, each stroke and ligature can tell such a different story and that is what I find fascinating.

For me, the magic happens when the right words, right composition and right surface/item comes together to create something visually new. I can letter on anything, I have been called a typography catalogue for lettering on things. My skill set ranges from knowing what pens/tools to free hand letter on almost ANY surface, I can also engrave by hand on glass, ceramic stone, metals, plastics, and lastly I can also use modern digital tools such as Procreate and Illustrator for taking any lettering project to the next level for print and marketing.

The idea that signage can be beautiful and functional and that lettering is communicative art, the way an engraving activation for a perfume brand can elevate the customer experience and create a memorable moment AND brand loyalty, and how every project is a chance to make a statement.

My love of lettering has lead me to opportunities that I have never imagined or planned, such as the covers and within the pages of magazines such as Wedluxe, Mingle, Uppercase and Flow. It also allowed me to create products/print and marketing work with Sephora Canada, Michaels Canada, HGTV, Hallmark, Creative Bag and more. Lettering has also lead me to my biggest and most passionate project, my book Extraordinary Hand Lettering.  Yearning for sharing more, I have started a YouTube channel called The Lettering Lifestyle, began developing workshops to teach the skill and tricks to lettering beyond paper, and began licensing my lettering and artwork as well.

February 2020 I became a gallery artist with my first art exhibit Bottled Feelings, a collection of hand lettered feelings, submitted anonymously online, that showcased creative lettering and telling the stories that would otherwise been bottled up. Currently learning gold glass gilding techniques to compliment my lettering skillset. This exhibit was minted into NFTs in 2020 and you can view them in OpenSea.

Along with commissions I also design stationery that I feel like I want to see in the world. An avid letter writer and happy mail sender, writing letters and decorating envelopes was one of the things that led to such a creative lifestyle. Our pillars of design are charming illustrations, witty words and of course lovely lettering. Hoping to ignite a love of stationery and writing into the next generation by designing useful and beautiful things. Have a browse in our Shop!

And if you have ever wondered how to begin a creative lettering journey of your own, you can learn from me!

- Doris Wai

Doris Wai - Outside the Studio

Doris is a proud mom of a beautiful daughter named Melody and the wife of a wonderful husband Tan. She is an entrepreneur, illustration graduate from OCADU, an author, a major foodie and wishes she could travel more. Her goal is 3 times a year, once within Canada, once in the US, and once internationally.

There are 3 things she wants to see/experience in her lifetime:
First, the wedding of her daughter.
Second, reform in Long Term Care in Canada, creating better standards of living for the seniors and workers that live in these homes.
Third, to actively hand letter to the end of my days… just for fun.