Lettering & Licensing with Shannon McNab, a June 2025 art retreat at The Smiley Manse in Southern Vermont

Lettering & Licensing with Shannon McNab

DATES: June 3-7, 2025

Hand lettering is an incredible skill to hone as an artist, especially for artists who license their work or do freelance client work, and Shannon McNab showed everyone how approachable it can be.

We started simple, with single letters to get the creative juices flowing, and by the end of the retreat everyone was creating dynamic, multi-word lettering designs. Shannon loves mixing art and business, so the week also included a discussion and Q&A about licensing and a group feedback session. Artists went home with new lettering-loving friends, lots of inspiration and the know-how to make spectacular portfolio designs.

After a warm welcome, artists dove into style exploration, then moved on to short phrases and simple layouts. Later in the week, Shannon led a licensing discussion and shared advanced lettering techniques.

The retreat wrapped up with a group feedback session and a fond farewell. It was a week at The Smiley full of letters, laughter and fresh inspiration.

Instructor holding up a printed pattern design sample while presenting at the long studio table in the barn
Chocolate cake topped with whipped cream, a strawberry and raspberries served in a blue and white teacup
Artist painting a watercolor of wildflowers at a porch table with fresh-picked flowers, a paint palette and a water jar

Lettering & Licensing Retreat Schedule

TUES, JUN 3: Welcome

WEDS, JUN 4: Style Exploration

THURS, JUN 5: Short Phrases & Simple Layouts

FRI, JUN 6: Licensing Discussion & Advanced Techniques

SAT, JUN 7: Group Feedback & Farewell

Dark glass bottles of homemade syrup with The Smiley Manse labels on a vintage metal tray
Group of retreat artists and instructor smiling together in the barn studio by the open white door
Retreat artists gathered in a circle of chairs on the lawn under a large maple tree hung with blue paper lanterns
Three artists laughing together at a porch lunch table set with blue and white linens and a green candle
Artist listening to a demo at the studio table, with lettering reference books, printed alphabets and a tablet in front of her
Pink peony buds about to open among large ribbed hosta leaves in the garden
Tall purple lupines in bloom in front of the red barn with its cupola under a blue sky with clouds
Fireplace in a sage green room with a painted floral fire screen, a gold framed mirror and a potted fern on the mantel
Dinner plate of roasted peppers, chicken, cauliflower and a salad of greens, radish and cherry tomatoes
Artists drawing and lettering at the long studio table in the barn with Bristol pads, sketchbooks and colorful pencil pouches

“Everything about this retreat felt so expansive: the delicious food, warm and welcoming retreat organizers, and the environment. I still feel so lucky to have been able to come and absorb it all! It feels like a little secret, but I am sharing it so it’s no longer a secret, I guess.”

— Carrie
Smiley Retreat Artist