#signwriters — Public Fediverse posts

Here’s an ampersand for World Ampersand Day, painted by Brian Walker (RIP), the subject of a short film I made last year with Irene Chirita.

I’ve now made the film, ‘When Better Letters Met Brian Walker’, and lots of Brian’s work free for all to enjoy via the @[email protected] site here:

https://bl.ag/when-better-letters-met-brian-walker/

And here is the link to the @[email protected] Peertube page for the film, also publicly viewable now:

https://video.bl.ag/w/xhrG4omsRFv7yMfM7HPFMb

#SignPainting #SignPainters #Signwriting #Signwriters #Hackney #London #ShortFilm #Ampersand #WorldAmpersandDay

‘Back to His Roots: David Mearns Gets Back on the Brush at 50’ — my latest column for Signlink:

https://www.signlink.co.uk/specials/back-to-his-roots-david-mearns-gets-back-on-the-brush-at-50/

#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters #Signlink

Opening a Shop with Bungo Sign Co.

https://video.bl.ag/w/krettBigicpZ3Y5uk5zBGg

Secret Santa with Tozer Signs

https://video.bl.ag/w/qSE5dMKDoT6Zk6nbi98CjY

The Fairground Painters with Amy Goodwin

https://video.bl.ag/w/35R1wMKMctJVbSnQnaPTt9

New at bl.ag online, ‘William Gilpin: Signwriter of Ulverston’, with a reproduction of Tony Lewery’s 2016 article describing one man’s contribution to the character of a Cumbrian town.

https://bl.ag/william-gilpin-signwriter-of-ulverston/

With thanks to Tony Lewery and Forum editor John Neilson for their kind permission to share this wonderful piece with BLAG readers. Forum 31 with the original is available in the Letter Exchange shop:

https://letterexchange.org/shop/forum-journal/forum-31

#SignPainting #Signwriting #Ulverston #Cumbria #SignPainters #Signwriters

New at bl.ag online, ‘Brendan Mooney: Memories of a Signwriter’, with a charming short biopic about this retired signwriter from Birr, County Offaly, Ireland.

https://bl.ag/brendan-mooney-memories-of-a-signwriter/

#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters #Birr #Offaly #ShortFilms

I am helping the organisers of this year's Amsterdam Letterheads: “Sea Level” with their email updates.

If you'd like to receive these, then the dedicated event newsletter/mailing list can be joined via this link:

https://bl.ag/#/portal/account/newsletters

Here's a report from their 2016 meet for a taste of what to expect in the Netherlands this August:

https://bl.ag/letterheads-2016-greetings-from-amsterdam/

#Letterheads #SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Lettering #Signwriters #Amsterdam #IOAFS

“The end of every letter has what’s called a terminus, and the interesting thing about road signs is that Highway Gothic* has a terminus on an angle, which is tricky to paint.” — Ray ‘Moondog’ Polotnianka on cutting his teeth painting Australian highway signs:

https://www.indailysa.com.au/salife/people-and-places/2026/01/08/meet-the-man-behind-this-dying-artform

Based in Adelaide, his website is here: https://moondog.net.au.

*Highway Gothic on @FontsInUse: https://fontsinuse.com/typefaces/20992/highway-gothic

#Signwriting #Signwriters #SignPainting #SignPainters #Adelaide

“Frash, Momery Card” — Another ‘You Spelled It Wrong’ from The Citizen's Abdi Sultani. Read his comments here, signed off once again with his classic “Trust signwriters!” catchphrase:

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/oped/the-bus-was-overloaded-with-fear-and-panic-when-it-tilted-5321032

And browse even more here:

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/abdi-sultani-3020258

#SignPainting #Signwriting #Spelling #Signwriters #Tanzania

New at bl.ag online, 'Getting Into It Again in 2026', with another six sign painters sharing their journeys into the trade and their advice for those just starting out:

https://bl.ag/getting-into-it-again-in-2026/

This is the latest in a series of 'Getting Into It' pieces, with all of them available via https://bl.ag/tag/getting-into-it/.

#SignPainting #SignPainters #Signwriting #Signwriters

New(ish) at bl.ag online, 'When ‘Hand-Painted Jamaica’ Met Bug Art Sav', profiling the Jamaican sign painter keeping the island’s traditions alive.

https://bl.ag/when-hand-painted-jamaica-met-bug-art-sav/

PS. Bug's GoFundMe following Hurricane Melissa is less than $250 away from its goal so please contribute here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-bugs-recovery-after-hurricane-melissa

#SignPainting #Signwriting #Jamaica #Dancehall #SignPainters #Signwriters

New at bl.ag online, 'Chain Letter: Meghan McDermott', with the story of how Vanessa Power's Dublin mural guided Meghan towards her chosen career of sign painting.

https://bl.ag/chain-letter-meghan-mcdermott/

PS. This is the eighth 'Chain Letter' in the series: https://bl.ag/tag/chainletter/

#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters #ChainLetter #Dublin #Mural #MeAulFlower

Goodness gracious me, it's actually a real book, with an introductory essay from the wonderful Morgane Côme.

This one from @letterformarchive looks spectacular and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Lettres Décoratives: A Century of French Sign Painters’ Alphabets

https://letterformarchive.org/shop/lettres-decoratives/

PS. Some of this stuff appeared in a small segment in BLAG 02 (https://bl.ag/02) but this book is next level.

