How do I become a Letterhead? Do you just declare yourself to be a Letterhead? Or are you annointed/appointed by another? And then, how do you get listed in the Letterhead directory?
Oh yeah...and the whole HeadTV thing...when will that get started? I'm really getting into the video thing along with Flash...would really like to know more about what that particular forum/section will entail...
Posted by Dave Draper (Member # 102) on :
I appoint you a "Letterhead" ...ok everyone...its Miller time!
When you decide you want to share and learn how to make the sign craft an art form, and hang out with those who call themselves "Letterheads", then you are one also.
Years ago sign crafters would not share their secrets. The made great signs, but they were not chatty and kept shop secrets.
The Letterhead movement sprang up as small gatherings to teach each other their craft and share thier insights.
Beign a Letterhead does not mean you already have to be making signs that win 1st place in a contest.... it means you WANT to achieve that quality, and you will, if you hang out with these folk.
Welcome aboard!
[ December 21, 2003, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: Dave Draper ]
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
Hi Jerome, we havn't spoken before. I see you're new here, and I can tell you're eager. By registering for this site you will be added to the roster of members shortly. (When Barb or Steve gets around to it).
To answer your question - how do you become one - we havn't figured that out yet. No, really, it is a concept more than a true membership. If you aspire to learn and are willing to share, you're already there. Strange, huh.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Hey Jereme, you might be a letterhead if:
...you have at least one lettering brush that has only a few hairs left but you still use it.
...if you have ever cut yourself with a razor knife.
...you have ever held a knife to someones throat for stirrin' up dust around a wet panel.
...your lettering enamel forms a skin an' you use the skin to pallette your brush on.
...you comment on all kinds of signs and drive your family and friends nuts.
...you know what the word "pounce" really means.
...you have a PHD an' know how to use 'em.
...you start doing more and more signs without using any helvetica types at all.
......I know there's like a hundred more...c'mon letterheads......
Posted by Jereme Gauthier (Member # 4351) on :
Great work guys-that is the type of signage I'd like to provide (your hand carved/painted graphically cool stufff). I am currently a partner in a bodyshop that is getting closer all the time to being a full on custom paint shop. I love motorcycles and the custom paint trade/Kustom Kulture scene-what really ignited this was seeing pinstriped panels by David Hightower. I had been working for desktop publishing companies and doing grpahic arts positions for so-called sign companies (more electrical and vinyl mill than anything cool and creative)...to make a long story short, I had become completely burned out on the idea of doing graphics for a living. Then I saw that pinstriping ...went out and bought some Mack green brushes (the only kind sold in the art store and auto paint supply shops I could find) and not knowing what to do tried to use them and got thoroughly disgusted-never thought I'd be able to use the darn things. BUt I happened across an issue of Auto Art magazine, signed up for one of Bob Bond's classes and learned enough to get me started...finally, someone who was willing to show someone the ropes from the ground up, with no attitude involved-Thanks, Bob. So, my true love is custom automotive paint, but I gather a lot of my influence from real custom signage. I'm getting respectable with the pinstripe brush now, and looking forward to publishing pictures of some panels I've done with my Xcaliber brushes (what a difference the proper tools make) along with some of my other paint work. I've never been to a panel jam or a Letterhead meet, but am looking forward to atending one or two in the coming year and hope to meet some of you in person...
Posted by Jereme Gauthier (Member # 4351) on :
oops, and girls..Sorry Sheila! You posted in the time it took my one fingered typing technique to punch out that massive missive...
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
I'll add to Sheila's since I can't find the "you might be a letterhead if" thread we had going here a while ago.
...you've ever painted your dog ...your clothes are either 'Painted' or 'Not-Yet-Painted' ...you've ever had someone pick something out of your hair, give you a wierd look & you just shrug it off saying "gold leaf" ...you can't go on vacation without your brushes, "just in case" ...your idea of a vacation includes gathering with a bunch of other 'heads, painting til the wee hours of the morning and going back home to work to get some sleep. ...everyone on your speed dial is a member here
Posted by Jereme Gauthier (Member # 4351) on :
LOL...most of my clothes are in the "already painted" stage...Just got an unremovable stain in my favorite pair of good jeans, so I guess I just added one really comfortable pair of workpants to my stable...
