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How will history record the Letterhead movement? Can there be any greater value attached to the movement in 200 years then what we feel in our hearts now? Will the works of individual letterheads gain value or become collector pieces as time passes? It’s already happening, isn’t it? It seems to me the Letterhead movement is rather unique, it began at such a crucial time for Sign Craftsmen and has been so effectively covered by trade magazines, books, and preserved by electronic records. The Letterheads movement, from my perspective, is quite an anomaly. It began that ground breaking concept in our craft, of sharing information and techniques, not long before what would have been the crushing blow to Sign Painters & Sign Crafters around the word, the advent of the computer.
As time has passed through the ages, certainly hundreds of trades & crafts have developed and been refined by millions of craftsmen only to have disappeared with the technological changes of their time. Were the craftsmen displaced by technology throughout history able to land on their feet and survive? My guess is many more did than didn’t. As much as craftsman love their work, it is one of their most important qualities to be problem solvers. Life used to be tougher for most, there was a “drive on” attitude prevalent that isn’t so easily found today. I think most displaced craftsmen probably took their lumps and carved out another way of live. People were more self sufficient and self reliant in the past. Things may not have happened quite as quickly either, what happens overnight now, may have taken generations in the past. Today, if one really loves what they do, and overnight it’s gone, it’s devastating. As I see it, a craftsman is by nature one who makes what he does for a living, his life. They are caught up in what they do so much that they are what they do. And if they love what they do, what could possibly improve this? It is fortunate for the Sign Craftsmen, “that lived what they did,” in the early nineteen eighties to have had an avenue to share information, experiences and techniques.
There is only one analogy or comparison I can make that seems to fit the Letterhead Movement, ...multiplication. Understanding that Letterhead Meets are an integral component of the movement is essential. With that understanding, we have two components involved. People that not only share knowledge of the craft they love, but they love the same craft. Take the fun and excitement of sharing and doing the work you love, and multiply it with the fun and excitement of the others doing the same thing. This mix creates an unmistakable and energy which seems to permeate a Letterhead event. The experience is quite emotional. Kind of our own twist on “mob madness” in a very positive way. Today's Letterheads are still more fortunate.
Could it be that the tool that so permanently changed our Craft, threatening thousands of Sign Craftsman’s Livelihoods, was also instrumental in sustaining the Craft? The Letterheads seem to have made pretty good use of the many things one can do with a computer. At a time when the art of hand lettering stood on the edge of history, the very thing that nearly killed it has been used to insure that it live on. It did my heart good to see the youngsters at the Atlanta Il meet so interested in our Craft. Communication is the key. This board is an excellent use of the computer to improve communication in the spirit of the Letterhead Movement. More folks seem to be interested in offering Hand Lettering as the Premium Product, judging from the posts I read. That does my heart good as well. Our Craft was “Brushed by Death,” but will surely never die. The folks that have grown up in the Craft today have the experience and knowledge of yesterday at their fingertips.
-------------------- Dave Parr Sign Painter USA Posts: 709 | From: USA | Registered: May 2003
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Very well put, Dave. Interesting thoughts & plenty of agreement.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7016 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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The Letterhead movement is unique in it's foundations, where knowledge is freely given, despite the concerns of competing for customers, and the many methods and styles of it's participants make every meet unique. It's in that uniqueness that it will always remain fresh and appealing to signcrafters as time passes.
In 200 years, history will probably look back at we Letterheads as people who gathered together to improve our craft and share our individual histories with each other and, hopefully, as time passes, the Letterhead movement will never loose it's "grassroots" origins.
Rapid
Afterthought: Maybe it would be cool to contact the "original" Letterheads and get their take on how they have seen it develop since the begining. Just an idea for something to pass on to future generations of Letterheads.
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Good thoughts, Dave. I struggled to learn hand lettering. I didn't think I would ever get it down, but eventually I did. I never feared competition, because I figured if someone wanted to put forth the effort I did, they were surely entitled. I was forced to get computerized to stay competitive and I was bitter about it in the beginning. Now it seems like its always been here. My buying power is probably less than it was, because I've increased my overhead considerably because of the technology.