#SignPainting #SignPainters #Enseignes #Signwriters #Signwriting #France #Alphabets

As BLAG 08 goes to print I've noted work, articles, and projects from 17 countries in total: Argentina; Australia; Belgium; Brazil; Canada; France; Germany; Hong Kong; Kenya; Ireland; Italy; Mexico; South Korea; Spain; Thailand; UK; USA.

The international nature of our adventures in sign painting is one of my favourite things about producing the publication.

Join us via https://bl.ag/join

#SignPainting #Signwriting #Lettering #SignPainters #Signwriters #Magazines #Publishing

I've just heard from sign painter Bug Sav Art in Jamaica who has taken a big hit from Hurricane Melissa.

A friend of his has started a fundraiser as he looks to recover his business, so please donate and/or boost:

https://gofund.me/6c68243b7

Pictured is Bug's 'Wise Words' contribution to the first ever issue of BLAG: https://bl.ag/01.

#SignPainters #Signwriters #Jamaica #HurricaneMelissa #Novennber

When Better Letters Met Brian Walker

https://video.bl.ag/w/xhrG4omsRFv7yMfM7HPFMb

Lovely story (in Spanish) about the Albacete sign painter José Esparcia, with a particular focus on his work for cinemas and the films they screened.

https://www.eldiario.es/castilla-la-mancha/provincias/albacete/jose-esparcia-pintor-carteleras-cine-compromiso-politico-le-costo-condena-30-anos_1_12556720.html

#SignPainting #SignPainters #Signwriting #Signwriters #Albacete #Cinema #Film

New at bl.ag online, 'Renegade Writing: London’s Faux Fascias', where we meet This Is My Costume and learn about their decade-long initiative refashioning abandoned shops.

https://bl.ag/renegade-writing-londons-faux-fascias/

#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters #London #Signs #Shopfronts

Online, 12 November, the authors of 'The Golden Age of Sign Design' are talking about their work and the book:

https://sca-roadside.org/zoom-event-andrew-and-kelsey-mcclellan-the-golden-age-of-sign-design-the-rediscovered-sketches-of-beverly-sign-co/

PS. I still have a handful of copies of the book in my shop (https://shop.bl.ag) for those in the UK/Europe that want to save money on shipping/import duties. If you're in the USA, then order directly from Heavy Pages Press via https://heavypagespress.com/store-2/p/country-feast-set-3nybt-yzkbw.

#SignPainting #SignPainters #Signwriting #Signwriters #Chicago #Signs #Books

Please join us tomorrow for a short (30 minute) event comprising the online premiere of our new film, When Better Letters Met Brian Walker.

https://bl.ag/brian

It's free and online from 18:00 London time, Friday, 17 October.

Boosts/reposts appreciated ☺️

#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters #ShortFilms #Films #Boost

When Better Letters Met Cliff Headford

https://video.bl.ag/w/c4CLqFsnYGQM5ffmis3NQC

I don't usually share these outside of the free mailing list, but I'm breaking from tradition to give this Friday's free online premiere of When Better Letters Met Brian Walker a plug:

https://bl.ag/email/0291bbc9-44b1-4c4a-9685-491a2f74cb27/

#SignPainting #Films #Screenings #Events #Exhibitions #Signwriters #SignPainters #Signwriting

Artists vs Sign Painters: an observation.

I've just worked on the edits for a forthcoming BLAG feature profiling five 'fine' artists. Each one has a functional website, whereas all too often sign painters have Instagram as their sole online presence.

Context: I'm moving to crediting websites as the default in the magazine, whereas before it was Instagram handles.

#Instagram #Artists #SignPainters #Signwriters

"Handmade signs will make people feel close and real, and at the same time, each artist will convey their own spirit, depending on the painting technique. I think that is the reason why many people still choose to use handmade billboards instead of electronic billboards."

Quote from Mr. Nguyen Xuan Bich, owner of the Ngoc Bich sign painting shop in Vietname, profiled here:

https://www.vietnam.vn/en/khong-chi-la-muu-sinh

#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters #Vietname

“Value yourself, stay humble, and ask for a deposit before you start work.” — Wise words from Jon May among these profiles of some of the new generation of British signwriters:

https://www.signlink.co.uk/features/on-the-brush-with-the-new-generation-of-british-signwriters/

#Signwriting #Signwriters #SignPainting #SignPainters

New(ish) at bl.ag online, 'Letterheads 50: 28 Days Later', in which I try to make sense of what happened at the American Sign Museum in June through the lens of photographer Natalie Grilli.

https://bl.ag/letterheads-50-28-days-later/

See if you can find me in this huge group shot that Natalie stitched together after shooting a bunch of pictures from up a ladder...

#SignPainting #Letterheads #SignPainters #Signwriting #Signwriters #Lettering #Craft #AmericanSignMuseum

I'm getting very excited about the premiere of our short film, 'When Better Letters Met Brian Walker'.

For those that we can, we hope you'll join us for an informal evening celebrating Brian's life and work as a signwriter.

Tue, 29 July

6:30pm for a 7pm start

Chats Palace, 42-44 Brooksby's Walk, E9 6DF

Please find further details at https://bl.ag/brian/

And tell your friends!

#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters #ChatsPalace #Hackney #Homerton #Clapton #London

@letterror In my 'Celebrity Signwriters' article of a few years ago I did include some fathers of famous people like Mohammad Ali, Jerry Seinfeld, and Ronny Wood.

https://bl.ag/celebrity-signwriters-past-present/

Frank Oz' dad is new to me, but I'd love to learn more if you find anything.

#SignPainters #Signwriters #Celebrity #Celebrities