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
well Jereme, to answer a question you once asked me, I use both HoK and sign enamels when its called for and sometimes use both on the same project.
Welcome to Letterville!
Chris, funny you should mention that going on vacation, one does bring their tools, I always have a Sword in my shirt pocket, just in case.
Posted by Jereme Gauthier (Member # 4351) on :
Hey Joey, I found this site because of a post of yours on the Auto Art board-thanks for the info. And I've been thinking more and more about that post of yours regarding the red Chevy pickup I put the tribal graphics on-one side of it jsut got wiped out by a rather large deer so it needs to get redone. I think I can pull the long straight lines now, and if so, I will be pinstriping the full design like you suggested. 'Cause you know...it ain't finished 'til it's striped! Posted by Jereme Gauthier (Member # 4351) on :
Speaking of long straight lines...
How do you pull yours, Joey? I tried Bob's "walkin' surfer method" but keep trippin' on my feet...That's my biggest holdup so far...I can maintain a consistent width as long as I'm smooth, but I'm havin' trouble with the walk...any more than a few steps and something seems to happen...I wanna stop using tape guides and get to the real deal...
Posted by Steve Shortreed (Member # 436) on :
Welcome to Letterville Jereme! This website was created back in 1995 as a tribute to a group of people that call themselves Letterheads. Rather than wear my pinkies down with furthur typing, I take the easy way out and refer you to A History Of Letterheads.
Letterville is our online version of a real life meet. I encourage you to spend time exploring the almost 70 Letterhead, PinHead and WallDog Meets that are documented here. You'll see lots of eye candy and gain a better understanding of what goes on at these meets. It's all in our Past Meets Archive.
How about step by steps? We're always looking for more, but there are several to look at in the Letterville Step By Steps. I sometimes worry the popularity of this Forum causes people to miss out on these other valuable resources.
HeadTV is our own version of reality TV. We use it to transmit video from live events, pretaped videos and even our Monthly Draw. It isn't CNN or Discovery yet, but you gotta start somewhere.
How far are you from Detroit? There's a Pinhead Panel Jam taking place Jan. 11 in Canton, MI. Details about this and other meets are always available at The Events Page. Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Jereme... Steve beat me to the punch. Go to a live meet! It will change your life. And if ya can't go to the pinhead meet, we have room for you at the Pajama Jam. Love- JILL
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
Hi Jereme!
As host of the Winter Muster in feb 5-6-7, I personally invite you come doen off the "Iron MOuntain" there in Michigan and join a pretty fun group gathering here in Minnesota!
You will get LOTS of brush time here, look over the shoulder of many talented people, and ask as many questions as you like! PLUS..food, music, skiing, dancing, laughing, magic, bon fires, horse drawn wagon rides....I suggest you come on down!
Email me your address I'll send you a flyer!
Welcome aboard!
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Jereme,
Welcome to Letterville!
IMHO, being a Letterhead has a lot of definitions, but I think it's more of an attitude than a matter of membership.
If you have a desire to learn and pass on your own experiences with other sign makers and strive to improve yourself in your craft, I think that's all you need.
As mentioned above, there are live meets scheduled on the "Future Meets" page and you should try to attend one. Being fairly new myself, I've been to a few meets already this year and have not only learned and shared some great techniques and tricks, but met some truly wonderful people as well.
Hope to see you at a meet sometime, Rapid
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
At some of the larger (so called "International") meets - big enough that there's a microphone for the speechily inclined - there is a swearing in of newbies. A somewhat "Official" document is read - and laughed over - and everybody present is declared something or other and then it's time for more beer. I've seen this speech in print - wish I had a copy, heard Mark Oatis officiate it twice - he has the right qualifications = voice, timing, sensahuma, etc. But you don't need a big meet - 2 of you can meet the quota.
Where IS that "you might be a Letterhead if..." thread - it was GREAT!
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
...went out and bought some Mack green brushes (the only kind sold in the art store and auto paint supply shops I could find) and not knowing what to do tried to use them and got thoroughly disgusted-never thought I'd be able to use the darn things. BUt I happened across an issue of Auto Art magazine, signed up for one of Bob Bond's classes and learned enough to get me started...finally, someone who was willing to show someone the ropes from the ground up, with no attitude involved-Thanks, Bob.