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 29 matches

by Jill Marie Welsh
Thu May 25, 2006 5:52 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Letterheads 2006 - Scotland
Replies: 3
Views: 2999

The meet really was wonderful. It was refreshing to see so many younger folks keeping the craft alive. Scott Jordan (John's grandson) is going to be a force to be reckoned with. I was lucky enough to learn the art (well sort of learn) of painting narrow boat roses. My easel mate, Tim Bird, was being...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:30 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Any word on the "One Shot" Clear Overcoat Varnish?
Replies: 5
Views: 3507

Do you mean the Super-Gloss Tinting Clear #4006? If so, it seems to be as scarce as hen's teeth. I don't mean the UV clear in the white can, this stuff has a yellow label. It seems to only come in a pint size, wish it was sold as a half-pint. At this point I would settle for any amount! I have only ...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:24 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: OHV lettering system?
Replies: 2
Views: 2240

OHV lettering system?

Hi. After seeing a picture of Al Zanetti painting a large single letter with an intriguing looking grid behind it, I have been curious. I have looked high and low for an alphabet made in this manner. Today I picked up my copy of Signwork by Bill Stewart. Lo & behold, it is in there, described as...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:19 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Orange Magic Tape
Replies: 4
Views: 3075

I used to get it from Pioneer Supply out of Pittsburgh PA.
They no longer carry it.
I guess it has gone the way of Sapphire Brush Oil.
I loved it too!
Wasn't it made in Germany?
Love....Jill
by Jill Marie Welsh
Fri Jan 07, 2005 10:34 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Jill's Jamboree August 19-21 2005!
Replies: 1
Views: 1978

Jill's Jamboree August 19-21 2005!

Hi folks. Just a reminder that I am co-hosting a panel jam this summer with Stevo Chartrand. It will be held at my uncle's bluegrass camp, off of I-80 Exit 42 in Lisbon, PA. He has electric hook-ups for motor homes and there is a pavillion with a stage, a gazebo, showers, and real flush toilets! All...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:03 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Just Another Rant
Replies: 12
Views: 8221

Keith, I feel your pain. That customer sounds like one I have been trying to get rid of for 2 years. Luckily, the last time he wanted a big sign in a hurry, I told him that I would need all the cash up front, and I quoted him about $200 more just because he was a pain in the butt. (I had been warned...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:49 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: National Letterhead Meet 2006
Replies: 5
Views: 4254

:wink: Tod, I can't wait for this meet.
If it's anywhere near as good as 1994,
well, it's just gonna be a good one.
If there is anything that I can do to help,
just ask.
I know that hosting an International is a BIG job!
Love....Jill
by Jill Marie Welsh
Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:55 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The Thing We Call "Handlettering"
Replies: 16
Views: 11624

It is strange how vividly you can recall even what music you were listening to while you hand-lettered a particular sign. There is no better or finer feeling than when I get that rare day when everything flows perfectly and what falls out of my brush looks exactly as I had envisioned it. I can also ...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Thu Oct 07, 2004 1:32 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: M,A,N!
Replies: 4
Views: 4394

:wink:
That is a nice little tip, Jeffrey P!
Easy to remember too.
Every once in awhile, I have a blank moment.
And nothing looks worse than a "backwards" letter!
Thanks.
Love....Jill
by Jill Marie Welsh
Fri Oct 01, 2004 7:35 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Hand Lettering 101
Replies: 3
Views: 3735

Robin, This is a really good idea for fledgling hand-letterers. So many times at meets I see people who have the best of intentions just struggling. This would be a way of training both your hands and your eyes. Many times newbies want to just mince along, outlining then filling in, whereas your met...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Thu Sep 30, 2004 6:56 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Wall Dogging On A String
Replies: 1
Views: 2343

....a good method until your kids discovered that ball of string in your kit and decided to snip off a hank to play Cat's Cradle.....
Thanks for the tidbit. Sometimes we forget those simple little tricks.
Love.....Jill
by Jill Marie Welsh
Tue Sep 28, 2004 10:07 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Non-Pounce Patterns
Replies: 14
Views: 12561

Thanks again. Looking at that Dick Blick site put me in mind of my art school days... oh the memories! Now I'm feeling all creative. Am just about to use this method on actual-factual ALL PAINTED signs! (customer grew up near an old sign painter and loved to watch him work) Bill, I do know how to fi...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:08 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Non-Pounce Patterns
Replies: 14
Views: 12561

:wink: Thanks for the replies! Roderick, I would kill myself with an Electro-Pounce, for I am very clumsy. I did use one @ Mike Meyer's place long ago, and it both terrified and impressed me. I also don't like all the dust from pouncing. Mike, I'm gonna find some of that Saral stuff! I just dread th...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:23 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Non-Pounce Patterns
Replies: 14
Views: 12561

Non-Pounce Patterns

I do use pounce patterns, done the old way. I don't have an Electro-Pounce and that is probably a good thing, because I would look like Phyllis Diller! I also like to project, but sometimes that is not an option. I learned this method from my Scottish friend Catherine Foster. It can be nice if you d...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:06 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Atkinson Book. Source for endless posts
Replies: 1
Views: 2315

