Curious About Banner Painting?

Maybe you've seen hand-painted banners all over social media and wondered:

"What exactly is banner painting?"

"Do I need to be artistic?"

"Do people really make money doing this?"

"What supplies do I need?"

"Could I actually do this?"

If you've been curious, here's what I've learned after spending the last few years painting hundreds of banners.

So… What Is Banner Painting?

Banner painting is the art of creating oversized paper signs for birthdays, graduations, senior nights, baby showers, sports teams, and all kinds of celebrations. Unlike machine-made decorations, each banner is painted by hand. Despite how impressive some banners look, getting started is very simple.

Do You Need to Be Artistic?

In my mind, everything is figure-out-able. Most people assume banner painters are naturally talented artists, but many learned by trying. It is important that you are willing to make imperfect banners. 

Why Are So Many People Falling in Love With Banner Painting?

I think it's because banner painting combines many of the things we need: creativity, a break from screens, and a reason to celebrate! It is a hobby, a side hustle, and for some, a full time career.

What Supplies Do You Need?

You can get started with:

-Brown Paper: I recommend builder's paper as it doesn't wrinkle. X-Paper is my favorite paper. You can get it at Lowes, Home Depot, and on Amazon.

-Paint: Regular craft acrylic works best. I often use Apple Barrel, FolkArt, and DecoArt, and Crafters from Hobby Lobby.

-Brushes: Use make up brushes - trust me on this. My favorites are this eye shadow brush, this foundation brush, and this bundle for smaller lettering, and this brush for larger areas.

-Painter's Tape: This brand is perfect if using sturdy paper.

I created a Youtube video describing my go-to supplies for banner painting.

What About Canva and Projectors?

Many banner artists design their own banners digitally using Canva. From there, a projector can be used to trace the design onto paper before painting. I actually choose to paint directly with the banner still displayed.

Canva is a free design website that has tons of fonts and graphics to choose from. I recommend using an iPad or laptop for this step. Designing on a phone is possible, but not as user friendly.

I created a Youtube video walking through the very beginner steps of how to use Canva to create a painted banner design. 

Templates are for both beginners and those who are more experienced, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with using them! Don't let people tell you otherwise. I personally like using templates to help get the layout right and stay consistent with my styles. I don't worry about painting them exactly as they appear digitally, as hand-painting is different than printing. 

I have a growing library of banner templates that can be used for personal parties or for her potential customers! 

This template is perfect for just getting hang of painting on a vertical surface. It has various fonts, shapes, and line styles. I made it for beginners! 

Can You Actually Make Money Painting Banners?

Yes. I highly recommend creating a few banners for free for family & friends to build your portfolio. Share pictures of these banners on social media - rather than just sharing digital mock ups. I highly discourage you to share pictures of other artists' banners promising that you can produce the same. Every artist is different - and it should be that way. 

I also discourage you from taking a banner off of Pinterest or social media and recreating it - without first consulting the original artist. Like I mentioned earlier, many artists sell their templates! This is a business, and it is important to respect the art of the original painter.

If You're Curious, Start Small

If you're ready to give banner painting a try, I've put together resources, tutorials, and a beginner guide to help you get started.

My Guide to Banner Painting for Beginners walks you through supplies, setup, techniques, and beginner tips so you don’t have to figure it out alone. 

I also have a Youtube Channel where I share my journey of building this creative businesss.

Reach out if you have questions! I'm cheering you on.

Happy creating,

Kelli