Chalkboard Art for Beginners
A course by Michael Tilley (The Blackboard Artist)Blackboard and Mural Artist
A course by Michael Tilley (The Blackboard Artist), Blackboard and Mural Artist
Learn to create eye-catching blackboard art pieces by combining freehand hand lettering techniques with Molotow paint pens and some illustration
Whether it be a local shop, a restaurant, or even your own home, a beautifully hand-painted blackboard never fails to add character to a space. Michael Tilley, also known as The Blackboard Artist, has created captivating murals and signs for clients like Soho House, Warner Music, Hilton, Virgin, and Everyman Cinemas.
In this online course, Michael shows you how to create your very own chalkboard art step by step. Explore a variety of lettering and illustration techniques, and see how to combine with striking designs to create an eye-catching sign. By the end of this online course, you’ll be ready to make the world a brighter place with beautiful handmade blackboard art.
What will you learn in this online course?
12 lessons & 21 downloads
Hand Lettering Exercises
16 minutes, 58 seconds
Illustration Exercises
9 minutes, 26 seconds
References for Inspiration
11 minutes, 49 seconds
Sketching Your Design on Paper
13 minutes, 7 seconds
Layout of Mural: Outlines
12 minutes, 3 seconds
Filling In
4 minutes, 55 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet Michael Tilley, a blackboard and mural artist from England, and your teacher for this course. Hear about his creative journey that led him into the colorful world of painting, and how he made a career out of it. He also shares his influences and his sources of inspiration.
Get an overview of the tools and materials for the course, before diving into some hand lettering and illustration exercises to get you warmed up. Explore concepts like serif, block, script, shadow, and more.
Next, gather inspiration to create a mood board before sketching your ideas on paper. Michael then walks you through the process of preparing your materials by creating a blackboard wall canvas. Transfer your design from paper to your wall before filling it in with colors and shading.
Michael then shows you how to add the finishing touches before polishing your work. Wrap up the course by hearing Michael’s tips on sharing your work with the world.
What is this course's project?
Create an eye-catching blackboard sign by learning freehand illustration and lettering techniques.
Who is this online course for?
This online course is ideal for artists and designers who want to improve their freehand lettering techniques, or for those with an interest in creating striking blackboard art.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required.
To take this course, you need pencils, a ruler, a wet cloth, a white and black Molotow acrylic paint pen, a liquid chrome pen, brushes, a hairdryer, and other materials specified. For your surface, you can use an existing blackboard, or make your own with plywood, blackboard paint and primer, or use an A3 blackcard.
Reviews
- 2 years ago
Me gustó el curso, explica claramente y los recursos que da de apoyo son muy útiles. A mí me sirvió mucho.
- 3 years ago
un buen curso para empezar a crear pizarras con mucho arte, proporciona muchos tips y consejos
- 3 years ago
Es el curso de Lettering que estaba esperando para iniciarme en pizarras. Excelente curso, excelente profesor.
- 3 years ago
No esta mal por el precio de diez euros ,aporta poco para quien quiera iniciarse , curso muy corto. Es más interesante lo que narra de los comienzos de su trabajo, que lo que se puede aprender.
- 3 years ago
muy bueno, cada detalle muy bien explicado que uno no se queda con dudas, gracias!!
Michael’s clients list includes Soho House, Glastonbury, Warner Music, Hilton, Virgin, and Everyman Cinemas, among others. His work can be found in books like Art Class: Hand Lettering, V&A A Maker’s Guide: Calligraphy & Lettering, and Soho House: Morning Noon Night, as well as in a Walker’s TV advertisement.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Materials and Warm Up Techniques
- Tools and Materials
- Hand Lettering Exercises
- Illustration Exercises
- U3
Creating the Blackboard Mural
- References for Inspiration
- Sketching Your Design on Paper
- Blackboard Wall Surface Preparation
- Layout of Mural: Outlines
- Filling In
- U4
Finishing Off and Sharing Work
- Finishing Touches
- Sharing Your Work
- FP
Final project
- Lettering and Illustration for Blackboard Art
What to expect from a Domestika course
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.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational lettering, mural, and chalkboard art techniques from scratch.
You'll need blackboard paint, chalk, Supracolor pencils, rulers, masking tape, Molotow or chrome markers, paintbrushes, and black card. A complete materials list is provided in the course.
You’ll learn hand lettering, mural design, paint mixing, layout techniques, illustration for signage, shadowing, corrections, and how to create custom styles for restaurant or pub signs.
Yes, the course teaches both creative techniques and business strategies for developing a career or side business in signwriting and chalkboard art.
You’ll practice serif, block, script, Roman, copperplate, and neon-inspired lettering styles, along with methods to develop your own custom lettering.
Yes, the course covers correcting paint mistakes, cleaning chalk with a wet cloth, and refining mural details for a polished look.
You’ll learn how to properly clean, prime, and paint surfaces using rollers and masking tape for an even, professional blackboard finish.