Abstract: An electronic messaging system, and related method, employs a handwriting server component operable on a network with a messaging host server, and a client device operable with a handwritten messaging client connected to the network. The client device sets up a graphical data capture area into which a user can enter handwritten or handdrawn input through a suitable graphical input device. The handwritten or handdrawn input is captured and sent as pixel data or an attached graphics file in the supported network messaging protocol. The preferred form of the handwriting messaging component is a Java applet installed on the client device. The graphical input device can be a touch screen, pen input device, stylus pad, or attached drawing pad or mouse. The handwriting messaging client sets up a drawing editor/viewer that allows the user to compose, manipulate, send and view handwritten or handdrawn messages. The drawing editor/viewer can include a set of standard drawing tools and functions.