How To Create A Chalkboard Masterpiece Of Your Own

Not everyone can sit down and create a masterpiece on a chalkboard. Though it may look complicated, it’s a tad easier than you think.

Head over to inmyownstyle.com for a full tutorial on how to design and draw the perfect picture for your next shindig.

Here are a few tips:

• If you are using a brand new chalkboard – season it first. This will help lessen “ghosting”.  Ghosting is when you draw on a chalkboard and after it is erased – you still see the images, but in black.   To season a chalkboard:  Use a full piece of chalk and run it on its side over the entire surface of the chalkboard.  Make sure to rub it in well.   Once the board is covered – erase it.   It is now seasoned.
• Most important tip:  Don’t use dry chalk.  Dip the chalk in water before drawing on the board. As you work, keep dipping the chalk in water to keep it wet.  At first, the chalk lines will look faded – not bright – be patient and let it dry – it will dry bright white or whatever color chalk you are using.   You can also keep the board wet and draw on a wet board.  I did both.
• Keep it simple at first – the more boards you create the better your drawings, centering, and lettering will become.
• Make a sketch  to determine placement of your images and words.  Pick one image to make the focus. In my art it was the cake and copy – Happy Birthday.
• Make a border – I used a square at each corner and double lines. I then filled the double lines in with dots of color.
• Mix up font styles – Thick, 3-D, thin, serif, shadow, and script. A good rule of thumb is to use no more than 3 fonts.  One heavy print font, a script font, and one thin caps font.
• To find the center of a word or words – count the number of letters and spaces between each word.  For instance “Birthday” has 8 letters – no spaces, so the 4th letter “T” is the center.   If I wanted “Happy Birthday” all on one  line.  The letter/spaces count would be:  14 – making the  “B” the center point.  Capital letters take up a bit more room, but this is a good rule of thumb to center lettering.  Draw the center letter on your center point and then draw the other letters to complete your word. This is the hardest part of chalkboard art – making free hand letters. Some letters will be bigger and your centering will look off.  Mine is off, but it still looks OK  – not perfect – but fun and festive. Don’t try for perfection.  The imperfections can sometimes add to the charm of chalkboard art.
• Use colored chalk on the focus image or border.
• When you add the wet colored chalk over existing dry white chalk it will appear that the white chalk has been ruined. It has not – just wet and looks faded. When it dries it will look nice and bright again.

So what do you think? Give me your comments and feedback below. And, oh, by the way, don’t forget to tell a friend if you like what you see! xo