posted
QUESTION: "What does one do when the ELECTRICITY goes off?"
ANSWER: "crank up the generator, of course!!!!"
I HAD to respond Pat, since you were anxious for responses after only 3 minutes!!!!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
I'd like to reply and, yes, sometimes it is necessary to re-state the obvious and emphasize the self-evident even at the risk of sounding trite. I thank you for your kind and honest thoughts and for exercising your freedom to express yourself. None of us really enjoys the hardlined truth as it's been expressed, but if it prompts action and implements change--to whatever small measure-- it is worth the effort. At best, the centry takes watch of our good gates.
Whereelse are ones' voices heard? In Congress? In the voting booth? Telephone surveys? You get my drift. Most Letterheads are good, honourable, hardworking people so far as I can discern. I raise my cup...the half-full one filling and toast these good persons: bold to speak their minds, understanding to listen and hear the retorts of others, and for fostering constructive dialogue.
Peace be with you and may the quill never leave your grasp, thought the sword nests in its scabbard.
Kind regards,
The Patriot
-------------------- Fran Maholland Pro Sign NJ Posts: 169 | From: Voorhees, New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
Oh wait a minute........starting off wrong here....
I agree with you, there is a lot more to this business than our sign software. Any one of them cannot make you a better designer, but by observing and practicing.
But I think if the electricity did go out, I would worry more about the beer in the friidge, than making signs
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Pat, You are right about "just a tool" I know several excellent sign guys still in the business that have all but let thier brushes dry smooth up because they rely so heavily on thier tool the computer, and yet say how much that they miss pulling the brush or actually doing a layout by hand. Sometimes it is just sad to see some of the tallent that goes to waist. Don't get me wrong my pooter runs all day, but now days I guess things are comming full circle with the hand lettering guys because now days we actually get more $$$ for paint and air brush, and at the end of the day you really appreciate the feeling of a plan that comes together and the customers ooh's and aah's from paint.
A perfect example is Mike Meyers recent post of the snow shoe sign, it makes every one take a second to admire it.
besides the fumes from the paint have much better appreciation than the stale vinyl.
posted
Back in my young days ... we didn't worry about electricity...(whatever that stuff is)...we just use torches for light, to paint on cave walls, using fur on a stick!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Duckie, I haven't a friggin clue what this post is about, electricity? sign programs? Whats all this crap?
Reading another reply here regards to smooth out dried up brushes, whats that about? What the hell is this?
It seems like many think sitting on your butt in the same place, waiting for someone to come to you is gonna make the difference between the customer wanting vinyl or paint. Give me a friggin break. Ya know that there are actual people who want work done whatever the material used and then there are some who say, our town wants only vinyl or our town wants only cheap stuff. Well there hasn't been a town I've been to where persons aren't willing to pay for quality.
Ya want electric? Give'm the right colors
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
I'm done with Luco, I bought a #3 quill, couldn't do circles with it even though it was advertised that way. Luco comes out with #3.5 and wants to charge me 10 bux for it, it's supposed to do cirles better than 3.0
I'm getting real tired paying for brush upgrades only to fix problems that were supposed to be fixed in earlier brushes.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I suspect your post was in relation to the design and perhaps the computer controlled cutting machine.
While I design freehand, but on a computer much of the time, our work is done by hand for the most part. The two months I was in Edmonton was without a computer as far as design and the layouts of the lettering. My sketchbook and a pen were the tools of choice for the design work, 'cept when I just winged it as I went. I did go to the internet cafe to prowl the BB and add my two cents worth occasionally though.
A computer allows me to make my presentations much more professional, and in a shorter time I might add. Resizing and editing drawings done by hand is much easier too!
But take away my electricity and the cement mixer doesn't function. The welder doesn't work too well either. But like you say, these are just tools. I could mix my concrete in a wheel barrow.
I'd have to use my reading glasses much more often too, as I need the good light that electricity affords to see without them.
-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: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
When the electricity goes out? I grab a book and enjoy the break.
Can't say as I totally agree with your opinion...everyone has a medium they like working with...and with me it is vinyl and digital graphics.
I don't much have a desire to paint...just not really interested in it. I do appreciate those who do and do it well. I like to do what I enjoy, and that is vinyl related.
