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Hello all, I'm pretty new to the Bull Board. I own a vinyl sign shop in central Illinois. I'm interested in learning the art of hand lettering. I've attended a couple of pinhead meets, and have started practicing that. I don't want to close my shop and go to work for someone else to learn the art. I'm not looking to steal work from anyone or pester anyone. Just want to have a little bit more to offer to my customers. I'm sorry that I missed the big meet in Wisconsin. I think i could have picked up a lot from that. I know that the pointers I got by watching some of the pinheads has been invaluable to me. Any help that anyone could give me or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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I dunno Scott, it's not the kind of thing you can TELL much about - gotta be SEEN. Meets are your best bet unless you want to close down for a few days at a time and go intern at someone's sign shop that specializes in paint. Is it mostly pinstriping you're interested in? Not that it matters a lot . . . whether it's striping, lettering or pictorial painting, the trick is brush control and knowlege of how the paint interacts with the brush under different temperatures and consistencies.
Finding the FEEL for the paint and the brush is flat out going to take lots of practice. Back when I was training, six months minimum of painting every day is when I started to feel it. After a year I was semi-proficient. Nowdays I don't paint enough to keep the edge. I can still do it but it's tough and getting tougher. I have to force myself to go to meets and get a brush wet.
I'm interested in learning the art of hand lettering. I've attended a couple of pinhead meets, and have started practicing that. --------------- Keep practising. Use quills and cheap poster paint. Turn yesterday's newspaper sidewise, use the columns as lines, and write the alphabet on that. Try to copy different fonts, particularly Italics. Stay up all night writing your ABCs. If you like that, you'll get good at it pretty soon, and won't have to stay up all night.
Bruce Williams Lexington KY
Posts: 945 | From: Lexington, KY, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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Reading your post, I see that you are not willing to shut down your shop and hang elsewhere. If you change your mind, I have two rooms available. My shop is here at the house, and we got this house just so I could have folks visit and keep the craft alive! It's meet worthy, even, except for the parking gig, but I'm working on that one...heheheh!
I'll bet I could talk Timi or somebody into coming down to stay as well and we could have a mini-meet for a few days or a week, if ya wanna! We should be gathering and learning all we can!
I'm not a vinyl gal, 'cept cutting masks for airbrushing. I've been hand lettering for 27 years and doing a lot of "pictorials," as well as logo design. We could have a ball!
You ought to think about traveling every so often, and stayin with other heads. If you take notes and pictures...voila, a book to share with those of us who would love to learn!
Just think, a chapter on gold leafing, and making your own tools! ...another on pinstriping, and vehicle graphics, and silk screen, and out door murals, and...
Hay, get in touch with one of the sign mags and see if they'll sponsor your educational tour of the states heheheh, who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and get to go down under, or where ever else your heart fancies!
Some of us will have down time this winter, and I feel it fair to mention, I'm in the south, so it maybe a pleasant change weather wise...if ya just wanna visit and paint a lot. If nuthin else, it will be entertaining to watch the market get emptied at a high speed at the mere mention of a drizzle...hehehe. (These suthern folks get funny in the winter time.)
[ October 05, 2001: Message edited by: Linda Silver Eagle ]
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Thanks to all of you that have responded to my request either on this board or or by email. I appreciate your ideas and suggestions. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I made the post. The only experience that I had with sign painters, outside of the Letterheads, was being asked to leave. (not to willing to share information) I had a company offer to teach me if I closed my shop and went to work for them and bring all of my customers with me and sign a contract saying that if things didn't work out, I would not open my sign shop back up for at least two years. Being a single father of two, that was completely out of the question. I'm not interested in starting on the bottom of someone else's ladder. Thank you for the offer Linda, and I think that I just might take you up on that when things slow down a little this winter. I am going to try to make it to at least three or four gatherings every year. I made it to Bob Bonds meet and Fred Self's meet in Oklahoma last year, and I couldn't believe the artwork that was there and the way the people were so open to newcomers. I'm looking forward to meeting you Linda, and the rest of you at various meets soon. Thank you, Scott
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I realize logistics always play a part in everything we do...however...
If you're interesed in spending a week or two on a "working vacation" I would spend as much time as needed to get you headed in the right direction.
I have over 35 years of experience in hand lettering, vinyl graphics,electrical and architectural graphics...am self employed and have myself served a 5 year apprenticeship under the "old school" journeymen.
When I say "working" I'm not talking you working for me ...rather you working for yourself to learn what you are requesting here.
A real good time would be prior to or immediately after Fred's annual meet here in OKC in March...that way you could attend one of the best meets of next or any year...write off your travel and learn all at one time.
If you are serious...so am I. If not...
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
Monte Jumper SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla. jumpers@itlnet.net
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Thanks a lot Monte. If I can swing a sitter for the kids, I would really like to come out the week before Fred's meet. I don't think that I met you last year. I had the Dodge Dakota that Ron Myers and Lil'Toot put the flames on. I did get my feather. Beautiful work. Please email or call me (217-582-2014) with information as to where you are located and what hotels that are nearby so that I can plan a little in advance. Thanx Sorry Roger, I've lived all of my life in Illinois. Except for about a year that I spent in Kansas City.
The offer is still on here! I forgot to mention that I live in close proximity of other heads...like Nancie Phillips and Sonny Franks. There really are a lot of us tucked down here in Dixie.
Nancie is still settling in from her last move, but Sonny has quite a portfolio to drool over! His taste is impeccable and his talent even more so! He's perty slick with a quill, and gets bored easy, so you can't imagine all the kewl stuff he's built over the years! He's a real kewl guy to know and just fabulously entertaining to be around.
This offer is not just for Scott. Anybody that wants to visit, or work on sompn in particular is welcome to stop by! Just email me or call me and we'll hook it up!
I'm excited just thinking about it! Woohoo!
(the typo was drivin me nuts there...)
Scott, if it was me, I'd go see Monte! I've met him and he is a fine gentleman! His time in the business is substantually more than mine. His work is impeccable as well!
[ October 15, 2001: Message edited by: Linda Silver Eagle ]
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