The Best Lettering & Calligraphy Courses Across Australia
If you’re a designer with an interest in lettering & calligraphy, you may want to explore my services. I offer coaching for creatives, both in terms of personal development and supporting you in your career or business. Have a look and reach out if you want to learn more!
Want to learn lettering, calligraphy and/or typography in a course?
While having a creative career can be extremely fulfilling, stepping away from work and feeding your creativity is also really important for our wellbeing. A calligraphy or lettering course will teach you how you can get into that meditative flow state, and many designers turn it into their fulltime career and specialise in this craft.
Even if you have started to learn the art or lettering, calligraphy or typography online, participating in a physical course or workshop can't be beaten. It's no doubt an excellent opportunity to learn the different styles of lettering and calligraphy. You get to see how the experts do it and get first-hand advice from the professionals. Most of the time they are targeted at beginners and equipment is supplied, so you don't even need to worry about bringing anything!
Check out below list of places that offer various workshops in Australia that range from calligraphy to lettering to type design and beyond - listed in order of proximity to Sydney.
Australian Type Foundry
Online
Wayne Thompson from the Australian Type Foundry now offers a type design course online!
Work Shop
in Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane
Work Shop hosts a variety of workshops not only specific to lettering, but also illustration and other arts and crafts. Look out for workshops with well known letterers like Mike Meyer!
by Maria Montes in Melbourne & Online
Melbourne based designer Maria Montes learnt calligraphy for the first time in 1996. After a long break working as a full time Graphic Designer, she went back to study calligraphy, typography and type design in Barcelona and New York City. She offers a variety of calligraphy courses.
Pixiedust Calligraphy
in Brisbane
Learn how to write beautifully using ink and nib, unlock your creativity and explore how to put a modern twist on the classic art form of calligraphy in your own unique style.
Australian Society of Calligraphers
in Sydney
The ASC host a variety of workshops throughout the year, catering for all different levels and calligraphic tastes. Most workshops try to accommodate from the beginner, to those with little experience as well as those with more experience.
Currently suspended due to COVID-19
Casey Schuurman
by Casey Schuurman in Melbourne
Casey specialises in brush lettering and monoline lettering and holds workshops in Melbourne regularly.
Calligraphy by Moya
by Moya Carroll in Melbourne
Moya is a full-time professional calligrapher, stationer and designer, based in inner Melbourne and working for clients all around the world. She offers workshops in copperplate, flourishing, and more.
The following are not currently offering public workshops, but maybe again in future. They are good people to reach out to if you’re looking for a company or private event.
Type by Hand Workshops
by Wayne Thompson in Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane
Wayne Thompson from the Australian Type Foundry regularly holds workshops all over Australia. You will dive into a series of drawing exercises designed to improve your understanding of type. Create your own unique handlettered piece under the direct instruction of Wayne and various talented co-hosts.
Quick and Slick Lettering Workshops
by Brett Piva in Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane
Brett Piva from Pocket Design is based in Newcastle, but regularly holds workshops all over Australia and teaches a handful of basic but very important lettering, design and sign painting techniques that will start you off in the right direction or give you guidance on a path you’ve already begun.
Brush Lettering
by Carla Hackett and Barbara Enright in Sydney / Melbourne
Carla and Barbara regularly teach you the basic strokes needed to gain control of the brushes to create various letter widths as well as working with the paint consistency and flow, learn about brush types: round, square and pointed; and which are suited to the different lettering styles such as Casual and Script and More. They also offer an online course!
Gaston the Painter
in Melbourne
Gaston runs workshops in lettering and sign painting, in Melbourne and around the world - like in Madrid, Los Angeles or Buenos Aires
Old School New School
in Melbourne
Currently revamping, make sure to check back here to see if more classes are coming up from Old School New School.
This list of workshops has been around for a while, but has last been updated in September 2020. If you offer workshops or courses and would like to add them to the list, email me!
