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Discussion Pre 1980 brushwork of all kinds.......................
- Thread starter Gino
- Start date
Gino
Premium Subscriber
Thanks for the kind words.
Yes and no. Back then, it was a much slower pace. Our backlog was maybe 3 months out or better at almost any given time. Our only competition was other talented people, so there wasn't a lot of it, if you were good. Customers had an imagination and didn't need to see proofs in 17 different fonts or a gazillion colors. You generally made a hand drawn proof, showed them and on a hand-shake the deal was sealed. Too many rules today, red tape and competition from around the world. Heck, UPS was only getting their feet wet around that time. They existed, but not like it is today. No faxes, internet, google, or most of all.... cell phones. Dick Tracey's 2 way wrist watch was only a dream, let alone hand held computers and cameras.
However, today, we can churn out things like never before, but then..... so can anyone, who has a nice bankroll. I'm glad I'm on my way out. Someone said, they'll maybe take up hand-painting in 15 or 20 years..... for what ?? It will be long gone by then and not even needed, let alone worth looking into. By then, we'll be into Soylent Green, not green paint.
bannertime
Active Member
We got in the business as painting was going out. We had a talented painter and he taught us how to hand paint banners, but we never did any vehicle lettering or on-site lettering. Basically only over-sized banners were painted. Which we actually still painted a certain type of banner up until about 2016. Nothing as impressive as what you've posted or done. I did find some photos of some unique vinyl work though.
Baz
New Member
Just took a picture of a sign that is on my wall. This is a sign i did around 1990 - 91. It is reversed painted on clear acrylic.
Advertising agency supplied us with a color mock up mounted on foamcore.
I had to put it in a projector to bring it to size. Traced it on paper and carbon copied it to premasked surface of the acrylic.
Everything is hand cut with the exception of "in fallingbrook". That was cut from a Gerber Sprint we had at the shop.
Size is about 48"x32".
Advertising agency supplied us with a color mock up mounted on foamcore.
I had to put it in a projector to bring it to size. Traced it on paper and carbon copied it to premasked surface of the acrylic.
Everything is hand cut with the exception of "in fallingbrook". That was cut from a Gerber Sprint we had at the shop.
Size is about 48"x32".
pjfmeister
New Member
Here are a couple from my Dad and Grandpa..."back in the day"
Clem
New Member
This is great.. makes me sad though.
I'm only 30, got my apprenticeship in traditional signwriting at 21- but it was well on the way out by then, only the few remaining real signies were getting brushwork and it was hard for me to get practice (i know i could've at home, but my son had just been born so.. yeah not a lot of free time in those days.. my surfing suffered greatly).
We were even taught traditional signwriting as a major part of our TAFE apprenticeship modules- got to do a pub mirror that way which i never would have otherwise.
My boss tried to do as much as possible to give me brush time, it was a real honour seeing skill like that up close- his brother lived in our town too and used to work for the local truck company doing all of their pinline & scroll work. We were based in Coffs Harbour, NSW and apparently they'd purchase trucks for their west coast branches here to have them scrolled, then driven cross country.
I'll always have a deep respect for traditional signies, sometimes progress sucks.
I'm only 30, got my apprenticeship in traditional signwriting at 21- but it was well on the way out by then, only the few remaining real signies were getting brushwork and it was hard for me to get practice (i know i could've at home, but my son had just been born so.. yeah not a lot of free time in those days.. my surfing suffered greatly).
We were even taught traditional signwriting as a major part of our TAFE apprenticeship modules- got to do a pub mirror that way which i never would have otherwise.
My boss tried to do as much as possible to give me brush time, it was a real honour seeing skill like that up close- his brother lived in our town too and used to work for the local truck company doing all of their pinline & scroll work. We were based in Coffs Harbour, NSW and apparently they'd purchase trucks for their west coast branches here to have them scrolled, then driven cross country.
I'll always have a deep respect for traditional signies, sometimes progress sucks.
brian oliver
head cheese
You did good work, Gino. I'm impressed with your speed. Why did you get away from it?
I still hand letter whenever I can.
I still hand letter whenever I can.
equippaint
Active Member
Great work. Its so impressive seeing hand painted signs. It was such a laid back type of work that people seemed to really enjoy doing.
SignosaurusRex
Active Member
Gino, I respectfully disagree with you here. There are still a lot of folks out there that want "Hand Lettered" signs. Granted, they are few and far between but the market is growing again. Along with it, there is a large group of youngsters that are disgruntled with the computer aided system. Many of them are hungry to learn, study and work hard at it. They just need a good teacher that is willing to mentor them.
Case in point... There is a young man in his twenties that came to me almost two years ago with a fire in his belly and a thirst to learn. He is willing to drive an hour and a half each way to do so. A short time later, another mentor (of notoriety) decided this young man was well worth the effort of mentoring as well. Today, that young man is well on his way to one day making it his full time career with good money and a sense of satisfaction and pride when the job is done.
Take a look at "Sign Painting Books" on Ebay... These books by the masters are in great demand for a reason. David Kynaston, Mike Meyer, John Downer and a host of others are filling classes that teach the fundamentals with follow-up classes for advancement. These classes are filled to capacity at each venue for the entirety of the course regardless of when or where in the world they are held.
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Gino
Premium Subscriber
I agree with you wholeheartedly. There are those still interested, but of those, how many will continue with a brush, when it comes to putting food on the table ?? Hopefully, all of them, but in 20 years, I doubt any decent paints will be available, let alone the other things one needs to produce such media. Also, how many people do you know who went to school or vocational school for one thing or another and are doing something completely different ?? Times change, methods change and so do people. It's only the natural progression of mankind. The way things have changed in the last 30 years......... once it was a 100% and in this short time, only maybe 10% of the people are still able to do it this way, let alone learning.
I do hope you're right, but it does look gloomy for the future in that respect.
I do hope you're right, but it does look gloomy for the future in that respect.
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gixxer2004
New Member
I definitely love seeing the old school painting. My dads 72 year young and still cranking out trucks to this day. Hell yesterday he hand lettered 5 skid steers for a local construction contractor. I know he experienced a lot less headaches in his time. He very rarely had to provide proofs to his customers....they trusted his judgement since he was the professional. Everyone is a graphic artist today.
