BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & Culture

Head and shoulders view of a man in a baseball cap in front of a window sign that reads "Hunger Buster".

Films

"A Piece of Urban Theatre": J.J. of LA

Meet J.J. of LA, Atlanta's "godfather of food painting" in this recently republished documentary.

Detail of a painted panel showing a match igniting a pink liquid with lettering over the top that reads "Fuel to the fire".

BLAG

The BLAG 05 Digital Companion

Bonus content from the adventures in sign painting in Issue 05 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).

BLAG

What's Inside Issue 05 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)?

Between the covers of the adventures in sign painting from Issue 05 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)

Sepia photo of a topless man resting his arm on the back of a truck that has hand-painted lettering on the door.

People

A Mystery Sign Painter from 1950s Cuba

Photos of a Cuban sign painter and his work appear on eBay and make their way to Letterform Archive.

Close cropped photo of a hand resting on a mahl stick painting a bouquet of roses on a rectangular panel.

Learning

Roses Are Red: A Narrowboat Tradition with Ginny Barlow

Video demonstration of painting roses in the narrowboat style, including comments on their history.

Black and white photo of an elderly man with a painter's palette standing in front of a 'Welcome to Bridport' sign.

People

Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: George Biles, King of Signwriters

The diverse and prolific output of sign painter George Biles and his Bridport Signs Service Studios.

Illustration showing a sign painter being ground up by the cogs and mechanics of a machine labelled as instagram features.

Learning

Marketing Without Social Media: Advice for Your Creative Business

The problems with marketing creative businesses on social media, and alternatives to set you free.

Man in a hat in front of a wall and a hand-painted sign with destroyed buildings behind.

History

After the Blitz: The Hand-Painted Signs of London Lost

London Illustrated News feature with painted signs for buildings and businesses lost in the blitz.

Black and white photo of New York street with signs and graffiti on buildings behind a parking lot and men moving a cart.

People

Chain Letter: Marie Pressmar

Lettering artist Marie Pressmar is inspired by graffiti, signs, and more in a photo of New York.

Bright pink sign kit with a cartoon sign painter, a list of services, and contact details for Keith Knecht, Toledo, Ohio.

Books

Snapper: Keith Knecht

Keith Knecht shares some of his tales of a travelling sign painter in John J. Hodgins' Snapper book.

View from the side of a woman leaning on a rest (mahl) stick and painting some lettering in yellow on a blue panel.

Events

'Martre' Brings the French Connection to the Letterheads

Sign painters from across France gather, and compete, in Brittany at the inaugural Martre event.

4 x 4 array of photos showing various aspects of sign painting, lettering, illustration, and graphic design.

Events

Watch the Recordings from BLAG Meet: Inside Issue 04

Over ten hours of talks, interviews, studio visits, and demonstrations from contributors to BLAG 04.

View of a hand holding a brush painting a red shadow on golden block letters on a window.

Films

Meet Claude Dolbec: Montreal's Elusive Sign Painter

Short documentary feature about Montreal's most prolific, but elusive sign painters: Claude Dolbec.

People

India's Sign-Wallas: On the Brush on the Subcontinent

Meena Kadri takes us to India to appreciate the flamboyant work of the country's 'sign-wallas'.

Hand-painted grocery store-style showcard on top of a poster that shows various different types of letter shades.

BLAG

Why Everything Is(n't) Free at BLAG

BLAG is a reader-funded publication, which keeps most of the online content and events free for all.

Lower two-thirds of bifurcated letters 'RO' with scrolls in their centres and gilded and outlined in black.

Projects

Bringing a Gilded Victorian Transom Window Back to Life

Andy at AJ Signs in Dorset gives a new lease of life to a beautiful piece of Victorian glasswork.

Man and woman facing the camera, holding a framed sign that reads "Barker Signs, Est. 1964".

People

60 Years On the Brush: The Barker Signs Story

Maurie Barker founded Barker Signs in 1964, with his daughter Liane now keeping things hand-painted.

Wall sign with tall sans serif letters painted dark blue with a yellow block shade.

People

Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: Gran Canaria’s Tomás Prieto Gálvez

Adventures in life, family, and sign painting with Tomás Prieto Gálvez in the Canary Islands.