I've often wondered at what point I'll resist change and say enoughs enough. I view sign painting, carving and similar endeavors like the horse and buggy. They will probably always be around, but they won't be the backbone they've been in the past. If you've ever read the book "Slappy Hooper" it'll make you wonder if they'll be able to get paint to stick to air. In the future with holograms and virtual reality who knows how the craftsman will fit in. It will be amusing to find out how they will regulate a virtual reality sign that doesn't really exist.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2112 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Dave, Really great post .....you got me to thinkin' about all the history of this business and how little there is pertaining to the "everyday" perspective of it...'bout all I really know historically about sign painters is they used to come in town on bikes, work and travel on. You got me thinkin' about how much documented information we are leavin' for generations to follow. You got me thinkin how different we might view the great artists like De Vinci, Rembrandt, Angelo and others if they'd done a whole lot more writing and demonstrations and meets about what was goin' on in their crafts...Imagine what they would've done on computers! It's also just a tad disturbing some of the craziness future generations might find among us...but most the creative people are a little "crazy". It's that deep thinkin', creative energy that's screamin' to be let out in some form or another. Wonderful deal for us that we are also able to make most of our creative energy thru the practical and simple exchange of the market place.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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Well Said Dave, I would have to say I was one of the Guys the hand painters Hated when I first started in the Sign buisness. I Couldn't for the life of me Begin to Hand paint a sign But with the advent of computers Here I was making signs and that got me intrested in the craft. Now I keep trying to Paint signs and want to keep the letterhead movement alive. By no way would I try to sell a hand letter sign as I still cant paint a letter and make it look right.(Somethings a Guy shouldn't do. Mine is Handpaint a letter and where Speedos) But now I still like trying and with this Board it really keeps me motivated to pursue different styles. (Rambeling ON and on) Thanks Everyone
I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to attend my first meet in 1982. It was after a guy named Rick Flores came into our shop in Boulder, CO. one day wanting us to pull a permit for him. He told us that he and some other guys got together to work on sign projects, drink a few beers and talk about the craft. Needless to say that it changed my life and some of "those guys" are now some of my best friends as are many that I have met since that time.
Let's not forget to thank them every chance we get for what they accidently started.
-------------------- Chip & Marilyn Carter 414 S. St. Pierre St. Broussard, LA 70518 Posts: 32 | From: Sanibel, FL | Registered: Mar 2000
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I remember a while back when I recieved a e-mail from a guy who said...Jack, you are a true letterhead. This person also reminded me how much of a help I had been to him. I got to thinking after reading this post how much fun and how good it felt to be an instructor in a union apprenticeship program. I have to say during that time it was a learning experience for me and it made sense to absorb all that I learned from others all over again while I was teaching. The same applies today with the computer side of the sign world. I was totally unskilled in the begining about all the how to's and making it work and make money too. Now I feel I have mastered the beast and have a lot more control of it than it has of me. BUT,...where are the real training grounds today that can help a computer shop become a computer craft sign shop? Answer me that and will that be the next step? will there be apprentice training in the future?
Thanks, CrazyJack
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Having just returned home from another Letterhead meet, the understanding of just what makes a Letterhead is still clear in my mind.
It was great to meet so many great folks who were so willing to share what they knew, and eager to learn the knowledge that others possessed.
As a presenter of a little demonstration piece, the meet made me articulate to others how I came to do such type of work... The meet reminded me of how I had to find out these very same things the hard way. What I shared in the space of a couple of hours had taken years and years to find out for myself.
By the same token, in the space of three short days I learned many, many things from others that had taken them their professional lifetimes to aquire.
They and I happily shared our 'secrets'. Along with the tricks of the trade, the folks I met encouraged me to continue, and I tried to share this same positive energy with them. Acceptance and recognition from your peers is a wonderful thing as it has meaning and weight!
