Messages

1

Brush Calligraphy / Re: New brush lettering on my truck

« on: August 17, 2014, 07:40:34 PM »

I guess I never posted the completed deal, so here it is----I did break my own 'rules' for this job and used a little vinyl, but only for the phone number and facebook page! Also----the colors are pretty washed-out in this pic-----the rule line is light blue, the fb page and the script is light grey. More colorful than it looks in the pic :S

2

Introductions / Re: Hello hello :)

« on: July 19, 2014, 11:12:36 PM »

Welcome, Lisa!

I'm a sign painter and when I feel like 'downsizing', I switch from the sign painting forums to this one! I enjoy both, and of course, they're related disciplines only on different scales.

Mark

3

Brush Calligraphy / Re: New brush lettering on my truck

« on: July 18, 2014, 12:17:21 AM »

Thanks, all! In hindsight, I wish I'd have made the loop on the 'e' smaller. I need to get in the habit of leaving my drawing/pattern on the wall for a few more days before committing to paint! Not so sure the cap 'G' slant either. :S

As long as you're all still in 'sign-painter mode', do you see any problem with using my other favorite sign painting letter style, a 'casual', for a short list of the services my shop offers I'd list on the side of the truck? I've attached pics of samples of my brush 'casual',  both upright and italic, on some scraps.

I think traditionally, it might have been frowned on, but OTOH, I'd kind of like to show my strongest brush lettering styles on my truck-----my biggest advertisment. Otherwise, maybe I'll use a Roman or sans serif style for my list of services. Thanks for any input!

4

Brush Calligraphy / New brush lettering on my truck

« on: July 14, 2014, 10:23:18 PM »

I figured if I'm going to try to 'push' hand-lettered signs, I should have some on my own truck! All I've done is the 2 doors, for now. I'll add some other stuff later. All paint (One Shot with a bit of hardener)

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Brush Calligraphy / Re: Some brush lettering

« on: June 22, 2014, 10:33:17 PM »

Yep---that's a good one Erica, although I've never tried pointed brush lettering yet. I'm more comfortable with my quills and flats I guess. A couple other good brush-lettering references are 'The Alphabet Book' published by SignCraft Magazine, and also a few random articles in some of their 'complete collections'----the 1980 one has some alphabets in there. That wasn't that long ago, was it! Oh wait----I guess it was! :S

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Where do your jobs come from?

« on: June 11, 2014, 10:22:42 PM »

Thanks for the great ideas, advice, and encouragement, Ken and all!

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Brush Calligraphy / Re: Some brush lettering

« on: June 11, 2014, 07:51:32 PM »

Thanks all! I've mostly learned from studying pics of other sign guy's casuals and scripts in SignCraft and other signs/vehicles/graphic design over the years. Hot rods, car shows, Letterhead events are great---you can watch sign guys in person and pick their brains :S

It's mostly a lot of practice, just like you all with your nice copperplate, etc. For a while, I was lettering several hours a day on a couple pieces of glass, which I'd scrape off and re-use. I still do this several times a week. The slick surface forces good brush control and after glass, lettering anything else is a lot easier! I still have a LOT to learn---especially with 'tighter' styles.

8

Brush Calligraphy / Some brush lettering

« on: June 11, 2014, 12:09:29 AM »

A couple different brushes with One Shot lettering enamel right on my easel.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Where do your jobs come from?

« on: June 10, 2014, 08:45:21 PM »

I'm interested in any jobs that come with a check afterwards! I'm not necessarily after any one kind----I've done a smattering of stuff years ago, but haven't really tried to market much since then till recently. Envelopes, 'fill-ins', whatever I can get to supplement my sign shop income.

10

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Where do your jobs come from?

« on: June 10, 2014, 12:43:21 PM »

I've got a listing for calligraphy on Craigslist and have passed out samples to stationery stores, as well as telling friends about my services, but things are still pretty dead around here! Pretty depressing---not even a price-shopper! Since I run my own sign shop, I may add a separate line listing 'Calligraphy Services' on my shop truck! :S I've also sent out info (addressed in calligraphy, of course!) to local banquet halls.

How do you all get jobs? I know the proverbial 'word of mouth' is great, but you need to get a certain amount of work out there to begin with!

Thanks.

11

Show & Tell / My logo

« on: June 09, 2014, 09:37:17 AM »

Just a pic of my shop's logo. A font with a few mods to add the 'prism effect' drawn in/constructed manually on the computer (does that make sense?? :S) and also matched upper and lower case heights, so changed some stroke widths. All done in my sign software. I'm not sure I'll keep it, but it's on all my stationery right now.  It seems pretty 'bland' for someone who also hand-letters!

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Is it still calligraphy...

« on: June 06, 2014, 09:29:18 PM »

Nope! Then it's just software trying to IMITATE calligraphy. Calligraphy is done by a person with a real pen or brush in his or her hand.

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Brush Calligraphy / Re: Lettering a basketball!

« on: June 04, 2014, 10:30:52 PM »

No pens. I used a small lettering quill, maybe a #1 or 2 Scharff 'Grey Line', and One Shot lettering enamel with a bit of hardener in it----standard sign painting stuff. We're part chemist you know. Thanks!

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Calligraphy Book Reviews / Re: Ordered a book today

« on: June 04, 2014, 03:51:23 PM »

Got it! Yep----it's great, although I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed after spending close to $60.00 (with shipping) on the book, that you don't even get a book jacket! :S Are profit margins that tight? It could use one too----the clothy cover will show wear and handling pretty quickly, I'm guessing. Might have to find some suitable paper stock and make my own. The other thing that's a little weird (just wrong IMHO) is that the title on the binding is upside down when the book is lying face up! :S

15

Brush Calligraphy / Re: Lettering a basketball!

« on: June 04, 2014, 11:19:02 AM »

Thanks, Ladies!