My name is Samantha Redles and I am a Curatorial Practice MFA graduate student at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. My thesis project, Sign Language: Maryland's Sign Painters is an exhibition and series of programs I am curating at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. The exhibition will run April 3- September 13, 2015.
Part of my thesis project is a booklet of Tips and Tricks for the Beginner Sign Painter. I have inserted my call for submissions below! I look forward to reading the submissions and would be more then happy to provide more information about the exhibition.
Thank you to Barb and Steve for giving me permission to post my call on Letterville. I greatly appreciate it!
ATTENTION SIGN PAINTERS!!!
Think back to your very first lettering job. What are some techniques, tips, or tricks you wish you’d known at that time? What advice would you give to someone just starting out? I am compiling a booklet of tips and tricks for the beginner sign painter in conjunction with an exhibition I am curating, Sign Language: Maryland’s Sign Painters, at The Baltimore Museum of Industry. The booklet will cover brushes, layout, paints, signs and lettering, techniques and materials, and tools and equipment.
If you would like to contribute, please send: • Your name • City and State or Country • The topic of your tip or trick • An explanation of the tip or trick. (Feel free to send along any drawings or sketches that might help readers better understand it.)
Submissions are due by JANUARY 31, 2015.
Please forward all materials, via email or snail mail, to:
Samantha Redles 321 S Ann Street Baltimore, MD 21231
sredles@mica.edu
Thank you,
Samantha
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
Hi Samantha, and welcome!
Just so we are clear....the sign business has gone through a lot of changes, over the years.
Are you looking for traditional "paint and brush" type of sign painting techniques; or going more to modern day, with vinyl graphics and on to digital printing?
Posted by Samantha Redles (Member # 51621) on :
Hi Dale.
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I am looking for paint and brush sign painting techniques. However, if you use photoshop or any modern day technologies that help make hand lettering easier then I would love to know what they are and how it is applied.
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
Good luck with your project Samantha, but I am afraid that time has passed us old timers by. The sign industry has been cut down by the invention of the computer. Years ago everything was done by hand and it took lots of time and patients to hone a skill to do hand lettering. In to days economy no one wants to take the time, they want results in a hurry. The only hope is that the public will realize the value of hand lettering and it will have a come back. An other problem is that many of the products we used are no longer available or outlawed. All this said, I would be happy to help you in any way. Bill Riedel
Posted by Kevin W. Betz (Member # 4133) on :
Hi Samantha.
1 trick that I do, is to Comb the Hairs of the Brush before I letter. I find this to help with crisp lines when lettering. I also will comb the hairs after i am done cleaning the Brush prior to oiling it.
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
Sign Painting,,,,, Walls Posted by Kevin W. Betz (Member # 4133) on :
Hi Samantha.
Another tip I found was to Heat your Paint before using. The most important thing about Lettering is to make sure the Paint is Room Temperature, 75 Degree or so. This will allow you not to thin your Paint. Too many times, thinning your paint with additives creates thin strokes. Meaning, after time, the Paint will fade inconsistent. a Pure Paint will fade consistent.