And everyone was so helpful! All I had to do was think about moving some of my heavy stuff and there were 4 guys there to give me a hand. Them concrete roosters are heavy stuff!
I saw enough eye candy in those few hours of the meet to inspire me for months and months to come.
Mike Meyers inspired me more than he will ever know. To see him effortlessly banging out the endless script, block, and casual brush lettering was awesome. It was a joy to sit back and watch as he patiently shared his techniques with all who were interested. His sense of humour through the meet made my day.
And he was only ONE in a room full of heroes I admire.
This is the essence of a Letterhead.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8763 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thanks for the responses folks. My mind goes kind of blank when I try and imagine what the sign business will be like in 200 years. I’m fairly certain that, “The Craft,” as we now know it will be gone, but the graphic arts part of it will no doubt by applied in many yet to be developed ways. The changes may come more quickly than many of us will be prepared for; although, as it was with hand lettering, most will find a way to adjust. Also, most new technologies are too cost prohibitive for everyone to use, creating a bit of a time buffer for the average business. I really have to extend a hand to the people who have managed to keep hand lettering a mainstay of their business. I can’t express how much I respect that. It ties in with how I feel about the pace of life.
There is a whole world out there that isn’t traveling at the speed of light. There are millions of people (I hope) that take life a day at a time, and make time to smell the roses. They appreciate quality and aesthetics. I have the feeling that, as Bill Diaz eluded to, technology will become quite a hurdle for many of us. For the shop owners, prohibitive cost of the latest equipment. It would cost much less to re-institute the sales of hand lettering along with classic work of other kinds & get paid accordingly, rather than get wrapped up in the endless techno-trap. The bulk of the business will probably be vinyl and inkjet for some time to come, not to mention the staple electrical products. Then there is the learning curve that Jack is pondering.
I think we all need to keep learning, not just the apprentices. Yours was the last semblance of a sign painters apprentice program in this area Jack, don’t know about the heavily populated areas, they no doubt would be the only areas able to sustain that kind of endeavor, needing membership for survival. I see the Detroit School of Lettering is reopening. I wonder what all they will be teaching, I sent for more information but haven’t received it yet. I guess we will all bite off what we can chew, and stand in awe (or not) of those in the “Big Show.” One could always use those that have the latest/greatest and become resellers. I can hear it now, “It’s called outsourcing Dave!” Not going to find a lot of satisfaction in the craft that way, just keep the money turning over & your people out of work. These Letterhead sites are some of the best examples of education we can find that cover the guts of this craft. That shareing thing that Dan mentioned. Best thing since Rapid Tac.
A Special Thank You to the Guys that started it all. Bob Mitchell, Mark Oatis, John Frazier, Mike Rielley, Noel Weber, Earl Vehill and Rick Flores
-------------------- Dave Parr Sign Painter USA Posts: 709 | From: USA | Registered: May 2003
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Great post...I always think of it as "Sharing is loving" what more could you do for each other, the trade or even yourself .
I've had some great experiences being involved in the "movement". Coming from Denver I have seen first hand how important this all has become over the years...the trail has been long, twisted, overlapped and even broken from time to time but someone always steps up to move it forward again.
One of the true benefits has been the meeting of people from all over the world and their sharing of methods that are unknown to us before being involved in Letterheads...true friendships have been made and thats all a bonus above and beyond what is learned at every meet.
So to all that are contemplating a trip to a "meet" ...quit dreaming and start planning your trip...you'll never regret it!
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
I personally think that a kind of apprenticeship for the computer side of today's sign world is a reasonable thought. The homogenization of the fast sign industry definately could use a face lift to show it can be a lot more disiplined and professional. Most of the training comes from a sales person who slammed a sale on crappy stuff and then the buyer is stuck and has to do their best from then on. It's all about greenbacks and the classic stuff is minimal.
CrazyJack, workin' at the University these days.
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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