Welcome to The Hand Lettering Forum!
This is an interactive Bulletin Board on the topics of Sign making, design, fabrication, History, old Books and of coarse Letterheads, Keepers of the craft. The Hand Lettering Forum features links to resources, sign art history, techniques, and artists profiles. Learn more about Letterheads at https://theletterheads.com. Below you'll see Mchat has been added as a live communication portal for trial, and the Main forum Links are listed below.

Search found 1076 matches

by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Nov 04, 2014 10:09 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Carving Brandy
Replies: 6
Views: 6536

Re: Carving Brandy

I'm going to make a point of trying to be more forth coming...thanx for that Erik. It's easy to just dismiss ones own work when I see the quality of the other posts here and on Facebook. Also a certain "shyness" on my side is at play.
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Nov 04, 2014 10:05 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Spinning goldleaf
Replies: 6
Views: 10661

Re: Spinning goldleaf

I agree with "almost" everything being said. I also have had poor results with a quick size which I rarely use to begin with. It seems {as Lee has alluded to} that sizes dry at various rates depending on climate and dryness in the air. For instance I have used a slow size in my shop one da...
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Oct 14, 2014 7:23 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Carving Brandy
Replies: 6
Views: 6536

Re: Carving Brandy

Hi Gents...I've seen some old pieces with punched backgrounds before and they seem to be in good condition. There are quite a few available from woodworking supply places but am pretty sure I made this one. Have a picture from Peter Devine's which I believe is the same punch. e-pd right2.jpg I have ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun Oct 12, 2014 5:31 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Carving Brandy
Replies: 6
Views: 6536

Carving Brandy

2-tom bovey signature1.jpg I always hesitate to post my own work but in the spirit of this site and in memory of the amazing work that once decorated the Black Lion Pub in London I thought I'd share what I tried a few years ago as the work of these craftsmen was no small influence on me. It was a w...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun Oct 05, 2014 9:43 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Black Lion Pub London
Replies: 3
Views: 3676

Re: Black Lion Pub London

Hi Ron, I did ask at the bar but it wasn't worth pursuing...busy, the manager wasn't in that night and barmaid knew nothing about them other than they had just installed them 2 days previous
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Oct 04, 2014 11:33 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Black Lion Pub London
Replies: 3
Views: 3676

Black Lion Pub London

e-black lion fall 14.jpg While I was in Rochester for the British Letterheads meet I stopped by a pub (well actually a few...hic) to see how some antique signs I had photographed some years ago were holding up only to find they all had been replaced....there were 2 full fascia's. I can only imagine...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Oct 04, 2014 11:20 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Mike Reilley
Replies: 4
Views: 4407

Re: Mike Reilley

Never know how to say how bad I feel to see the "old guard" dropping away as we all are starting to do. I never really knew Mike but was certainly aware his reputation and had a great deal of respect for him. My best to his family and the family of craftsmen who journey with him.
by Doug Bernhardt
Fri Jul 18, 2014 5:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: July August SC article
Replies: 1
Views: 2235

July August SC article

Mr. Jackson....compliments on an excellent article in Signcraft this recent issue. Although it arrived a little while ago I only now settled down to read and the Photoshop article will have saved me countless hours. All three of the topics...hue and saturation...importing layered files (especially h...
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:14 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Hi, Newbie Here
Replies: 7
Views: 5729

Re: Hi, Newbie Here

I spent many many years doing paper and card signs and we always always always used brushes and paint. I think Bobby is off to a great start and would encourage you to keep following this same path. Marking out all your letters is certainly one way but think you would benefit from trying the paper b...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun May 11, 2014 6:14 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: humidity and glue chipping
Replies: 3
Views: 3403

Re: humidity and glue chipping

There has been a lot of discussions on what everyone is using for this exact problem. In fact Jeff Lang reposted something not long ago and would be good to take a peek at that. Soooo many solutions.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun May 11, 2014 6:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Pulled Ferrule off of handle.
Replies: 6
Views: 5454

Re: Pulled Ferrule off of handle.

