Signwriting / Sign Painting Lesson/Demo - Realtime hand lettering on Classic Morris Minor Panel Van 

actually, there is background music. ...but it's exactly that, background music. It's not the main thing you're hearing.

Thank you for the comments and thanks also for sharing your experiences.

It's hard to explain, but basically you need to train all of the senses to focus on the end result.

It quite literally took me less than 10 minutes to mark out BOTH sides. How long would it have taken to draw out and make a pounce pattern???...probably well over an hour and I reckon that even a "stolen valor signwriter" with a computer generated template couldn't even come close to that. I also had to take into consideration the geographical location of the vehicle, which involved a three hour round trip as it was, so a preliminary site visit to accurately measure the vehicle would have potentially doubled the travelling time/fuel etc. and effectively taken another working day out of my schedule. all this would have obviously incurred many extra costs which would have been unacceptable to the customer, but besides all that, if I couldn't do a simple job like that without a template, there wouldn't be much hope for me as a signwriter. P.S. The double shade is something that you don't see too often and whilst it doesn't neccessarily suit all applications, when used sparingly it can be an incredibly effective and relatively fast way of making something 'pop' without going down that whole "must use every colour in the spectrum/chisel faced/ bevelled edge/outlined/inlined/blended block shadow/cast shadow with extra drop shadow etc. etc. etc. circus cart route.

Well spotted...and I certainly did. One thing that was drummed into us as apprentices was that a one minute check round the job before heading home could prevent a potential two hour+ round trip, to add in ONE bit of shading .

Thanks, but not so much nerves of steel as the difference between a five day course and a five year apprenticeship.🖌

No probs mate...any questions, just gimme a shout.

I haven't heard of those brushes, but I will definitely research them...thanks for the headsup.

Thanks, it would be a lot easier to just record the commentary with my own voice, but I doubt if my accent would be too easy on the ears😂

Why in caps

I'm sure we are all familiar with the old addage that "Red with Green should never be seen, exept for in the washing machine", but it's all to do with how it is used. Mid greens tend to clash with bright reds, but don't automatically rule out this combination as it definitely can be used to great effect. Darker reds can also work with lighter hues of green and an effect of great oppulance can be created with red with dark green. Every colour's visual perception will be influenced by its surroundings.

PS. Kudos for actually having watched AND payed attention up to and including that part✅

Thanks...the video format is still a work in progress, so all feedback is much appreciated.

It's possibly just a personal thing...ie. I was trained (during my five year apprenticeship) to NOT rely on a mahl stick and whilst I do know that they have their place, I personally see them as, not only an unnecessary crutch, but also as a hinderance/obstruction. I hope to do a more in depth video on this subject in the near future, but basically, my left arm is my mahl stick.

Can't say that I've ever needed to use any flow enhancers and I can think of very few occasions (eg. blending) where having paint dry slowly would be of any benefit. I have no experience with those products, so I couldn't comment on them.

Panel wipe would be best...it's non aggresive, evaporates quickly and doesn't leave a residue.

Thanks, the video of one side of the vehicle is in real time, with only the various colour changes omitted, so the whole vehicle took approximately three & a half hours, with all processes being done consecutively on the same day.

Yes, absolutely beautiful work John. I had to use a palette and mahl stick for my work. Love the videos. 👍

It's not really important and real turps is not easy to get hold of, but when I can get hold if it, I prefer to use it for various reasons eg. white spirit/mineral spirit/turpentine substitute or whatever you want to call it is very inconsistent in quality and I personally find that paint flows better with real turps and seems to work better with red sable bristles...plus, of course; I love the smell of turpentine in the morning...smells like pine trees.

You put Turps only once during your entire lettering works?

@@JohnBoy-Signwriter her voice is great, so is the music.

Your loss then

Thanks

No, the customer only wanted a generic design on the sides in order to sell the vehicle, but similar wording on the rear plus a phone number on the driver & passenger doors would really sert it off.

...and don't forget the Fax No.😉

There's a wee knack to it which is difficult to explain, but basically the dust absorbs the paint whilst transferring it to the finger which is simultaneously flicked outwards and away from the substrate where it can be wiped clean. In over forty years, I have never known this method to cause any problems, even on fresh paintwork...you are more likely to cause damage with a rag, which can cause staining by rubbing the paint into the substrate. Even on the rare ocasinons that I would feel the need to use one of those rubber tipped thingies, I would always rub it lightly in some dust first. As long as there are no visibly large chunks of dirt in the dust you should be good.

@@JohnBoy-Signwriter A mystery to me, maybe I ll understand it one of these days. Thx

Thank you