This may have been done to death in previous posts, but since I'm in the middle of an extended "senior moment"...here goes......
DO YOU APPROACH THE "CRAFT" OF SIGNMAKING AS "ADVERTISING" or "ART"?
I've always thought of signs as "advertising" rather than an "artist's pallette". I'm sure most comments will be "on the fence" with this one, taking into account those with artistic temperaments and all.....(!)
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
You probably didn't want to hear from a 1%er, as I very rarely do signs to begin with, but when I do They get signed as HotLines " Signs as an Art "
Posted by Ernie&DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
Advertising all the way. Art is too dependent on individual likes and dislikes. Compared to any other form of advertising, signs are a great deal.
ernie
Posted by aaronssigns (Member # 490) on :
I think its just like beauty............its all in the eye of the beholder
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
since i am not an artist it has to be advertising.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Art used for advertising. or Art as advertising.
I try to make all of my projects a work of art, which catches the eye and promotes the client's business as effectively as I know how.
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
I have a book on my bookshelf that the title says it all, "The Art of Advertising". Great reading too!
[ July 04, 2002, 11:37 AM: Message edited by: timi NC ]
Posted by John Thompson (Member # 2750) on :
I treat almost all of my signs as advertising BECAUSEmost businesses want a sign to generate business and a sign can be "arted" up to a point where its readability and impact is lost. I use a lot of bright colors for backrounds I especially like yellow because it really catches your eye and you can make stuff just jump off of the sign with it. The color combinations I use would make an artist puke BUT i use them to draw attention. For instance I did a yellow sign with purple and burgandy lettering on it a while back. I used one of those color combination books to get it, and the sign really looked good BUT it definantly wasn't art BUT the people needed business BAD and they are sort of hidden so the yellow sign can be seen from WAY off. That said, I have seen business in say a historic distric or say an old well established business that such a sign would be inappropriate. Those types of businesses need a sign that conveys the atmosphere of the business or area, maybe a nice sign with gold leaf or a carved-sign. Most business like that will be in an area where a lot of shopping is done walking around where legibility quick and the attention grabbing factor is reduced AND the well established business doesn't need to draw attention, everybody already knows them. I sure could see one of my rectangular signs with bright yellow all over it in the middle of a historic district. I just got through going through an ordeal with one of those historic districts. I had to figure out what % of the sign the letters and logo took up (no more thatn 65% of the sign), colors had to complimentary to the building AND surrounding building (I just used white dadgummit, it compliments everything) No more than 3 colors including background and all those colors had to be complimentary to the building, sign couldn't be any bigger than 2.75' tall X 5"'?????, blah!balh!blah! Store right up from it had at least 4 colors of Neon so I asked how cna they get away with that? Answer, Oh they really draw business to the square so they get an exemption. WHAT KINDA PRINCIPLE IS THAT? Duhhhhhhhh!!! Let one business prosper let the other ones struggle.
[ July 04, 2002, 11:45 AM: Message edited by: John Thompson ]
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Right on, John....you're my man!!
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
When all signs were handpainted it was more of an art. Now it is advertising! Unless it is a sign you designed, handlettered, gold leafed etc., then that is art. But simple vinyl signs to me is not art.
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
Most of the work I do are for themed area, like amusement parks and retail area not specific to a business, is that Art? In my area of work I design it, the art is making it happen. Rick
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
If your customer reffers to you as "the Arteeeste", does that make it art?
Posted by John Thompson (Member # 2750) on :
Cheryl, I sometimes will sit down and draw an entire sign by hand and pen on a piece of paper. Then use either CorelDraw or VE Master and scan it in. A lots of times it may be complicated and consist of bookoos of colors. Then I will cut it out of vinyl. Is a sign that is hand drawn BUT done in vinyl not just using a different medium to produce what could be called art? I don't like painting unless I have to 'cause I got a hand that was broken up a while back (dadgum motorcycles) and I can still draw good but it gets kind shakey when painting (don't ask me, I wish I knew why) and I find it easier for me to use vinyl.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I agree with Cheryl that a simple vinyl sign is not art. As we all know there are many creations that can be produced out of vinyl that are not so simple, like Johns example. This does not address the topic question yet though. I think advertising is often the priority over the artistic aspects of a sign in the mind of the client. But, like Tim's book title, the art of advertising, includes inviting people to see the sign, to understand it, & often to "connect", in their mind, the business name with their product or service. Visual communication, & marketing skills is an art that can be applied to any medium or material.
[ July 04, 2002, 05:09 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
Posted by Eric Barker (Member # 2972) on :
I think it depends on the sign. I've seen some signs that I would definitely classify as art; a beautifully handcarved and gilded sign with an inset pictorial..ahhh. There are both artists and craftspeople in every field of endeavour. My approach, at this early stage of the game, is to hope that someday some of my work will be good enough to be classified as advertising art, but to be completely satisfied creating a well designed and crafted advertisment that will help my customer. BTW, there's lots of stuff hanging in galleries, all over the world, that I wouldn't classify as art. Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Both
Posted by Roel Guevara (Member # 3089) on :
To All OF The Above It is Art Because all of us is doing our part to beautify the world in some shape or form every thing we do we put our heart in its not for the money its for the love of creating something awsome with a bunch of shapes! regaurdless of what it says Now For The Diffination:
art Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.
The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium. The study of these activities. The product of these activities; human works of beauty considered as a group. High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value. A field or category of art,
A system of principles and methods employed in the performance of a set of activities: the art of building. A trade or craft that applies such a system of principles and methods: the art of the lexicographer.
Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of the baker; the blacksmith's art.
arts Artful devices, stratagems, and tricks. Artful contrivance; cunning. Printing. Illustrative material.
Synonyms: art, craft, expertise, knack, know-how, technique These nouns denote skill in doing or performing that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of rhetoric; pottery that reveals an artist's craft; political expertise; a knack for teaching; mechanical know-how; a precise diving technique.
So Even if you don't like it we are all artist
Thanks kats 7 Keep it kool!
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
If a signmaker put as much effort into running their business as they expend pondering if they're an artist or just a watered down ad agency, they wouldn't have the time to worry about the latter issue.
Anyway, if you were producing works to be hung on a wall or other location for the sole purpose of being admired (ie: pinstriping, vehicle graphics, murals) you'd be an artist producing art.
If you produce works to be hung on a wall or other location to attract business, you are producing advertising.
Pure enjoyment and adoration = art Commercial gain = advertising
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Nettie, Have you run out of stuff to say? That's the shortest post I've ever seen from you!!! Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
I approach what I do as art. I did (still do) fine art and murals for many years.
The signs I do now are art too. It has to be designed for a definite purpose... something pure art doesn't necessarily have to do.
But the stuff I do is created from ideas in my head with my hands. I do use tools along the way including my computer. But my tools are guided with my hands and brain... and in my mind that makes it art.
My signs definitely stand out and are recognized as my unique style... they all carry a certain flavor recognizable from a distance by almost anybody who knows my work.
-dan
[ July 07, 2002, 01:21 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
To answer your question as asked Bob, I approach all jobs as advertising.
Because most of the signs we are asked to do is for advertising a business.
frequently we make a nice carved sign, or house sign or whatever, that needs to be more a work of art than advertising. And then there are the jobs that both are combined in the same job.
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