Better Letters - BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & Culture (Page 2)

Detail of poster showing Porky Pig, arms outstretched, wearing a heavy-duty mask with black smoke in the background.

Learning

Filtering the Fumes: Air Purifier Advice

Reduce the risks of exposure to VOCs in enamel paints when working in poorly ventilated spaces.

Lisa Simpson looking at a sign that says "keep out" above another that says "or enter. I'm a sign, not a cop".

Books

¡Ay, Caramba! It's Cartoon Time

Collection of humourous cartoons with sign painting, lettering, type, and calligraphic themes.

Portion of a painted wall sign showing a boy running with boxes under his arms and lettering that reads "Chiquilin".

Places

Retrospectiva Recalls the Brands and Businesses of the Past

A cultural initiative creates signs laced with nostalgia to adorn the walls of Quinto in Spain.

Two pictorial signs, one showing a jug and one the head of a tiger. A third pictures a greyhound and lettering that reads "T

History

The Inn Signs Exhibition of 1936

The signs and sign painters that fired up the public's imagination in this one-of-a-kind exhibition.

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 sign painter, in this recently republished documentary by Kelly Richardson.

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'.