Today I started an "aged" window lettering project. The shop deals in 30's/40's gas pumps and related goodies. It's to look "old", as in faded, condensation damage, like. It's reverse(I get to feel like a right-hander, fun). Red and black block lettering, will have a white outline(right over whole letter. To give it the old abused look, I fine spritz lacquer thnner on dry lettering, when that's dry, rub over with a green scrubbie. Instant old.
I had 30's/40's Big Band Music on the cd, surrounded by all these funky pumps, people stopped at the traffic light watching me, i'm doin' little dance, i tell ya, it was a fun one!!
oh, btw, I mix spar varnish with oneshot, about 3 pts. varnish / 1 part paint, to get the "years of fading look."
John Lennig / SignRider / and I've got all these COOL little paint cans now, courtesy of those Fishy Types over in Nanaimo!
Posted by Brian Diver (Member # 1552) on :
Hey John take some pictures Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
You sound like you're having tons of fun..... doesn't that beat sticking vinyl letters on?!
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
John, it sounds real neat.
I once did a hand lettering job on a piece of tin the customer wanted me to use, on site. The back side had "blacksmith" written on it, from long ago. There was the smell of creosote in the air. It took me back to my childhood spent on docks fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, very nostagic.
BTW, I use the same varvish and one shot trick, but I keep the two in separate Dixie cups held in my left hand. Gives it a "blotchy" look, lots of brush marks. And if it's exterior signage, a little flat white (primer) in an airbrush makes nice "oxidized paint ran down and stained the sign streaks".
Posted by Tim (Member # 1699) on :
I'm sure it looked fantastic John, if it came out anything like the samples of the aging you showed me. I passed right by that shop after I left your place, and the main sign looks great, and would also benefit from some aging as you mentioned. Keep it up! Its not hard to see why you are a union hall of famer!
Posted by John Lennig (Member # 2455) on :
James, i'll try that separate paint/varnish thing on the white outline. I didn't use Tape on this, trying to stay in the Era, but i didn't mix my own paints with white lead, etc!!!
Tim, those ply signs do need some "old", James airbrush/primer may be it, plus some "dirt"
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