When I first started learning lettering, there were barely any classes about the subject on Skillshare. Whereas right now, if you search for “hand lettering” you get over 390 results. That’s quite a lot, right? It can be overwhelming to choose which ones you should take.
Over the years, I have taken some hand lettering classes on Skillshare here and there. I obviously haven’t watched all of them (there are over 300 classes listed – who has the time to go through it all? I wish I had that time, but let’s be realistic here). However, I’ve taken enough of them so I can let you know which ones you should also be taking!
Let’s take a look at some of the best hand lettering classes on Skillshare.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you happen to purchase something, I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you! See my full disclosure here.
Why Choose Skillshare to Learn Hand Lettering
I’m a huge fan of Skillshare and I’ve taken many classes there over the years. I’ve watched not only classes about lettering but on all kinds of topics I was interested in. So I’m not recommending this lightly. I actually use this platform to learn all kinds of stuff!
While Skillshare has moved to a yearly subscription now, I think it’s definitely worth it. There are classes on just about every topic you can think of, so you’ll be able to learn lettering and any other skill or hobby you want to try. Plus, if you sign up with my link, you’ll get a free trial so you can watch some of the classes before you decide to fully commit.
The Best Hand Lettering Classes On Skillshare
1. Hand Lettering Essentials for Beginners by Mary Kate McDevitt
This was one of the first hand lettering classes I took when I began my lettering journey. If you know anything at all about lettering, you know Mary Kate McDevitt is an amazing artist. Fangirling aside, I do believe that her class is one of the best out there.
In this class, Mary Kate teaches how to come up with a phrase to letter, warm-up exercises, the tools she chooses to use, and much more. She goes from thumbnails to sketching, to inking a final hand lettering piece. By the end of the class, you’ll end up with a finished inked lettering piece.
Take this class if…
- You’re a beginner
- You want to take a peek into a professional lettering artist’s process
2. The Golden Secrets of Hand-Lettering: Create the Perfect Postcard by Martina Flor
If you want to immerse yourself in the shapes of letterforms while also learning the differences between calligraphy, lettering and typography, you’ll love this class by lettering legend Martina Flor.
Martina goes through the basic shapes of letters while also talking about the influence of calligraphy on how we draw letters. She also talks about training your eyes to be more perceptive of the typography that surrounds us everywhere. By the end of class, you’ll have a better understanding of letterforms and the opportunity to create a postcard alongside Martina.
Take this class if…
- You want to understand how to build letters
- You want to learn about the foundations of lettering
3. The Golden Secrets of Script Lettering: Find Inspiration In Your Handwriting by Martina Flor
This next class by Martina Flor is the perfect way to complement what you learned in her previous class. In this one, she teaches you how to use your handwriting to craft script letters.
She takes us through her process of drawing script letters while teaching us how to create unique letterforms.
Take this class if…
- You want to draw better script letters
- You want to learn how to leverage your handwriting to create script letters
4. Level Up Your Layouts: How to Effectively Letter Long Quotes by Gia Graham
Struggling to create layouts for longer quotes? We’ve all been there before. I truly believe that layouts and compositions are some of the hardest parts about hand lettering. It’s something that we all struggle with at some point.
Fear no more, Gia Graham has a great class to help you with this. This is a short class (it only has 34 min) but don’t be fooled by its shortness. In this class, she teaches you about good lettering compositions, how to plan layouts, how to choose lettering styles for your piece, and how to add elements to level up your artwork.
Take this class if…
- You struggle with lettering compositions, especially longer phrases
- You want to make better layouts
5. Illustrated Lettering: Drawing Intricate Floral Forms by Gemma O’Brien
If you love florals and want to incorporate more illustrated elements into your lettering pieces, this class is a great start. Gemma O’Brien is known for illustrative, bold, and incredibly detailed lettering work. So this class is right up her alley.
In this class, Gemma teaches how to choose flowers (from real life!), how to choose a typeface to draw, how to photograph your flowers and make a collage so you can draw them later on, and how to sketch and ink your final piece. In the end, you’ll have a beautiful illustrated floral letter!
Take this class if…
- You want to dive more into floral illustrations
- You want to create more illustrative lettering
6. Hand Lettering for Illustrators: Creating Greeting Cards in Procreate by Jess Miller
Do you want to design hand-lettered and illustrated greeting cards? With this class, you can! Jess Miller created the perfect class if you want to learn how to put hand lettering and illustration together to make a beautiful greeting card.
