Howdy, I am kinda new on Letterville and am wanting to get into hand lettering.
I have been cutting vinyl for about 11 years. I have also done a great deal of large format printing since 1997. Now I am trying to get back to my fine art roots and hand paint signs. Using brushes from art school and one-shot I have been trying my hand at glass, wood, and aluminum panels with a little success. Now I need more help.
1. What brushes should I purchase as a must have for lettering, outlining & filling? 2. What two books should I purchase? 3. What One-shot additives/reducers are a must?
Keep in mind I am trying not to spend too much money. Sign "painting" is just a hobby right now that I would like to turn into business.
Dennis Baughman Midtown Signs Kansas City, MO
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
I don't hand letter but my husband does. I think the best advise I can give you is to go to a meet and get with some of the hand lettering people and see what works for you. I would think it would helpful to go and actually get to handle the brushes, try different paints and methods and see what feels comfortable. Also you might get a bunch of info by just keeping your eyes open. There are so many different types of brushes, I think it would matter what feels good in your hand and pulls the best line for you. Most guys would be happy to talk to you and show you what works for them. You can see what type of kits they have, what they pallette their brushes on, how they store them, on and on. Look under Future Live Meets to the left and find one in your area or travel to one as a business/vacation. The one in Detroit in August sounds like it is focusing on the hand lettering and history of lettering. The one in Lincoln Illinois is more centered around wall work and murals but that will be people who do the hand lettering too. Pick a meet and GET THERE! I'm sure you will get suggestons here too. This is a great place for a beginner, IF you can sort out the info. That's why I think it is better to go SEE what we are talking about.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
1st off...art school brushes you can put in the trash can. this aint paintin "happy little trees"! if you look in the LETTERHEAD ARCHIVES...you will find a post about sign kits,and what goes in them. lettering brushes are a whole different set of tools....you need to start with a #4, 8, 12, LETTERING QUILL. these can either be brown or gray, browns are softer, greys a lillte stiffer. dont much matter for a beginer. these are for painting on smooth surfaces, metal, MDO, GLASS or vinyl. FITCHES are for brick walls, rough surfaces. truck flats are for smooth surfaces but take some time to learn to use. when you buy new brushes, befor you ever put them in paint, leaave them soak a couple day in 10W motor oil. this will put oil in the heel, and then paint wont get in there and dry.
Posted by Harris Kohen (Member # 2139) on :
Check on www.autoartmagazine.com They usually host a pinstripers meet in the Kansas City area every year. I suggest you find out about it and get there.
They also run weekend classes there for Airbrush and Pinstriping. You might find that to your liking.
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Glad to see that you are giving this a try! My kit consists of a WalMart $3.99 plastic tackle box. In it are: Brown Luco Quills #3,#5,#7,#9,#11 Jenson's Swirly Q Alan Johnson Signature brushes (small and smaller) French Masters brushes #2,#4,#6,#8,#10 2 Mack long-handled sword stripers #00 & #0 1 Excaliber striper #000 1 german red sable from John Jordan 1 small red sable from Timi ...assorted other brushes.... Pounce Wheel (for making patterns) a Han-See pounce pad pencil sharpener x-acto knife single-edged razor blades 3M fine-line tape (for straight lines if needed) masking tape collapsible mahl stick blue & white Stabilo pencils A Sharpie marker small ruler tape measure a small jar of baby oil (for brushes) a screwdriver small paint cups popsicle sticks 2 small clamps
I do have another kit for gold leaf, and I do have some nice fitches, but I don't keep them in my kit. Check the Merchant's page. You should be able to find some of these things right here in Letterville. Try to get to a meet as soon as you can. The knowledge you pick up there, as well as the adrenaline, is priceless. What you now think of as a hobby will become an addiction. Love...Jill
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Fred Selfs meet would be the one to focus your sights on.
hope this helps
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
try & buy yourself an experienced hand to go with them! Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Ian,
I hear they cost an arm and a leg to get one.
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
quote:Originally posted by old paint: 1st off...art school brushes you can put in the trash can. this aint paintin "happy little trees"!
I think OP might have forgotten to add one of these
Welcome to Letterville Dennis.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Hi Dennis and welcome to Letterville.
Brushes are like a pair of jeans. They can be really comfortable, but it takes time to break them in. Learning how is the key.
The best thing you could do is to check the "Future Live Meets" page here and make plans to attend a meet. It's a great way to learn lettering and pinstriping, which brushes are used for which lettering styles, and always a life changing experience.
Past that, it comes down to personal tastes and what you feel comfortable using for lettering and striping. There's a wide variety out there, many available on the merchants page here in Letterville.
As for which One Shot materials, many distributors offer a 12 can start up set of lettering enamels. It gives you the opportunity to experiment with mixing colors. The mid temp reducer and hardener would be a plus to pick up as well.
As for books...I've always thought Speedball lettering books were a great resource for the person starting out. It illustrates the strokes nicely and is a solid foundation of basic skills.
Hope this helps. Rapid
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
I have made more money with a No. 8 quill than anything else ! Fitches come in second LOL.
I second Pat King's suggestion to go to Fred Self's meet! You will meet some pretty talented folks and get to try your hand at a lot of things! Get some sleep first! I have a hard time walking away before Sunday!
Ray is right, these meets will absolutely change your life! For weeks it's just so hard to find all the time you want to play with everything you've learned!
I would find a lightweight sign kit if I were you! Start a collection of milk crates too! LOL
Posted by Gavin Chachere (Member # 1443) on :
Dennis,in addition to whats already been said,check out this website www.learn2paintsigns.com it pops up from time to time here and its usually split 50/50 on people either ripping it or praising it depending on who's replying at the time,but having seen the lessons its actually very good for someone just starting...nothing takes the place of practice but at least you have a visual reference point and explanation to return to regardless of if you go to a live meet or not......not everyone can always attend one. Sid Moses also sells a video lettering course at www.moseart.com thats pretty decent. Also dick blick used to have a fully stocked sign kit in their catalog,maybe they still do,you dont have to buy it but if you look at it it had a complete content list of paint,brushes and accessories for what they felt was a basic sign kit,wouldn't hurt to compare that with what everyone has told you here,at least you'll have another idea list to pull from.
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Yes Gavin the "Complete Stocked" version is STILL listed in Dick Blicks Catalog.Very good start up investment,along with Ray's mention of a Speedball lettering book.
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