Ya...happens to me all the time. French Masters are a great brush but the darn things can't keep from separating. PL is an adhesive I have on goingly open in the shop and just use that. Just make sure you don't get any in the hairs. From "that" there is no redemption. There was also some d...
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:17 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015
Replies: 14
Views: 12553

Re: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015

Well....This will be pretty great! It has been a lot of years and this is waaayyyy up on my list. My first Letterheads meet was hosted my the Oatis clan in Denver and having the museum as a backdrop is all the more substantial.
by Doug Bernhardt
Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:55 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Hand Lettering Mess
Replies: 6
Views: 6350

Re: Hand Lettering Mess

A whole bunch of good advice. The video will be of help for sure....Pierre is excellent but lots of practice and stuff in the garbage bin is the order of the day. I cut my teeth on "fancy" shocards and no parking signs. Just keep plugging along
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Feb 15, 2014 3:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: La Belle Miette
Replies: 11
Views: 9341

Re: La Belle Miette

Outstanding work Bruce. I'm not sure how you handled the pictorials but a few years ago whilst wandering around London with Smitty I had a chance to have a close look at a few Paris pieces from around 100 yrs or so ago. The pictorials were done on canvas and stuck on from the back.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun Jan 19, 2014 12:53 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lettering Practice help.
Replies: 4
Views: 5308

Re: Lettering Practice help.

Man'o'man. That page was a huge inspiration to me also although that would have been a little over 40 years ago.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Dec 07, 2013 11:31 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Magic Eraser for excess gold removal
Replies: 13
Views: 12072

Re: Magic Eraser for excess gold removal

There you have it. That beautiful ripple in a gild is SO amazing. I also have gilded both modern plate and old float glass and this "clarity" is what makes it a little over the top. The mishappen surface giving it the extra zip. I've spent the extra to buy new/old glass at a local stained ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:48 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: DENVER AREA SIGN PAINTERS!!!!
Replies: 4
Views: 3886

Re: DENVER AREA SIGN PAINTERS!!!!

Welcome to the forum Elliot. You are certainly from a city with an amazing history of great signpainters.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Oct 26, 2013 8:20 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: A Cloudy Forcast For All You Cloud Users.
Replies: 4
Views: 4686

Re: A Cloudy Forcast For All You Cloud Users.

I also had to change my password. Am using CS4 right now.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Oct 26, 2013 8:18 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New Font Site
Replies: 2
Views: 3101

Re: New Font Site

Great seeing it up and running Jerry and am happy to be part of it also. I imagine it has been a pile of work setting up a site like that and rewarding to see it finally go live.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun Oct 13, 2013 10:28 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Sign painting classes near Philly or Allentown PA?
Replies: 2
Views: 2561

Re: Sign painting classes near Philly or Allentown PA?

I hate to tell ya Joe but you might have to consider a little travel in this quest. I know a few good sign business in PA and I hope someone from there can steer you in the right direction. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
by Doug Bernhardt
Fri Oct 04, 2013 10:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Help needed with pricing hand lettered signs and trucks.
Replies: 3
Views: 3449

Re: Help needed with pricing hand lettered signs and trucks.

Well thats it...sell an upscale product and don't even try to compete with the "Rock'em Sock'em" vinyl business'. That part of our business is SOO price conscience a hand lettering shop can't even step into the arena.
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:32 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: reverse gilding inside of an outline, (european method)??
Replies: 8
Views: 8015

Re: reverse gilding inside of an outline, (european method)??

Should be no problem as long as you're not so vigorous as to remove the outlines and are using one of the appropriate cleaners. There is an excellent section somewhere here on the necessary materials etc. Good luck on the job
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:23 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Advice
Replies: 6
Views: 4902

Re: Advice

All that is perfectly correct except to also mention that the paint might take a few weeks to dry. Thats is also the reason you'd never used waxed paper cups to mix paint in.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:20 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Covering a whole window with 1Shot
Replies: 11
Views: 7971

Re: Covering a whole window with 1Shot

Absolutely stay away from coating the window with a dark colour especially. It'll break. It just attracts so much heat the glass can't cope with he temperature differences.
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Aug 27, 2013 10:21 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: It's Been Awhile
Replies: 7
Views: 6209

Re: It's Been Awhile

Beautiful piece.
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Aug 27, 2013 10:20 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New to sign writing, questions after first try..
Replies: 5
Views: 4917

Re: New to sign writing, questions after first try..

Hi Kim, As far as lettering brush styles the european versions and numbers are relatively new to me. I would only echo what has been said which is Practice Practice Practice. In my early apprenticeship years I felt I was growing in ability everyday...in truth it was probably closer to month by month...
by Doug Bernhardt
Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:32 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Yet another newbie
Replies: 41
Views: 85268

Re: Yet another newbie

Outstanding!
by Doug Bernhardt
Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:32 pm
Forum: Hand Lettering Gallery
Topic: Yet another newbie
Replies: 41
Views: 58047

Re: Yet another newbie

Outstanding!