The Pink One

"Some people don't like pink" — Nick Barber in Sign Painters

The second issue of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) is now on its way to subscribers around the world. I'll be sharing more from inside on the site soon, but only paid-up Blaggers will get the whole 64 advertising-free pages of adventures in sign painting delivered direct to their door. Needless to say, I'm tickled pink, and you can insert your own 'pinkie down' joke here...

Cover and centre spread from Issue 02 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).

The only way to get your hands on Issue 02 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) is to sign up as a Blagger. If you want to try before you subscribe, then there are a few copies of Issue 01 in the online shop available for individual purchase.

Sign Me Up Now

What's New Online?

The latest adventures at bl.ag online take us to Lima, Peru, to learn about the vernacular Carga Maximá lettering style, and to New York for a crash course in architectural gilding. You'll need a head for heights to read about the exploits of one-time Lincoln sign painter Ernie Harrison, and will no doubt be moved and inspired by Archie Proudfoot's tale of unshackling himself from client work to thrive as an independent artist.

Many thanks to Azucena Cabezas, Leah Beth Fishman, Adrian Harrison, and Archie Proudfoot for their contributions to these articles. Please send ideas for future pieces by email or via the online submission form.

Carga Máxima and the Sign Painting Styles of Lima, Peru

Discover Lima's vernacular sign painting styles, and the role of the sign painter Rodolfo Ponce Marin (aka Caribeño) in the proliferation of one called Carga Maximá. Read the full article...

Sign painter working on a vehicle.
Caribeño at work in 2016. Photo: Carga Máxima.

Introducing the Basics of Architectural Gilding

Applying gold and other metal leaf to ceilings, walls, sculptures, and more is a gilding specialism that has long fascinated me. In this extended 'how to', New York architectural gilder Leah Beth Fishman shares some of the secrets of the trade. Learn more...

A quality gilded aluminium leaf finish on an unusually shaped ceiling. Photo courtesy of Gilding NYC.

Ernie Harrison and His Fearless Crew of Lincoln Painters

My latest piece about old sign shops takes us to Lincoln to hear about the life and work of Ernie Harrison; just don't look down! Read Ernie's story...

Three men standing on a plank at height.
Ernie Harrison and two of his sign painting crew taking a break from their latest project for a photo opportunity.

Going Clear: Clients and the Prison of Commissions

In a personal and reflective piece, Archie Proudfoot describes how he has recently shifted his focus away from sign painting work to his own artistic practise. Get inspired here...

Painted and gilded single letter panels.
Eight of Archie Proudfoot's recent Ornamental Letters series, being sold as exclusive one-offs in his online shop.

You can support the work that goes into these newsletters and online articles by becoming a paid subscriber from just $5/month.

Sign Me Up

Sign Painters Don't Read Signs

The fourth instalment of my digitisation of Syl Ehr's Sign Painters Don't Read Signs is now available. In chapters VIII–X he lays down his gripes with City Hall, and amateur sign painters operating without a license, before getting into some discussion of different alphabets and sign painting techniques. Read the latest, and previous instalments, here...

Lettering that reads 'ABC, ETC.'
Illustration from Syl Ehr's chapter on alphabets in Sign Painters Don't Read Signs.

And One from the Archive

This 1870s photo of a showcard painter in London has circulated quite widely, but not everyone knows the story of this Frenchman and his agent 'Tickets'. Get the lowdown here...

Shopping Spree

If you're looing for the perfect gift for the sign painter or letter lover in your life then here are some ideas, many taken from my recent post to instagram.

Prints and merchandise from the Justin Green exhibition; 'Choose 2' t-shirt tribute to Doc Guthrie; Brush lettering zine from Barbara Enright and Carla Hackett; 'Support your local sign painter' patch from Tozer Signs; Sticker packs from Heart & Bone Signs; and 'J'Adore' prints from Dapper Signs.

Also check out: Gráfica Urbana de València book/print pack from Juan Nava; Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest, exhibition catalogue from Letterform Archive; Bus Park Sign Shop zine from Nurse Signs; T-shirts, zines, and greetings cards from Type Tasting; Typism Book 8 from Typism; Clothing, signs, and stickers from Manning Signs.

The online shop now has less than 30 copies of BLAG 01 in stock, with discounts on most other books, prints, and merchandise.
Magazine cover showing two sign painters standing in a river, working on a wall.
Extremely limited stock remains of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine), Issue 01.

Shop Now

Linktree

Thank you to Sibylle Hagmann, Martin Krabman, and Laura Meseguer for some of this month's links. Please send ideas for future issues to sam@bl.ag, or via the online submission form.

BLAG on Fonts in Use

The typographic elements of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) were recently featured on the Fonts in Use site, including the story behind the logotype created by Utile Studio. Find out more...

'RIND' in shaded block letters.
Gothic Paneled sample from Specimens of chromatic wood type, borders, etc. manufactured by Wm. H. Page & Co., the inspiration for the BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) logotype.

Electro-Pounces

"I couldn’t imagine living without an electro pounce. If you work as a sign painter full time, do yourself a favor and invest! It’s worth every penny." — Derek McDonald, Golden West Sign Arts

I have regularly received enquiries from people in Europe wanting to get hold of an electro-pounce machine. The good news is that Brian at CrockettsGarage will ship his top-rated machine (pictured), provided you contact him directly beforehand to get the important safety information. He also distributes in North America, where McLogan is another option for getting hold of one of these time-savers.

An electro-pounce machine.
The top-rated electro-pounce machine from CrockettsGarage. Contact Brian through his Etsy page to arrange shipping to Europe.

Fairground Art

Filesharing site WeTransfer publishes an eclectic set of articles about a range of creative topics under their WePresent banner, and I learned a lot from their recent one on the history and contemporary practise of fairground art. This is a topic that has regularly featured at bl.ag online, including the When Better Letters Met Stan Wilkinson short film. Read the WePresent article...

Fairground art by R.J. Thomas, one of the contemporary artists featured in the WePresent article.

Typeseeing Barcelona

Laura Meseguer is a type designer from Barcelona, and she recently told me about some more short films she's made profiling the city's signage. Typeseeing Barcelona has English subtitles, while Safari typo! has them in French.

Shopfront with carved wood and gilded and painted glass panels.
Historic bakery frontage featured in Laura Meseguer's Typeseeing Barcelona video.

Bits & Bobs

Here are a few more links that have caught my eye this month: Artists at Work on the Museum of the Street; Max Phillips on 'Typography’s lost place in architecture'; The Painting for Eternity film about mosaic restorations in Ravenna, Italy; The Street Signs Project with Lucille Tenazas discussing vernacular lettering as typographic inspiration; and the story of Moose McGowan, the sign painter on the edge of the outback.

Gloved hands painting mosaic tiles.
Painting for Eternity, a short film from Craftsmanship Quarterly.

Events & Exhibitions

Events have slowed down ahead of the Christmas break, but there are still some to look out for, as well as a host of exhibitions that will be closing in the coming month or so. One of these, Strikethrough! from Letterform Archive, is available as an online experience.

People at a graphic design exhibition.

Listings for the events page can be sent by email, or submitted using the online form.

Ghost Sign Corner

An ultra-niche subcategory of ghost signs are those where only the outline of the shape remains, the lettering long lost. There is one of these on Garden Row in southeast London where only the scalloped render survives on the wall. It remained a mystery until I visited an exhibition a few years ago at the nearby London College of Communication and saw the picture on the right here.

Before and after photos of a wall that used to have a painted sign on it for Stephen Tull, funeral director.
Now and then, the wall at Garden Row, London SE1.

It is possible that the lettering survives underneath more recent whitewashes, but details such as the S. Tull in the transom are long lost. It would be interesting to remove the current Food & Wine signage to see if anything of the curved shopfront remains beneath. The firm was previously Tull & Fentum, as shown in this piece of print advertising which repeats the "distance no object" line, and details the availability of "lead, oak, or elm coffins".

And Finally...

Health and Safety at Work

Here's a piece from Gary Larson's Far Side conveying a kind of meta 'sign painters don't read signs' message. Ace!

Only a baseball cap remains of the sign painter painting a 'Danger Quick Sand' sign.
℗ Gary Larson / The Far Side

BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) is made possible by paid subscribers, so please consider joining a paid plan, which can include the print magazine, by signing up today.

Subscribe Here

Thank you for reading this latest BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) newsletter. Don't forget to tell your friends (click/tap 'forward' on this email, or tell them to subscribe here), and get in touch with things to include in future issues.

Thanks also to our sponsors, 1 Shot, A.S. Handover, Colossal Media, and Mike Meyer Sign Painter, and patrons (Blackout Signs & Metalworks, C&P Graphics, Chicago Sign Systems, Dragging the Line, John Moran, Right Way Signs, Skiltmaler Gundersen, Stender Bros. Sign Co., and W&B Gold Leaf.

All good things, Sam

bl.ag / @betterletters