posted
I just heard "it" again. A business person (not a client obviously) after looking at my portfolio excaims: "You still hand letter???" What is with some people, do they think computers have completly taken over the Planet? Inasmuch as my livelihood depends on it I think I will continue. Please let me know if I am in a state of denial, and indeed, there is no longer a place for those who persist in using brushes to apply lettering to a variety of surfaces.
-------------------- Kevin Mann SignMann Sacramento, Ca Posts: 80 | From: sacramento california | Registered: Jan 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
PRINTERS NOW DO IT ALL.............so the world belives
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
umm Kevin, that actually sounds like the northwest or Pensacola depending on what kind of businessman asked, Probably someone who eats at McDonalds and drives a Caddy
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
I have heard people many years ago, even before vinyl and computers, say oh, I didn't know that the lettering was done by hand. Most people are not well informed.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Don't be angry Kevin, just be pleased that YOU are one of those who CAN & DO still paint by hand, & it is getting harder to find someone like you!
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
at times I fall into a rut where I can no longer read or write or make sense of it at all. Sometimes I cannot figure out a design which goes with what I'm trying to pull off.
I'm not trying to steal your post Kevin and am not saying this problem you have isn't reality in some places but those persons who say things like that evidently haven't a reality to which they position their lips to make those statements. Sacramento is also the home of Mike Clines who may or may not use a plotter yet hasn't problem making a living doing it by hand as I'm sure you haven't always felt this way. I do believe there is an influx of stupidity infiltrating our space at times where persons feel no need to use their grey matter and therefore invade us as they try to interact with their uninformed and misused youth as if they haven't missed all but a few classes during their time at school. History shows us that what goes around also comes around and those who continue in a trade which is sought out by some may amount to a significant and substantial for filled life while others lives seem just superficial.
yep, I showed them Clem
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Thanks for the encouraging words. I have to admit, I have been considering a plotter--why not right? I just don't want it to take over to the point I no longer have time to paint.
-------------------- Kevin Mann SignMann Sacramento, Ca Posts: 80 | From: sacramento california | Registered: Jan 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Kevin, Nice work on your Site! Without getting into hand vs. plot. cause it's true, i think, that "whatever it takes to get the job done" is a good path.... "I just don't want it to take over to the point I no longer have time to paint" is worth considering, and being on guard for, if it's important to you.
being thoughtful in Burnaby... John
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
What's even better is when you walk into a suppliers establishment, and get slapped in the face with, "man you need to move to the real world, nobody paints anymore."
Needless to say they aren't around, they were bought out, but I am...
-------------------- Skidmore Sign Co. 3806 1st Avenue North Birmingham AL 35222 205-251-6049
Skidmore Signs - Facebook
"Success always occurs in private, but failure in full view."
posted
Go ahead and buy a plotter. Rather than letting it take over, use it as a tool. Make patterns with it. Use it for the boring repetitive stuff. It will actually free up more of your time for painting. I do as much hand lettering as I want - which is quite a bit - because its MY choice of how I spend my day, run my shop, and produce the work, not theirs.
As for the dopes that don't know anyone still hand letters? Look em in the eye and tell them you do it because you CAN, because its your CHOICE, and because you make your decisions based on your own knowledge, not whatever half-assed mush they happen to hear or believe at any given moment. Or something like that.
And when people start yammering about inkjet this and wide format that, just remember, you can PAINT......................................................................................................................................................................and they can't.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Cam makes great point about not letting a plotter take over. I used to use mine on just about all lettering......because I had it. It didn't take too long to figure out that the ptofit margin just wasn't the same as paint and despite what alot of people say, unless it's single color tight lettering, it doesn't save any time. I did an IMCA race car a few years back all hand painted. It just so happened I kept a real good record of how long it took to lay it out and paint it. Later that year, I did the car, exactly the same way in vinyl. Designing, cutting vinyl, weeding, premasking and applying the vinyl took just under four hours longer. The vinyl cost at lesat ten times more than the paint. I don't like vinyl, it's not fun and gives very little satisfaction. So these days I paint whenever possible. The plotter is good for some things and I use it on those, but I'm not married to it.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
quote:Originally posted by Kevin Mann: I just heard "it" again. A business person (not a client obviously) after looking at my portfolio excaims: "You still hand letter???" What is with some people, do they think computers have completly taken over the Planet? Inasmuch as my livelihood depends on it I think I will continue. Please let me know if I am in a state of denial, and indeed, there is no longer a place for those who persist in using brushes to apply lettering to a variety of surfaces.
Relax Guy, Be Yourself. They can't take that away from you. I love working with my hand-painted skills of some 38 years combined with my computerized vinyl work and being able to knock out a wall job when some computer-whiz is trying to figure out how to adhere vinyl to cynder block. You're way ahead of the game by having a mixed bag to draw upon... and as someone else stated they live in another time zone and are uninformed of the past especially with regard to our trade. Be proud the next time someone says that, say, damn right I'm a hand-painter...how do ya like me now?! Want to get a kick? Watch Charleton Heston in the movie: "Agony and the Ecstacy" and watch his apprentices using a charcoal bag to apply patterns after they had meticulously pierced holes in the paper of his sketches. Sort of makes you feel part of a very long legacy.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic