I have always been fascinated by Tengu - a mythical creature from Japan. Tengu are usually depicted with a red face, a very long nose, white moustaches and a funny hat. They used to be regarded as harbingers of war, but over the centuries, their image softened and they became the protective spirits of mountains and forests.

Daitengu means ‘greater tengu’ and stems from the Genpei Jōsuiki - an extended version of the ‘The Tale of the Heike’ - an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan.

So, now you know about tengu, end of the history lesson!

Daitengu is an epic brush font. I made it with a soft brush and China ink (like most of my brush fonts), but instead of forming the glyphs I saw in my head, I let the brush do the work. A more ‘zen’ approach to brushwork if you will! The result is a messy, organic brush font with a lot of spirit.