Discover the secrets of creating stunning urban brush lettering with our comprehensive course.
Otto Baum, a multidisciplinary artist with a deep passion for typography and brush lettering, will take you by the hand through the world of handmade lettering. With over two decades dedicated to perfecting his craft, Otto shares with you his unique approach to creating lettering with personality and style.
You will explore everything from the selection of tools and materials to advanced techniques for designing your own typography. Throughout this journey, you will discover how dedication and love for detail can transform simple strokes into vibrant works of art full of character.
This course is an invitation to immerse yourself in the meditative practice of brush lettering, connecting the spirit, body, movement and tools in a harmonious dance.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 12 downloads
The materials
4 minutes, 37 seconds
Workplace, working position and first brush strokes
18 minutes, 34 seconds
Useful basic shapes for lettering 1
12 minutes, 23 seconds
Useful basic shapes for lettering 2
10 minutes, 16 seconds
Brush cleaning
2 minutes, 54 seconds
Font finding
14 minutes, 6 seconds
What's included in this course?
To begin, you will familiarize yourself with the essential tools for brush lettering, from choosing the brush to selecting the paint, and you will do your first practical exercises.
Afterwards, you'll delve into the technique itself, learning to control the brush to create lines and shapes that will bring your own lettering style to life. Next, Otto will guide you through the process of inspiration and creation of sketches, teaching you how to translate ideas into concrete strokes.
Finally, you will hone your skills in creating letters and words, delving into different styles and techniques that will allow you to explore new possibilities in your typography projects.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
The final project consists of digitizing the letters you have designed and applying them to a personalized poster with your favorite quote or phrase.
This process includes everything from manual drawing to the digital adjustments necessary to achieve a professional and authentic result.
Who is this online course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in the art of lettering and typography, from beginners who want to enter the world of brush lettering to more experienced artists looking to deepen their knowledge and techniques.
It is ideal for those who value manual work and want to explore new forms of creative expression through typography.
Requirements and materials
You will need brushes of various sizes, paint suitable for brush lettering, quality paper for your exercises and sketches, as well as pencils to sketch your ideas.
Additionally, having a color palette and an appropriate space for your practice will help you get the most out of the course.
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As a member of the KLUB7 art collective, Otto has contributed to numerous public artworks, known for their large-scale murals and his skills in woodworking and creating unique drawing tools.
His focus on calligraphy and brush lettering reflects a passion for reviving traditional techniques in a contemporary context. His emphasis is on creating letters with a distinctive "flow" that evokes a time when handwriting was predominant.
Content
- U1
introduction
- About me
- Inspirations
- U2
Materials, first brushstrokes and inspiration
- The materials
- Workplace, working position and first brush strokes
- Useful basic shapes for lettering 1
- Useful basic shapes for lettering 2
- Brush cleaning
- Font finding
- U3
Sketching and writing techniques
- Sketching
- Building technique using two casual font styles
- Building technique using block letters
- Other font styles in the building technique
- The One Stroke Technique
- U4
Creation of the poster
- The letters of the quote
- The digitization of letters
- Creating the background
- Finalizing the poster
- How to build and use a painting stick
- FP
Final project
- Experimenting with Letters
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
The course is aimed at people with some creative experience but is also great for motivated beginners. Basic drawing skills help but aren’t required.
You’ll need a variety of brushes, acrylic paints, paper or cardboard, pencil, ruler, and possibly materials to make your own drawing tools. Many tools you can craft yourself; buying special equipment isn’t essential.
You’ll learn unique lettering techniques with brushes, brush script, graffiti elements, handmade ligatures, tagging, block letters, and how to combine these with abstract painting—on paper, walls, and digitally.
The course shows you how to stylistically blend your handwriting with brush script, graffiti, and calligraphy techniques, develop dynamic connections and unique letterforms, and create your own style.
Yes, the course covers effective brush cleaning methods using water, brush soap, and dish detergent. It also teaches how to shape, dry, and store your brushes properly.
You’ll learn how to set up line grids, use painting sticks, and maintain the right posture to paint large lettering on walls accurately and confidently.
Yes, you’ll get instructions and inspiration to build custom tools from everyday materials to create new artistic effects in your lettering.