Ten years after its 2013 premiere, BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) is proud to host a global online watch party for Sign Painters on Saturday 18 March. And you are the first to know.

The film will be introduced by directors Faythe Levine and Sam Macon. Afterwards they will show some previously unseen interview footage, followed by a panel discussion with some of its stars.

Reserve a Space

This is a free event, but there is an option to contribute to the technical running costs via the Eventbrite registration page, or on this tips page.

Will you become a paying subscriber to BLAG (Better Letters Magazine), or leave a one-off tip in support of the publication?

For just $5/month you can directly contribute to our adventures in sign painting as a Browser, and get full access to everything at bl.ag online. As a Blagger you'll also receive BLAG in print twice each year, including Issue 02 if you sign up today.

Every new subscriber also helps to keep the website and print magazine free of advertising and annoying pop-ups, which means more time and space for the content that we're all here for.

Subscribe Today

Sign Painters' anniversary screening showcard by Mike Meyer.
🖌️
Mike Meyer has painted the showcard above for the watch party, and I'm inviting others to get creative with the event details, as happened with publicity pieces for the original worldwide screenings. Work can be posted to Instagram with the #SignPainters10 hashtag, including @betterletters and @sign_painters so that we can share with our followers. If you're not on Instagram, then just email sam@bl.ag and I'll make the post on your behalf.

Click for Full Watch Party Details

Reader Survey and Prize Draw

Thank you to everyone that has already completed my first ever reader survey. There is a lifetime subscription to BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) up for grabs in the prize draw, but the deadline for this is tomorrow, Tuesday 28 February. (Three runners up will get a copy of BLAG 02 or a voucher to spend in the shop.)

Complete the Reader Survey

  
Three copies of BLAG 02 will be going to runners up in the reader survey prize draw. And the winner will get a lifetime subscription to the magazine.

What New at bl.ag online?

After resolving the North American distribution issue, I was finally able to offer a look inside BLAG 02, including a load of bonus material for paid subscribers. Another publication was shared in the form of a rare showcard lettering and layout book from Norway.

Two projects have recently been featured: Maarten Knecht's restoration work in Ghent, and the global You Are Not Alone murals in support of those suffering from mental health issues.

And past students paid tribute to sign painter, teacher, and mentor Doc Guthrie.

Thank you to those that have contributed to this latest series of bl.ag online articles: Richie Chlaszczak; Brenna Guthrie; Sean M. Hastings; Jenna Homen; Nat Iosbaker; Alex Kurakake; Mike Languein; Maarten Leenknecht; Annica Lydenberg; Pete McKearnan; Andrea Silver; and Val Trentini.

Doc Guthrie: A Tribute

It is impossible to overstate Doc Guthrie's impact on sign painting in a career that spanned five decades. It was an honour to publish this tribute in recognition of his life in the trade.

Read The Doc Guthrie Tribute

Woman and man posing with a hand-painted sign that reads 'Breathe'.
Valentina Trentini and Doc Guthrie.

An Introduction to Quick Showcard Lettering, Norwegian Style

Richie Chlaszczak came across a rare ring bound booklet from Norway giving basic instruction for quick showcard lettering and layout. Now it has been reproduced online with his full English translation.

Look Inside the Book

One of the spreads from the book showing numbers on a slant and an example price point to illustrate their use.
👍🏾
Please extend your thanks to our sponsors: 1 Shot; A.S. Handover; Colossal Media; Mike Meyer Sign Painter; and Ronan Paints. And show some love to the patrons: Blackout Signs & Metalworks; C&P Graphics; Chicago Sign Systems; Dragging the Line; John Moran; Lexington Signs; Right Way Signs; Skiltmaler Gundersen; Stender Bros. Sign Co.; and W&B Gold Leaf.

Bonus Material from BLAG 02

In parallel to the extended post giving a taste of what's inside BLAG 02, I also published a piece with stacks of bonus material from the issue. The positive feedback received means that I'll do something similar for Issue 03 which will be shipping to subscribers in June and July.

Get the Bonus Material

Neon sign set in an arrow with coloured light bulbs surrounding the lettering.
Neon piece from London's God's Own Junkyard, one of many pictures shared in a collection of bonus material from BLAG 02.
What’s Inside BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) Issue 02?
A taste of the adventures in sign painting inside Issue 02 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).
BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)•Better Letters

You Are Not Alone: A Mural-Based Message Of Hope

You Are Not Alone is a public arts initiative to provide a message of hope for those experiencing, and struggling with, mental health issues. Started in 2019, it has rapidly grown to become a global movement, and the founders Annica Lydenberg and Samantha Schutz shared the story with BLAG.

See More From You Art Not Alone

Artists and student in front of a painted mural that reads "you are not alone".
A You Are Not Alone mural produced by Carlie Shively and Alyssa Pine in collaboration with students at Dover High School in Dover NH.

Everything published at bl.ag online is funded by paying subscribers. You can join them from just $5/month or, if you prefer, leave a one-off tip in support of the publication.

Leave a Tip for BLAG

Poetic Painting on the River Leie in Ghent

Maarten Leenknecht was invited by the city of Ghent in Belgium to restore the lettering on the lines of a poem first painted in 1999. In this piece at bl.ag online he shares the process and the finished results.

Learn About the Project and the Process

Man on a raft painting letters onto a river-facing wall.

Signpainters Don't Read Signs

All seven parts of my serialisation of Syl Ehr's Signpainters Don't Read Signs have now been uploaded to the site. I'll soon be sharing details of my work behind the scenes to get it back into print. Watch this space...

Download Signpainters Don't Read Signs

Rough layout of lettering between horizontal guidelines.
Illustration accompanying Syl Ehr's discussion of layout in Signpainters Don't Read Signs.

And One from the Archive

At the 2016 Letterheads meet in Amsterdam, I was lucky enough to meet Ramiro Espinoza, author of De Amsterdamse Krulletter (The Curly Letter of Amsterdam). He kindly signed my copy of the book, published the year before, and there's a review of it here at bl.ag online.

Curly Letter of Amsterdam Review

Spread from a book showing black and white photography of elegant painted window lettering.
Spread from De Amsterdamse Krulletter (The Curly Letter of Amsterdam) by Ramiro Espinoza and Rob Becker.

And the Rest

With the announcement of the Sign Painters' Anniversary Watch Party and the backlog of bl.ag online material, I decided to leave this issue of the newsletter here. That should also give you a little more time to complete the reader survey. (The deadline for the prize draw is Tuesday 28 February.)

If you're missing 'Ghost Sign Corner', then have a browse through the 'signs of note' category at ghostsigns.co.uk, and for events, the regular page at bl.ag/events is up-to-date. These, and the Linktree section will be back in next month's newsletter.

Get even more from BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) by joining as a paid subscriber. New Blaggers will receive Issue 02 of the magazine, while stocks last...

Subscribe to BLAG Now

All good things, Sam

bl.ag / sam@bl.ag / @betterletters