Sign Creation with Hand-Painted Lettering
A course by Christopher Rouleau , Graphic Designer, Lettering Artist, and Sign Painter
Joined June 2021
Learn to combine lettering and painting techniques to make an eye-catching sign that communicates a message
Learn to combine lettering and painting techniques to make an eye-catching sign that communicates a message
Joined June 2021
Showcard sign painting is one of the most creative ways to send a message or advertise a product. Graphic designer and lettering artist Christopher Rouleau has created original hand-painted signs for clients like LG, Pepsi, and Uppercase Magazine. He believes that if you make a sign well, and make it beautiful, it can last forever.
In this course, Christopher teaches you the lettering and painting techniques needed to create vibrant signs that dazzle and inspire. Discover the magic behind the traditional art form and capture the attention of your community with your words.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 10 downloads
- 88% positive reviews (17)
- 839 students
- 15 lessons (1h 54m)
- 10 additional resources (3 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create a hand-painted sign with an original message using traditional lettering techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is great for artists of all levels with an interest in signs. painting, and lettering. Both creative professionals and hobbyists are welcomed!
Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge of typography and hand-lettering are required. Experience with type design, drafting, drawing, and painting is a bonus!
To take this course, you need a smooth piece of birchwood or a hard illustration board, water-based paint, paint brushes, tape, an easel, or varnish, and other materials you can find at an art supply store, which Christopher shares with you in the second unit.
Reviews
A course by Christopher Rouleau
Christopher Rouleau is a Canadian graphic designer, lettering artist, and sign painter. Growing up in a small town in Saskatchewan, he remembers being inspired by the hand-painted signs in grocery stores and storefronts. After completing his studies at the University of Calgary, he began his professional career in stock photography and fonts, which helped him discover his passion for hand lettering. Soon, he became a full-time freelance designer, and co-founded Ligatures, a hub for typography and lettering in Toronto.
His work has been part of numerous exhibitions throughout Canada, and he has given talks and workshops at events like ATypl Montreal, Adobe Creative Jam, and Creative Mornings. He has collaborated with clients like the City of Toronto, LG, The Body Shop, Pepsi, the University of Toronto, Greenpeace, Pride Toronto, and more. He is also a regular contributor to Uppercase Magazine, and has been featured in publications like Flare Magazine, Globe & Mail newspaper, CTV News, and more. Christopher is the recent recipient of the Communication Arts Award of Excellence in Typography.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Sign Painting Preparation
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Presentation of Supplies
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History of Sign Painting
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Hand-Painted Lettering Techniques 1
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Hand-Painted Lettering Techniques 2
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Project Ideation, Sketching, and Refinement
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Sign Prep and Image Transfer
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U3
Let's Make a Sign
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Painting Your Sign Blue
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Painting Your Sign Red
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Painting Your Sign Yellow
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Touch-UPS
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Finishing and Hardware
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U4
Making Your Sign Shine!
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Sharing Your Sign on Social Media
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Using Your Skills to Do Good in Your Community
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FP
Final project
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Sign Creation with Hand-Painted Lettering
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
evelina__johansson
A perfect inspirational and educational guide to how to paint your first sign! Christopher has such a nice pace to how he leads through the steps of preparing your materials, visual research step, stroke practice, working on one's final project. Not too much, not too little information. A nice intro to the history of the trade. Thanks for sharing your talent with use, Christopher! What a great course.
lucielleeb
Very clear instruction, perfect for those with no prior experience. Is an approachable, acrylic paint sign making class simply for fun. Would NOT recommend this for anyone with previous brush lettering experience (even at an amateur level) seeking commercial sign painting instruction (does not delve into enamel paint techniques and brush care.) Good tips for those who struggle with brainstorming ideas/designs. Again this is not for all levels, beginners only!
nsnidvongs
inspiring
damian_dg
Excelente curso para aquellos que quieran iniciarse en la rotulación de carteles. Estoy muy satisfecho con el contenido.
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hazel
Christopher’s course is excellent, he certainly has a gift in conveying his craft to others. His clear and concise steps are helpful, effective and inspiring. Each detailed section of the short course gives you the confidence to get stuck in yourself and fulfil your passion to produce beautiful handmade signs carrying on this priceless tradition. His advice, tips and hints will stay with me forever. Thank you!