Chalkboard Sign - Drawing 101
- 6 Jul 2018
There is no denying that chalk is a fun way to express one's creativity. It also gets used as a popular way to advertise or market something. One typical example is with pubs that have chalkboards outside. You will usually find them promoting special offers, such as discounts on drinks. Or they may even market sports events to people, such as a big football match, for instance.
One of the challenges of running a pub is working out how to entice new customers. Sure, each pub will have a few "regulars" that go there on a frequent basis. But, pubs will be keen to attract new customers too. A traditional yet creative way to draw in the crowds is through the use of chalkboard advertising.
The thing is, how can you create signs that are sure to make an impact? This handy guide will show you how to draw on chalkboards the right way:
Prepare your chalkboard for use
Believe it or not, the first thing you should do is cover the entire chalkboard in chalk! But why should you follow this form of chalkboard preparation? The answer is simple: to prevent "ghosting" when you create new signs. Otherwise, you'll be left with faint (ghost) marks on the board which will be difficult to remove in future.
What you need to do is run your chalk across the board. Obviously, you should run your chalk on its side. Otherwise, you will be spending all day preparing your chalkboard for use!
Once the board gets covered with chalk, you now need to erase your efforts. Yes, I know; that might not seem a productive thing to do. But, when you create new signs, you won't have any problems with chalk ghosting.
Avoid using dry chalk
The pros will always tell you never to use dry chalk. Why? Because you'll get to create more artistic pub signs! Some people might tell you to dip your chalk in things like fizzy drinks. But, you only need to use water.
Also, you don't need to soak your chalk for a long time. All you need to do is dip it into a bowl of water and start using it right away. Remember to keep dipping whenever your chalk becomes dry again.
Start with simple signs and designs
No-one is expecting a chalk-writing newbie to be a pro in just one day. As with most things in life, it takes a lot of practice to perfect the art of chalk-writing.
If you're a beginner, you should just stick to simple writing and designs for now. As you build up your confidence, you can experiment and try new and creative ideas.
Make a sketch before you draw
So you want to create a pub sign on a chalkboard that brings in the customers. What did you have in mind? If you've got a good idea for a sign, sketch it out on paper first. That way, you can refer to it as you draw your sign with chalk.
Some people even sketch their designs on clear acetate sheets and use them on a projector. They then project that image onto the chalkboard to use as a template!
Good luck!