
Lettering and Leafing
Learn layout, prep, paint and metal leafing for all your maritime needs.
- Dates
- July 27 – August 2
- Location
- Brooklin, Maine
- Tuition
- $900
- Materials
- $53
- Instructor
- Bob Emser
- Experience Level
- Beginner
- Activity Level
- Low
Join boat builder and artist Bob Emser for a hands-on, five-day immersion into the art of lettering and leafing at the Wooden Boat School. This workshop will guide you through the process of naming your boat, and the fundamentals and intricacies of traditional boat lettering with a focus on gold and metal leafing techniques. If you’re looking to personalize a boat or elevate your lettering skills, this course will teach you the time-honored methods used by marine artisans for decades.
Over the course of five days, you’ll learn:
- Tool and Material Mastery: Working with specialty tools such as brushes, tapes and paints, plus understanding the right materials for boat lettering.
- Surface Preparation: Best practices for preparing wooden surfaces for optimal adhesion and long-lasting results.
- Traditional Lettering Layout: How to properly lay out and size lettering and decoration for a cohesive, professional design.
- Basic Lettering Techniques: Brushwork, spacing, alignment, and design fundamentals tailored for wooden boats.
- LeafingTechniques: How to apply both gold and metal leaf to surfaces, creating stunning reflective details that last.
- Naming Your Boat: What is in a name? Exercises in finding a name reflect you and your boats personally.
This class is perfect for boat builders, restorers, and anyone interested in learning the fine art of painting on wood. Bob Emser brings decades of expertise to the classroom, and students will leave with the skills to create beautiful, hand-crafted lettering and gilded accents that will bring any boat to life.
By the end of the workshop, students will have completed a range of projects, from basic lettering to the intricate application of gold leaf, all while learning techniques that will serve them for years to come.

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