I'm a traditional Sign painter & Graphic designer with 15 years of experience working in the sign industry, from sign painting and sign making, to printing/applying vinyl. Over that time, I've had the fortune of learning from some of the most experienced sign painters in the industry, and worked on truly unique sign & art projects. Both in the UK, and here in Canada.
This is my channel dedicated to Sign painting, lettering & cool Designs. Where I'll be posting different types video's based around the art of Sign painting.
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theletterhead@outlook.com
Find my Toronto work here: traditionalsignpainting.ca/
Find some of my products here: www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheLetterheadsigns
Nice video! Thank you! I’m a beginner, planning a sign for my house with old American western style letters. But I’m having trouble figuring out options for the decorative borders to go around the perimeter of the board. Any suggestions of where to look for authentic looking (but simple) ideas? When I search using the word “borders”, I get a lot of hits for a popular US bookstore chain.
How do you design your fonts? Have you just practiced lettering so much that you imagine your letter designs and just estimate the measurements to match your vision? It seems so free-style.
I loved this video! Truly fascinating. Could you please make a video where you show how to layout the shadow? Like the angles, where to place them, and how to divide between the lighter and darker shades? Your workmanship is impeccable! 💛💙🖤
As a retired signwriter seeing you video about your sign box reminds me when I started in the early 60’s we used to do a lot of exhibitions in those days and a most of the stands fascia’s were painted in what was “distemper” before emulations came into being so I had a large wooden chalk compass which we altered to take a small piece of brass instead of chalk then we ran the compass along the fascia top and bottom according to the size of lettering we were using then very lightly marked out the name of the stand with the brass tip free hand didn’t use drawings so when you got down from the trestle’s you couldn’t see your marking out on the fascia’s we used a matt paint manufactured by a company called Williamson’s also John Keeps Itenso which came in tubes so thinning the paint down with white sprit we could speed up signwriting process of the fascia’s in the exhibition but apart from my compass things haven’t changed much in the signwriters kit box
Hi mate, thanks for your message. My dad used to do a lot of exhibitions years ago when he started. He often spoke about how quick the old guys were at sketching and painting, and how they were paid by the letter, meaning the quick workers of a good level earned fantastic money those days. I like your idea for marking out. I've always been a fan of stepping back and having a look at the whole sign before I paint. Some things are easier to see when you're not up close. Take care mate!
@@theletterhead Thanks for your reply, that’s a coincidence regarding your dad about working in the exhibitions and getting paid by the size of lettering etc and that’s exactly how we were paid in those days we called it “per dozen inches “ it was a kind of piece work it made you work faster in order to earn more money we worked mainly in Earls Court and Olympia in London what was your dads name? I might have known him keep up the good work
Wow! It looks wonderful to me! This art is fascinating to me. I'm not convinced I could get my left and right brain to work in harmony for the reverse painting though. Maybe I will give it a try on a small piece. In the meantime, I will stick with 1:12 scratch building and misc. other craft projects. Thank you very much! I subscribed! Lisa
Arteza graphite transfer paper…you’ll thank me later instead of the charcoal….and in the tattoo trade we use 2 cups. Pierce 1 with scissors 1/3rd..nearly half of the way down. Flip it and it’s the anti flip stand for your cup. Keep the bottom half for thinning or cleaning your brush
Thanks, when imagined I painted it without the red bit it did look kinda odd. I wanted to emphasize that ot was a cramped space. Maybe it could be done better, but I think it worked okay.
I am a son of a Boomer sign painter. He is now 73 years old. Hasn't painted in awhile due to retirement/health issues. But, I learned a lot about layout and Graphic art from him. We unfortunately weren't around one another much, so I never had a chance to learn but it is a lost art.
Egg whites with water, mixed at equal parts. Is applied my a rag to the surface you want to gild to protect the background from excess gold sticking to areas you don't wait it to stick. It can then be cleaned off once complete and dry
I want a career change. How does one break into this craft? Did you go to art school? Did you apprentice? Or was it all talent and you did it without the former. I love you work! Thanks!😍😁
I learned through the family signwriting business we had in London. I think I'm still a work in progress, though, as far as getting some of the skills of the older guys. @joby.carter is a great signwriter from the uk. His fairground work is incredible.
Thanks Jackie, hope you're doing well! It's a shame I couldn't see you when I was over in the uk. It's very awkward getting around with no vehicle. You have an invite to my wedding when I'm back next!
@@theletterhead No probs. After you applied the egg white wash, that yellow-gold paint seemed to lay down much better than it had before. Is this a thing, or was I imagining it? Anyway, my interest is reverse glass techniques, glue-chipping and gilding. I use a computer to make masks, so it's good to see someone actually do hand lettering. Cheers from Australia.
@@theletterhead I appreciate the work you do it helps me with my Graphic and Design work I have people asking me about doing work on glass I seen your work on glass any pointers of what type of paint I should use
When i watch the older guys, I'm always amazed at how skilled and quick they are. I definitely don't hold myself in that bracket yet! Thanks for your comment!
Hi mate, I don't off the top of my head. I made a few adjustments myself to the design on my design software for the stencil. I'll try to find out if I remember when I'm at the computer
Yeah, definitely. At the time I was using synthetic brushes, which didn't hold paint well, and with the cardstock, it tended to soak more paint and not spread well. Between the pair I came to the conclusion that funnier was better
Hi there Please advice me on Gold Leaf what the get for a plaster statue the crown and a thin line text paint or gold leaf and a bit on the sleeves - how to do thin lines seen on our lady statues thinks take care
Fantastic! My grandfather was a sign painter. He came from Mexico, born 1898 and had his little shop in the Mission district in San Francisco. I still remember the charcoal sticks, 1 Shot paint and mall stick!!
This mask for this sign was cut using a plotter. Was tempted to write is standard reverse but had some tiny panel lines I needed to get right on the outside so just figured I'd use a mask for what areas I could
