Rachel King, manager extraordinaire, emailed me and asked me to create a hand painted sign to help people find their new studio after relocating last year. It’s tucked away in the Santa Fe village and people were missing it!
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Using the Chalkboard Sign as a Marketing Tool
My first thought was to have the sign do double duty and help build the business. Since the sign has 2 sides, I suggested adding a few contact points to the back so passerby could learn more about Yoga Oasis:
- a QR code to their class schedule
- the Yoga Oasis website
- Yoga Oasis Instagram handle
- a branded hashtag they commonly uses in their posts
Passerby could scan the code on the sign and view the class schedule. They could also easily follow the studio on Instagram to stay updated on events. If students from a yoga class post studio photos, they might be prompted to use the #pleasepractice tag, leading even more people to discover Yoga Oasis.
Design
Yoga Oasis uses a specific font on their website and in all marketing flyers. I kept with that font and used their existing logo on the front of the sign. That way, it would be recognizable to anyone familiar with the studio.
I used Adobe Express to generate the QR code and made a mockup of each side of the sign in Adobe Illustrator. I included 2 options for wording for the back of the sign. Rachel appreciated the layouts, and asked if I planned to include any calligraphy. I hadn’t planned on it! But it was endearing to get that question. Here are the proofs:
Putting a decorative frame around a composition, even if it’s a simple line, is one of my favorite ways to finish a project. I love the way it holds the lettering. At the bottom of the frame on each side of the sign, I added a small lotus flower.
A Minor Adjustment
Later on in the design process, Rachel discovered an issue at the studio that the sign could address. If a student was running a little late and the studio door was locked right at the beginning of class, students would leave, even if they’d pre-paid for a spot in class.
Rachel updated the text on the sign to invite students to wait a moment until the instructor came to open the door. Darren Rhodes came up with some verbiage, providing the perfect opportunity to add some calligraphy to the design. Rachel approved the design!
Prep
When doing any kind of painting or writing on a surface, you always want to make sure it’s free of dirt, oils, and debris that can prevent the paint from adhering to the surface. This is especially true when the sign will be displayed outside in the elements.
Transferring the Design
After digitizing the calligraphy, I scaled the layout mockups up to the size of the boards and printed them out. I only printed the outlines of the letters and design elements to save ink. I made light marks on the board to make sure I placed the designs properly, and transferred the text to each side of the sign using white transfer paper.
In the photo, I’m using the edge of a circle guide drafting tool as a straight edge as I trace the lines of the QR code. I wanted the utmost accuracy for this part of the design, so I took my time to get it right!
Materials
Since this is an outdoor sign, I chose oil-based lettering enamel by 1-shot so it would stand up to the elements. These enamels need to be diluted for lettering, so I used Testor’s thinner and brush cleaner. I love the Mack and Meyer Mop signpainting brushes from MackBrush.com. These brushes are so versatile for painting letters, and I’d just had plenty of practice with them for a set of large-scale wedding signs! (Read more about those here.)
When working with these types of paints and solvents, it’s important to make sure you have plenty of ventilation. I had the windows open and a fan on, and I still ended up feeling light-headed after one of my painting sessions. Always make sure you look out for #1, and that’s you.
Challenges
I told Rachel that the part of this project that had me on edge was painting the QR code as accurately as possible! I would have hated to have painted the code for it not to be scannable! But it works — my sons and I tested it with different phones!
I also wish that rather than working with the sign on the floor for the most part, I had set it up on a low table. I’m only remembering now that I have a folding table with adjustable height.
As I mention in my post about Posture, taking care of the body is the most important thing to keep in mind, and I was a bit creaky after making this hand painted sign!
(Don’t worry, I smoothed out the edges of the letters in the photo! I know they look rough here — WIP!)
A Tip
You might notice in some of these photos that I have the design printout handy as I am working. I typically keep the original sketch around, even if I’ve transferred it, for reference. Lines don’t always come out clearly, and it’s great to be able to refer back to the original.
Additionally, I kept the design pages taped to the boards for as long as possible to protect the surface of the boards from dust and dander. It was also fairly easy to remove the white transfer from the surface of the board, so I left the printouts on to prevent a smearing disaster. It’s impossible to reposition the design perfectly as you had it!
Finishing the Hand Painted Sign
Since I painted over most of the outlines of the letters and decorative elements, there weren’t many layout marks to erase. I let the paint cure for a couple of days, then wiped down each side of the sign with a damp cloth to remove dust and, let’s face it, pet hair since I work from a home studio!
I put the corner protectors back on the sign and returned it to its original box, delivered it to Yoga Oasis, and zipped home to pack for My First Calligraphy Conference!
The Sign in its New Home
Here’s a photo of the sign at YO East, located in Santa Fe Square. Go see it in person and take a class!
If you need a sign for your home or business, click below to tell me all about it!