I can agree that paint or vinyl...design skills (among other things) are key.
Doctors specialize in certain things because that's where their interest takes them...and it's really not so different with sign stuff.
Some people like to paint, some like to do vinyl, and some like to dabble in a little of everything.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
when the 'lectricity goes out i guess i can coat out boards.
i've been doing a series of interior signs for an (upscale) laudromat. each one has a different cartoon (to illustrate it). My cartooning is done in the sketchbook with pencil. the lettering is done on the 'puter, and the cartoon is painted on (after redrawing with a Stabilo).
i've also digitized one of the illustrations for use on a lot of signs, so that one combined sketching, scanning, and vectorizing.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Have to reply to this- yep- crank up the generator! I think I've mentioned it before- we're on Solar/battery & generator power anyway. It means you reschedule the plotting & printing & projecting for when the thing's running, and do weeding, applying, & designing when it's off. The air compressor tank holds enough air for half-an hour's solid airbrushing, when everything's off, or 5 minutes of spraying. (and the fridge runs on gas) It's not hard! best wishes
PS Bob, Quill 3.5 may work if you changed operating systems from OcrylicS 9 (aka OS9) to WetpaINt 98 Special Enamel (aka Win98se)- (OP seems to like it with Ferrule version 7.2345). Have you got the Serif module for it?
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
When the electricity goes out, I tip-toe through the maze of vinyl rolls and head to the shelf to find my trusty flash light. Then I duct tape that rascal to my forehead and get out a trusty quill and some E N A M E L and finish the job. How's that, you old codger?
I'm just wondering what happens when all us old time painters expire. Will they come up with a vinyl that sticks to brick?
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks for the responces' everyone to the HUMOR that I try to use in the context of this post. I also try and mix my mediums to its maximum possiblities to achive what Joey has said about electrcity. I do understand the concept of working with what is most comfortable. My "point" was the DESIGN factor needed in signs that (the eye WANTS to read) as oppossed to the typing of letters to create WORDS that read a message of information only!
keep them coming
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Usually when the power goes out the sky is dark and stormy and there isn't enough ambient light to do much other than feed the fire and enjoy the quiet intimacy of the moment. It feels like a gift for the first couple days.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
If you could turn back the clock and go back to the pre-computer generated sign days, I'd love it. Not that I have anything against computer generated signs or using them as a tool, but when I did everything by hand the business was alot simpler. I like simple. 1 Shot was the only paint in the shop and people had great respect for your ability to make a clean well proportioned looking letter. You didn't have to worry about cheap sticker shops springing up all over the place, and I always figured if a person was going to have to go through what I went through to learn how to hand letter, then they were certainly entitiled to become a competitor.
One of the magazines used to have that book "Slappy Hooper". That book's a riot. Slappy Hooper was a sign painter who figured out a way to get paint to stick to air. If you have grand kids get that book and read it to them. Gettin' pain to stick to air -- hmmmmmmmmmmmm -- food for thought!
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
I actually use a similar thought when it comes to educating our customers about Digital Printers. When you break it down, the printer is a tool--what you get out of it is up to the loose nut behind the keyboard!
I'm not a computer or digital snob. I love all types of signage and graphics---'cept for bohunk ones. I've got a BEAUTY picture somehwere of a big BEER coming out of a pub wall in Regina, Sask.---see if I can find it and post it. No computer, plotter and printer are going to something like this.
Were you perhaps driving at, and I quote earlier posts on this site; "Spend 2 grand on a cutter, buy a computer and a program and VOILA, you're a Sign Professional".
No substitute for talent, a good eye, and common sense...
I see where you're going...and agree. I always tell people, "just because you put a hammer and a saw in a guys hand doesn't make him a carpenter." Same goes with any profession, I'd like to think.
I sure do appreciate the hand work I see others do and keep that flavour of artistry alive! So, I don't consider myself a computer or digital snob.
I can draw, and I've done some decent oil portraits...unfortunately, time and the realities of life in 2003 keep me at the computer. I hope to get back into doing some wet media when I retire in about 20 years....(we need an emoticon face that conveys the message "Awe crap".
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Dunno]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
![[Thanks]](graemlins/thanks.gif)
keep them coming ![[Applause]](graemlins/clap.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic