Okay, this is so d*mn cool! Why have all the architects been hiding this trick from us painters?... (ha!) I will have to try this during the winter when I am out painting a cityscape. Enjoy, TJK
I worked in a sign shop in the early eighties, and saw this done by a journeyman sign writer, he laid out three dimension letters with drop shadows in perspective with just string, a couple of nails and a piece of charcoal on an eight by ten-foot panel. Then he preceded to paint it in 1 shot lettering enamels with the drop shadows and blended letters. I love seeing skills like that.
Thanks Jim. I am never surprised by the cleverness of those who have come before us. Hand lettered sign painting is a lost art and thinking about it reminds me of an old Marshal McLuhan quote: "Every new technology turns its predecessor into an art form." Meaning, computerized die-cut vinyl letters have replaced what was once considered only a craft - hand lettering – and turned it into an art form.
For example, to use something close to sign lettering: hand written script using a good quill -> hand written script using metak nib -> letter press hand set hot type –> photo compositor type -> digital photo setting (Linotype) -> pixel based screen fonts.
This truism can be applied to so many things. Especially in our now digital world...
2 reader comments:
I worked in a sign shop in the early eighties, and saw this done by a journeyman sign writer, he laid out three dimension letters with drop shadows in perspective with just string, a couple of nails and a piece of charcoal on an eight by ten-foot panel. Then he preceded to paint it in 1 shot lettering enamels with the drop shadows and blended letters. I love seeing skills like that.
Thanks Jim. I am never surprised by the cleverness of those who have come before us. Hand lettered sign painting is a lost art and thinking about it reminds me of an old Marshal McLuhan quote: "Every new technology turns its predecessor into an art form." Meaning, computerized die-cut vinyl letters have replaced what was once considered only a craft - hand lettering – and turned it into an art form.
For example, to use something close to sign lettering:
hand written script using a good quill -> hand written script using metak nib -> letter press hand set hot type –> photo compositor type -> digital photo setting (Linotype) -> pixel based screen fonts.
This truism can be applied to so many things. Especially in our now digital world...
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