Jess teaches how to combine lettering and illustration into a nice layout that will end up in a pretty cohesive design. This class focuses on brainstorming phrase ideas, creating composition thumbnails, sketching, inking, coloring, and adding texture to your piece. All of this is done from the comfort of your iPad using the Procreate app!
Take this class if…
- You like to illustrate and want to incorporate lettering into your illustrations
- You’d like to start creating greeting cards for art licensing
7. Illustrated Lettering: Design a Book Cover with Jessica Hische
I’m a huge fan of Jessica Hische’s work — but who isn’t? She’s truly a creative genius in my eyes (I know she’s just a person and a peer. Ok, another fangirling over.) I have taken all of her classes available on Skillshare but this has to be my favorite.
This class combines two things that are so dear to my heart: lettering and books (hello, have you seen my Bookaholic project?!). So when I saw that she had released this class, I jumped at the chance to learn from her.
Jessica goes from brainstorming concepts to creating great compositions, choosing the right lettering style, and working with a limited color palette. This class is more advanced than the others I have listed here, so I’d really only recommend it if you’re already comfortable with your lettering skills.
Take this class if…
- You want to design a book cover
- You’re an intermediate or advanced hand lettering artist
8. Hand Lettering Practice: 3 Easy Steps to Explore New Typography Styles by Vinitha Mammen
One thing I really love about this class by Vinitha Mammen is that it gives you many ideas on how to experiment with lettering. If you’re not sure what to do with your daily lettering practice, this class is a great way to get started.
Vinitha teaches you what is a lettering style, how to develop letters, how to work with different letter proportions, and how to experiment and explore different lettering and even illustrative letters. She gives her best tips and practices on how to create amazing letters.
Take this class if…
- You want a more structured way to practice
- You want to experiment more with your lettering
- You want to come up with new lettering styles
9. Mastering Lettering Composition: The Art of Balance by Vinitha Mammen
I wanted to talk about another class by lettering artist Vinitha Mammen because again, this is one the most important topics when it comes to lettering: composition. And this class is full of tips on this exact matter!
Inside this class, you’ll learn about balanced lettering compositions, how to integrate lettering and illustrations for a cohesive visual. Vinitha also walks us through her own process for creating these stunning lettering pieces.
Take this class if…
- You need to level up your lettering compositions and layouts
- You want to learn from an artist’s process and perspective
10. Hand Lettering for Chalk Murals by Lauren Hom
Lauren Hom is another one of my lettering heroines (well, I actually admire all the women I’ve mentioned in this post) so it goes without saying that I would love and recommend one of her classes.
This is another short class from my list, but it doesn’t make it any less important either. In this class, Lauren focuses on teaching how to create lettering for chalk murals. She goes behind the scenes into her process and by the end, you’ll learn how to go from a sketch on paper to a large-scale chalk mural.
Take this class if…
- You want to do more large-scale work
- You’re comfortable with lettering
A quick tip
Most of the artists I talked about here have more than one class on hand lettering – sometimes they even have multiple classes you can choose from. So I’d really recommend that you check their profile to see if you’re interested in their other classes. You probably won’t regret checking out other classes by any of these amazing artists!
How to Get the Most Out of Skillshare Classes
We’ve all been guilty of purchasing an online class and never finishing it. Or never doing the class project. Or never even practicing what you learn at all. Don’t lie to me, I know you have done it. I know I have.
I’ve been trying to change this though -– I’ve watched several classes where I never ended up doing anything. I’ve been pushing myself to always practice whatever I’m learning from a class. So if I have one advice for you, this is it: practice what you learn. Don’t just say “I’ll do it later” and never do it.
With a skill as specific and manual as lettering, practicing is essential. Always take action after or while you’re watching an online class.
Final Thoughts
Learning and watching classes on Skillshare has been a big help for my career and any hobbies I want to pick up. Anytime I want to learn something new I’ll go through the app to see if there’s already a class on that.
The list I made here on the best hand lettering classes on Skillshare is personal to me because it’s based on what I’ve already watched. But if you want to try other artists and classes, feel free to browse through the website to see what catches your eye. If you have any recommendations, don’t hesitate to comment below!
