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2nd Semester 8-Week Sign Painting (Every WEDNESDAY October 28, 2026 - December 16, 2026) 8am-2pm $800 for 8 weeks
Updated: Oct 6
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAND PAINTING WORKSHOPS
SMART ALEX HAND-PAINTED SIGNS
2nd Semester 8-Week Sign Painting Course
Meets EVERY WEDNESDAY
October 28, 2026 - December 16, 2026
(8:00am - 2:00pm)
Fee: $800.00 for 8 Weeks
2nd Semester 8-Week Sign Painting
Every Wednesday October 28, 2026 - December 16, 2026 (8:00am - 2:00pm)
$800 for 8 weeks
Enrollment Requirement: Prerequisite of 1st Semester
This course covers the tools and materials used to produce outdoor signs with 1-shot Lettering Enamel. Students will work on a variety of materials including plywood and aluminum substrates. Instruction will emphasize Sign Layout & Design, Blending, Convex/Beveled Letters and Faux Marble. Students will produce a 2' x 3' plywood sign for their final project.
Lunch 11:30am-12:15pm.
$800 total for 8-Weeks.
Location address in Huntington Beach, Orange County
Master Outdoor Sign Painting with 1 Shot Lettering Enamel
A key component of the 2nd Semester Sign Painting Course is learning how to create outdoor signage using 1 Shot Lettering Enamel.
Students gain hands-on experience working with different sign substrates while learning how surface preparation, paint application, brush control, and finishing techniques can influence the overall appearance and durability of a hand-painted sign.
Students will work with materials and surfaces including:
Plywood substrates
Aluminum substrates
1 Shot Lettering Enamel
Traditional sign painting tools and materials
Outdoor sign painting surfaces
Working across multiple substrates allows students to develop a better understanding of how different surfaces respond to paint and how proper preparation and application techniques contribute to professional-looking outdoor signage.
Build Stronger Sign Layout & Design Skills
Successful hand-painted signage begins with thoughtful Sign Layout & Design. Before the brush touches the surface, a sign painter must consider spacing, proportions, lettering placement, composition, readability, and overall visual balance.
During the course, students continue developing these foundational skills while learning how to organize lettering and design elements effectively. Understanding proper layout can help aspiring sign painters create signs that are not only visually appealing but also clear and easy to read.
Explore Blending Techniques for Hand-Painted Signs
Blending is another important skill covered during the course. Students will practice controlled paint application while exploring how colors can transition smoothly to create dimension, depth, and visual interest within lettering and painted artwork. Developing better brush and paint control can help students incorporate blending techniques into future hand-painted signs, decorative lettering, and other creative projects.
Learn Convex & Beveled Lettering Techniques
The 2nd Semester Sign Painting Course also introduces students to Convex and Beveled Letters, giving them an opportunity to explore traditional dimensional lettering effects. Through these techniques, students can learn how painted letters can be designed to create the appearance of depth, shape, and dimension. These traditional effects can add greater visual character and craftsmanship to outdoor hand-painted signage.
Discover Faux Marble Painting Techniques
Students will also explore Faux Marble Sign Painting, a decorative technique that recreates the appearance and character of natural marble through carefully applied painted effects.
This technique introduces another creative element to traditional sign painting and gives students an opportunity to experiment with decorative finishes. Combined with lettering and other painting techniques, faux marble can expand the range of creative possibilities available to aspiring sign painters.
Complete a 2' x 3' Plywood Sign Final Project
Students will bring together the skills developed throughout the course by creating a 2' x 3' plywood sign final project. This hands-on project provides an opportunity to apply multiple techniques covered during the eight-week program.
The final project may incorporate:
Sign Layout & Design
Hand Lettering
1 Shot Lettering Enamel
Blending Techniques
Convex and Beveled Letters
Faux Marble Effects
Plywood Sign Preparation and Painting
Completing a full-size sign project allows students to work through the different stages of creating a hand-painted sign, from preparing the substrate and planning the layout to applying lettering, decorative effects, and finishing techniques.
Learn from Alex Kurakake
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO
Alex Kurakake is a Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) alumnus, founder of Smart Alex Signs, a hand-painted sign company, and the creator of SoCal Sign Painting Workshops in Huntington Beach, Orange County, Southern California.
In this video, get to know your instructor and learn more about Alex’s passion for the craft of traditional sign painting.
Who Is the 2nd Semester Sign Painting Course Designed For?
The 2nd Semester Sign Painting Course is designed as a continued learning opportunity for students who have completed the 1st Semester Sign Painting Course and want to further develop their traditional sign painting skills.
The course may be especially relevant for aspiring:
Sign Painters
Hand-Lettering Artists
Hand-Painted Sign Artists
Commercial Sign Artists
Mural and Decorative Artists
Creative Professionals Interested in Traditional Sign Painting
Artists Looking to Expand Their Painting Techniques
By continuing into the second semester, students can build upon their foundational knowledge while gaining additional hands-on experience with lettering, decorative finishes, dimensional effects, and outdoor sign painting.
Continue Your Traditional Sign Painting Training
If you have completed the required 1st Semester prerequisite and are ready to continue developing your sign painting skills, the upcoming 2nd Semester 8-Week Sign Painting Course provides an opportunity to advance your training in traditional hand-painted sign techniques with Alex Kurakake of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SIGN PAINTING WORKSHOPS COMPANY – a Division of Smart Alex Hand-Painted Signs.
The 2nd Semester is a required prerequisite for the 3rd Semester, allowing students to continue building their knowledge and hands-on experience before advancing to the next stage of the program.
Students who complete the 2nd Semester can continue into the 3rd Semester 8-Week Sign Painting Course, scheduled every Wednesday from January 6, 2027 through February 24, 2027, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at $800 for 8 weeks.
The continued training provides students with another opportunity to practice and expand their traditional hand-painted sign painting techniques under the instruction of Alex Kurakake, while building upon the skills developed during the previous semesters.
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