2023 was my first full calendar year working on BLAG, having launched in April 2022. It's now four issues in, and things have grown, with the introduction of online events, the expansion of the shop, a bigger format for the magazine itself, and the inclusion of a special gift inside each issue.

All of this is made possible by those that pay for my work, and I'm happy to have welcomed more than 200 new members to our adventures in sign painting over the last twelve months. I'm looking forward to the next year, and continuing to steadily grow and connect the community through the publication.

You can support the work that goes into BLAG by becoming a member, with plans from just $5/month. This also keeps everything free of advertising and surveillance.

If you want to go all in and get the print magazine, then until the end of January I'm including BLAG 03 and BLAG 04 in the first delivery for Blaggers that sign up to the annual plan. I've also knocked 20% off the usual price...

Get the Offer Here

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The magazine also benefits from the kind support of our wonderful sponsors and patrons. The sponsors are A.S. Handover, The Design Trust, Mike Meyer Sign Painter, and Ronan Paints. And we now welcome Through the Wood Signs to our patrons: Blackout Signs & Metalworks; Chicago Sign Systems; Colossal Media; Dragging the Line; John Moran; Romana Schrift; Sepp leaf Products; Skiltmaler Gundersen; and W&B Gold Leaf. Thank you all!

Top Ten 2023

Just like last year, I've worked through the analytics to identify the ten most viewed articles at bl.ag online. Strictly this should include pieces relating to BLAG back issues—01, 02, and 03—but I've omitted these to keep the focus on stand-alone articles.

It's been a pleasure to publish a variety of new contributors this year, and these are represented in the top ten below, which is once again dominated by the Learning and People categories. (For those that are following it, the third instalment of the Arthur Gill story is now available to listen to.)

While some of the other categories might not feature in the top ten, I will continue to maintain the breadth of what's published, as well as the international focus; both are important to me and what I'm doing with the publication.

So, without further ado, here are the top ten bl.ag online articles for 2023, in reverse order...

10. Three Alphabets by Joe Ferry

In addition to his piece on original Letterhead John Frazier, Mark Oatis introduced the work of Joe Ferry via three alphabets that he painted in 1978. Each one is available as a PDF download for practise.

Hand-painted uppercase alphabet.
'Slanted Gothic' (1978) by Joe Ferry. Courtesy of Mark Oatis.

9. Tools of the Trade: Test Driving LetterArt's Flats

In his first brush review for BLAG, Studio Sign Co.'s Nick Lee tried out the new sable blend and synthetic brushes from LetterArt. (See also last week's review of the new Flying Squirrel 925 series.)

Triptych showing three stages of gilding and painting a sans-serif letter 'S'.
On the brush with the FSSL synthetic sable flat from LetterArt, from the review by Nick Lee.

8. How to Prepare MDO Plywood for Sign Painting

Agustin McCord at Magic 8 Ball Signs gave a lesson in providing hand-painted signs with the best possible foundation; one that he was taught by Los Angeles Trade Tech's Doc Guthrie (RIP).

Basic paint roller being held in front of a flat board with zigzag lines of paint ready to be smoothed to an even finish.
Pouring paint in a zigzag before rolling for an even finish, from Agustin McCord's guide to preparing MDO plywood.

7. Where Can I Learn the Craft of Sign Painting?

This is a frequently asked question, so it was good to bring together everything I know in one place. The extended feature covers workshops, apprenticeships, Letterheads events, online courses, and more. (Check the event listings for the latest schedule of worldwide happenings.)

Man painting a sheet with different lettering styles and illustrations while a student looks on.
Mike Meyer teaching his sign painting workshop from the extended feature on where to learn the craft.

6. The Apprentice: Colossal Style

Apprenticeships are few and far between these days, but Brooklyn's Colossal Media have a formal programme that is turning out a new generation of wall dogs. We got to see behind the scenes, and meet some of the apprentices and graduates from the programme.

People watching a man paint a large wooden board.
Colossal Media's current cohort of apprentices learning together at the shop's Brooklyn headquarters.

As a free subscriber you currently receive bl.ag online articles as they are published each week. If you'd prefer a regular round-up of these, and less email, then this is a benefit of membership, in addition to full online access, event recordings and, for Blaggers, the print magazine twice each year.

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5. The Basics of Letter Shades: Left, Right, Up and Down

This primer from Erwin Indrawan covers a variety of lettering styles and how to add shades to them. It also details important considerations in each case, to explain why, as well as how.

Diagram showing strokes used to shade a letter E.
An upright letter E is shaded much more efficiently when this is done to the left versus the right. From Erwin Indrawan's letter shading guide.

4. Doc Guthrie: A Tribute

It's difficult to overstate the impact of Doc Guthrie's teaching at Los Angeles Trade Tech. The tribute here tried to capture this, and the countless lives he touched.

Man and woman posing in the shade on a sunny street holding a hand-painted sign that says 'Breathe'.
Doc Guthrie and former student Val Trentini, from the tribute to Doc.

3. Reflections on the Impact of Sign Painters, Ten Years Later

Sign Painters (2013) introduced a new wave of craftspeople to the trade, and it was an honour to host a 10th anniversary screening back in March. This was accompanied by an article reflecting on the role that the film has played, and continues to play, across the globe.

Portrait in a warehouse-style space with various pieces of vintage signage on display.
Sign Painters' directors Faythe Levine and Sam Macon. Photo from the Sign Painters' Flickr.
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The Sign Painters book is available to buy in the BLAG shop.

2. An Introduction to Quick Showcard Lettering, Norwegian Style

After the work on Signpainters Don't Read Signs, another opportunity to reproduce a rare book came from Norway in the form of Ny Skriftbok for Hurtigtegning av Plakater (New Lettering Book for the Quick Drawing of Showcards) by Kåre Madsen.

Spread from a ring-bound book with text on the left page, and a series of brush/pen strokes on the right.
Exercises for basic strokes in Ny Skriftbok for Hurtigtegning av Plakater.

1. Dapper Signs: Sign Painter, Human, Legend

As I was jotting down 2023's top posts, I got a strange sense of deja vu and, sure enough, it was Dapper Signs' Faux Neon article that took top spot in 2022. Legends never die, and my tribute to Cooper is here. BLAG 04 is also dedicated to him, including a reproduction of his Faux Neon article in print.

Dapper Signs' James Cooper on the brush at London Letterheads 2018. The 'Big in Japan' panel was for the following year's meet in Tokyo.

Make it a Top 20

And, as a small bonus, here are the articles that came in places 11–20.

11. The Magic of Mr Masking, Costa Rica's King of Tape

12. Signpainters Don't Read Signs by Syl Ehr

13. Tips for Left-Handed Sign Painters from Larry Stammers

14. What a Ride: The Wonderful World of Sign Painter Vehicles

15. How to Paint Touriga Casual with Fernando Mello's Reference Sheet

16. Grierson Gower's Treasure Trove of Antique and Vintage Signs

17. That Saturday Afternoon Jaunt with John Frazier, Original Letterhead

18. Enjoy a Free Fileteado Porteño Lesson from Gustavo Ferrari

19. Sonic Sign Painters: Ten Podcasts For Your Enjoyment

20. Paying Respect to the Vintage Pausrädchen (Pounce Wheel)

Wishing you all good things for 2024, Sam

bl.ag | sam@bl.ag | @betterletters | @blag@typo.social

Top Ten 2022