Decide on the style of inscription you want to write by choosing a particular font, as well as selecting to paint an inscription using a plastic letter stencil or to paint freehand with a brush. For example, you may choose a Gothic-type font style for an inscription from the Bible or other religious text.
Use a plastic letter stencil to create a precise inscription. Stencils are available to buy from local arts and craft stores.
Create a border around the surface area you are intending to inscribe by using a pencil and ruler (or a yard stick) to draw a box shape which will be the designated area to contain the inscription.
Count how many words you need to write in your inscription to choose a suitably sized font. Decide how best to lay out your words on the surface. If your inscription contains just a few words, you may just want to center each word on a line. If your inscription is a verse, lay it out in the same way as the author; if you choose to write it out in sentence form, use the forward slash (/) to represent actual line breaks in the poem's original form.
Draw the required number of guide lines for the inscription an equal distance apart, using a ruler or yardstick and, if necessary, a level to make sure your lines are straight and level. If you are using clear plastic stencils, place the stencil onto the first pencil guide line and align the stencil letter so that it sits exactly on the line. Outline the letter using a sharp pencil.
Locate the second letter on a stencil and place it next to the preceding letter on the line but make sure that there is a small gap between the letters. The gap should be the same size between every letter; this will ensure that wide and narrow letters will come out with the proper spacing between them. Mark down the measured distance with pencil lines after each letter, as a working guide.
Trace all the letters to complete the pencil inscription. Erase the unwanted pencil guidelines before painting.
Pour some paint onto a paint palette or an old plate. Fill in your letters neatly with an appropriate sized art liner brush. Big letters need a larger sized brush and small lettering will require a small brush. Paint with even strokes and stay within the pencil guidelines of the letters. Use a different brush for each color of paint used to avoid contaminating one color with another. Allow to dry.
Clean brushes with soap and water and dry with paper towels or rags.