About Lanka

Who is the lady behind Lanka's Lettering??? Read below to find out more

Malynnda Ann Johnson

I'm a college professor at Minnesota State Univ. Mankato. Teaching and researching applied areas of health communication is my largest passion. However drawing has been a hobby for many years.

My uncle is an artist and I vividly remember finding some of his sketch books and trying to draw what he had drawn. From then on I took art classes in school and even had opportunities to do summer internships drawing. In college I focused on communication, but minored in technical writing and graphic design. I like to draw for fun and for others, but I have never really liked designing for others full time. Far more fun and meaningful this way.

What Inspires me?

Everything and anything. I LOVE hand lettering. During grad school I had lost much of my passion for art, but during some tumultuous times in the the summer of 2013 my passion returned.

I have also started creating monsters. These little creatures have been inspired mostly by the amazing work of Brian Fraud and Jim Henson, but also by the encouragement of dear friends.

Mediums I use

For most of the projects you will see in this gallery the medium is paper and pen. I have also begun working with watercolor pens. I LOVE THEM and see many more pieces being created with these awesome tools. I have also done work with glass mosaics, and as soon as I can have a space to work I will be returning to that as well.

I have experience with clay sculpture, paint of all kinds, and wire work. More to come I am certain for all of these areas as well. Maybe I need a studio….