Better Letters - BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & Culture (Page 6)

"Better Letters" in cursive white lettering with a black/blue/red block shade on orange background.

BLAG

An Origin Story of Sorts: Better Letters

A decade ago, Better Letters 'launched'. But it's origins go back further, as Sam Roberts reflects.

Elderly man standing in front of a shopfront which is emblazoned with a huge fascia sign that reads "SIGNS".

People

Meet Earl Phillips: Cleveland's Greatest Living Sign Painter

Biopic of Earl Phillips, proprietor of Cleveland's U-Need-A-Sign Co. at 131st Street since 1960.

Hand-lettered and illustrated advertisement showing three tins of paint (blue, red, yellow) pouring from above the text.

Learning

Why Lead Paint Makes Signs Last: A Toxic Legacy

An account of the enduring (and highly toxic) legacy of lead paint on signs, and sign painters.

Hand-painted portrait of the Godfather holding a massively oversized cat smoking a cigar.

BLAG

Bonus Material from BLAG 04

Bonus content from the adventures in sign painting in Issue 04 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).

Hand holding a magazine with the person's torso visible behind in a burgundy jumper.

BLAG

What's Inside Issue 04 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)?

Between the covers of the adventures in sign painting in Issue 04 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).

View from behind a woman's head as she paints black thick and thin lettering onto a white background.

People

Getting Into It: Sign Painters' Stories Around the World

Six sign painters tell the stories of their paths into the trade, and offer their advice to others.

BLAG

BLAG's Top Ten for 2023, and Reflections on the Year

Round-up of the year's most popular articles from the adventures in sign painting at bl.ag online.

Man painting a brightly coloured sign that says 'Pinball' and has an illustration of the ball and flippers.

Learning

Tools of the Trade: Flying Squirrels Working Nine Two Five

Studio Sign Co.'s Nick Lee tries out the Flying Squirrel Brush Co.'s 925 series on paper and MDO.

Exhibition space with brightly decorated vehicles on low plinths.

People

Phool Patti Brings Pakistan's Decorative Artform to the World

Meet Phool Patti's Ali Salman Anchan, harnessing Pakistan's decorative art for social enterprise.

Two men posing outside a ramshakle timber shack with a large No.2 painted on the side, and bits of sign painting work around.

History

Sign Painting the Goldrush in Hill End, New South Wales

1870s Australian sign painting and sign painters in the remarkable A&A Photographic Co. collection.

Decorative glass panel with gold, silver and green paint. It reads "Gretsch 125 year anniversary, 1883–2008".

Projects

Reverse Glass Gilding Processes in an Informative Video Overview

Pat Minervini on the techniques used to create his decorative gilded glass piece for Gretsch Guitar.

Close-up of a sign painter adding a shade to a hand-painted letter 'B' in yellow paint.

Events

Sign Painting in the Sun: Benelux Letterheads 2023

Sign painting, panel jamming, and more photos from the Benelux Letterheads sign painters gathering.

Detail of a hand-painted sign which has various graffiti tags in marker pen written over it.

People

Chain Letter: Serge Nidegger, Lowrider Sign Co.

Lowrider Sign Co.'s Serge Nidegger and a Parisian palimpsest that has inspired him for two decades.

Spread from a publication with lettering in red layered on top of archival photos of Swiss shopfronts.

Events

ABC (Always Be Copying): Reproductive Power from Mexico

Introducing Mexico's Reproduction and Distribution Network, and their Lettering Workshop.

Close-up of a hand picking up a tiny tin of paint made to scale for a larger diorama.

Events

Watch the Free Recordings from BLAG Meet: Inside Issue 03

Signs, sign painting, and more in these free event recordings from BLAG Meet: Inside Issue 03.

Layers of painted advertising fading on a portion of a brick wall.

History

Listen to the Walls: Stories of London's Advertising Past

Hear the stories of seven brilliant London ghost signs, as told by Sam Roberts, aka Mr Ghostsigns.

Plaque-shaped sign with hand-painted words, "Drawing materials, surveying instruments, artists supplies".

History

The Pittsburgh Portfolio of the H.H. Seiferth Sign Company

Hand-painted and gilded signs by H.H. Seiferth in early twentieth century Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Magazine spread with mixture of text and illustration, photographed on a bright yellow surface.

Learning

Copyright and Licensing: A Brief Guide for Sign Painters

Practical guidance for sign painters to protect copyright and earn licensing income from their work.