Learning

Where Can I Learn the Craft of Sign Painting?

Overview of workshops, courses, apprenticeships, and places to learn the craft of sign painting.

Better Letters

• 11 min read
Hand resting on a mahl stick while holding a brush and painting letters in black.
Learning the basics of sign painting at a workshop. Photo: Simon Schoch.

Despite the resurgence in sign painting, and interest in learning the craft, there hasn’t been a widespread reopening of technical courses, nor apprenticeship opportunities.

Those recently entering the trade have largely done so through a combination of workshops, short apprenticeships, online resources, and books such as Sign Painting.

Each of these can play a role, and this article guides you through some of the current options. Read on for a digest of sign painting workshops (including hosts around the world), apprenticeships, courses, and places to learn the craft online.

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Whatever path you take on your sign painting journey, you'll have to practise. Whether it’s 10,000 hours, or some other measure, investing time in the basics pays dividends in the long run. Print a sheet of strokes or an alphabet, place some glass or tracing paper over it, and get your brush wet—ideally on a daily basis.

Sign Painting Workshops

In-person sign painting workshops are an excellent way to get some brush time, and to see if you want to take things further. They vary in length and format, from a one-day ‘toe-dip’ to longer multi-day experiences. Costs depend on the teacher, location, and duration of the workshop.

Students after a Bryan Yonki (Well Done Signs, @welldonesigns) sign painting workshop, and Mike Meyer (@this_is_the_real_mike_meyer) teaching his hand-lettering class.

You won’t be taking on commercial jobs after a single workshop, but you’ll know what materials you need, and what to practise. And you'll connect with people that are also interested in the craft of sign painting.

Sign painting workshops are happening regularly around the world. BLAG's worldwide events roundup email features these, including ongoing programmes.

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Workshop Hosts

The following are people and places that offer regular workshops and courses to help you find one near you.

What Happens at Mike Meyer’s Workshops?
Alphabets and lettering effects taught by Mike Meyer.
BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters
Carga Máxima and the Sign Painting Styles of Lima, Peru
How regulatory signs on goods vehicles gave birth to Lima’s Carga Máxima sign painting style.
BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters

Sign Painting Apprenticeships

The age-old way to learn a craft is through an apprenticeship, traditionally lasting from three to seven years. These days, at least in sign painting, these opportunities are largely restricted to family businesses.

Sign painting apprentices watching a painting demonstration.
Colossal Media apprentices at the shop's Brooklyn headquarters, from the article, 'The Apprentice: Colossal Style'.

However, there are firms that will take someone on if they show a genuine passion for the craft and a hunger to learn. These include Colossal Media (@colossalmedia), which has a large structured programme to develop its next generation of 'Walldogs'.

The Apprentice: Colossal Style
Inside Colossal Media’s apprentice program, learning to paint large-scale mural advertising signs.
BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)Better Letters

These apprenticeships can last from a month to a year or more if there is an eventual exchange of value. They won’t have you on the brush straight away, so you’ll need to practise in your own time. However, they are invaluable experiences if you work hard and keep an open mind about what you’re asked to do.

There's more apprenticeships advice in BLAG 03.

Sign Painting Courses (In-Person)

There are now very few technical courses teaching sign painting. If you can access one of these, they are an excellent way to learn in a formal setting over an extended period of time.