# Introduction to Sign Painting | Domestika

> A course by Miguel Reyes · Calligraphy & Typography · Beginner
> 13 lessons (2h 6m) · 97% of the 71 student ratings are positive

Miguel Reyes - typewriter and lyricist - is part, since 2013, of the New York typesetter Commercial Type. His work can be found in countless places and it is practically impossible to trace him, but the fonts designed by him can be seen in the Mexican newspaper 'El Universal', 'La Repubblica' (Italy) and in all the newspapers of the McClatchy Group ( U.S). 

 In this course he will teach you the basic principles of one of his favorite techniques: brush lettering. This brush-painting technique, also known as sign painting, has been frequently used in American supermarket signs, unique in their expressiveness and character when they are made by hand. In the hand of Miguel, you will learn to make casual letters, one of the most popular styles of labeling.

## Who is this online course for?

Lettrists, designers, calligraphers, illustrators and anyone interested in learning the technique of brush lettering.

## What is this course's project?

You will make a poster where you will apply all the variants that you have learned during the course.

## Requirements and materials

No prior knowledge is necessary. With regard to the materials, you will need basic drawing tools, paper, paint and a flat brush.

## Content

### Introduction

Hello, welcome to this course! 

 In this unit I will tell you a little about myself and my career. I will also show you the work of some outstanding international lyricists who have influenced me, as well as some manuals and old lettering books that have helped me to know more about this topic.

### Rotulism

In this unit we will learn about labeling and we will talk more in depth about casual or supermarket letters, which by their nature and spontaneity, are easy to read and attractive in appearance. I will also give you the list of materials you will need throughout the course.

### Casual letters and variants

I understand that whenever we start practicing, we gain the desire to start playing words and, above all, start working on our poster; but it is very important to practice the foundations sufficiently in a solid way. In this unit we will begin to practice the simplest and most basic lines until we advance to the letter forms. 

 Unlike other tools to label, such as pens, the brush requires more control because we must not only control the direction and the angle at which we hold it; The most important challenge is to control the pressure we exert and keep it constant. Therefore practicing enough is very important to have a good command of our tool.

### Elaborating your piece

In this unit we will analyze different supermarket signs, to know the elements that comprise it and learn the way in which the information is hierarchized. Once defined our project and with our references nearby, we will sketch until we reach a composition that makes us feel satisfied. 

 To finish, let's get our hands dirty! The idea is to make a promotional poster. You already have the bases and practiced enough, now it's time to apply all that knowledge and put it into practice in your final project

## Audio and subtitles

**Audio:** Spanish, German, English, French, id, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, ro, Turkish

**Subtitles:** Spanish, English, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, ro, id

[Introduction to Sign Painting](https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/265-introduction-to-sign-painting)