Mike, I have seen this technique at meets too, and it does produce some pretty panels. I also like to experiment with a spray bottle of water, spritzing a panel, then spray-painting in either direction across the water globules to get an interesting effect. This can be done with either regular spray...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Sun Sep 26, 2004 4:19 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Yearly Rant
Replies: 9
Views: 7339

:cry: Mike I hope those three options are not the only choices. I don't post that much here because even after 19 years of making signs, I feel woefully inadequate to give advice on the types of signs done by most of the regulars here. They are way out of my realm. I tried to start a few topics, I t...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Sun Aug 15, 2004 10:47 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: 111 Alphabet Sentences
Replies: 3
Views: 3998

111 Alphabet Sentences

Catharine Kennedy inspired me to find these on Google. Thought that they were worth sharing! I dare each one of you to paint them. Love...Jill :mrgreen: Although initially you may find it fascinating that the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog, the excitement wears off pretty quickly. For the s...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Mon Aug 02, 2004 5:49 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Disaster!!!
Replies: 12
Views: 9475

:( That is just so terrible! If I understand correctly, this was a "practice" piece for you and not for a customer, so there is no rush in replacing it, which I suppose is one positive thing. And think of all you learned by making it. Please don't let this deter you from future glass work....
by Jill Marie Welsh
Fri Jul 30, 2004 12:48 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: on Spanjer letters
Replies: 3
Views: 4006

Catharine, I wish I could post pix of the 2 beautiful sets of carved letters that you just sent me!
Thanks again!
Love...Jill
by Jill Marie Welsh
Wed Jul 28, 2004 8:46 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Carving Chisels on Ebay...
Replies: 5
Views: 4637

:lol:
I saw that too but was afraid to mention it.
Love...Jill
by Jill Marie Welsh
Fri Jul 23, 2004 7:02 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Blabbermouth me, or just a polite host?
Replies: 18
Views: 18992

Mike, as administrator, isn't it your duty on here to make posts? I read everything that you write, and I respond when I feel qualified to. This is a different kind of forum for some of us. I find it quite refreshing as I know that most of the members are hand-painters, or simply share the love of t...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:36 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Signmaking 101: A weird trick
Replies: 2
Views: 3724

:wink: Another trick is measuring things on the fly. Yes I know I'm supposed to carry a tape measure everywhere but I often forget. I even had one on my keychain till one of the kids gleeped it. But if you ever find yourself on an estimate without a measuring device, a rule of thumb is that a dollar...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:10 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Signmaking 101: Contrast
Replies: 1
Views: 2961

Thanks for the quote, Mike. I see so many distortion-happy Corel effected signs that it really bugs me. There are signs out there with little or no contrast, or with glaring mismatches of color. (I wonder how these people dress...do they mix plaids and checks?) They waste all their bells and whistle...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:34 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Signmaking 101: A weird trick
Replies: 2
Views: 3724

Signmaking 101: A weird trick

When painting, if you happen to make a mistake or a drip: Wrap your finger in a clean rag (or your T-Shirt) Rub it in the corner of your nose (not up it) Use the oils from your skin to wipe it up. It doesn't hurt the substrate and it really works! Sometimes when I get a drip, I turn it into a star. ...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Wed Jul 14, 2004 8:10 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: AHEM! Hand lettering!
Replies: 9
Views: 9205

I am fresh back from Pat Welter's Paint the Prairie meet in Unity, Saskatchewan. I think it was my 20th meet in the 10 years that I've been attending them. Talk about passion. It was the most ego-free meet that I have ever been to. We were all bonded together through the simple love of painting a le...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:33 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: AKA: Handlettering
Replies: 21
Views: 17634

I am lucky enough to get to handletter at least once a week. There is nothing more satisfying to me. After 19 years at it, I still learn something every time I go to a meet or look at a good lettering book. Sometimes my letter forms leave a lot to be desired, but I have had a few golden moments wher...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:16 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Paint mask choices
Replies: 18
Views: 14255

:( Unfortunately Hindsight is 20/20. I never paint with anything other than 1-S or Ronan, so I stupidly assumed that masking would be OK with HOK. The rep said that the box says to do a test piece, but mine did not come in a box. Even my 20-year-old son said "Mom, he should have tested it"...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Sun Jun 20, 2004 3:46 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Paint mask choices
Replies: 18
Views: 14255

Hi Danny. This paintjob had been completed for at least a month before applying the mask. The masking/spraying of HOK was done indoors, and the mask was removed immediately following the paint job. (It actually lifted and crinkled during the paint process) Everywhere the masking touched the vehicle,...
by Jill Marie Welsh
Sun Jun 20, 2004 1:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Paint mask choices
Replies: 18
Views: 14255

I'm sorry Jay, but I would not recommend MacMask to my worst enemy. I just cut a stencil job on it for a friend. Granted, he used House of Kolor paint and not 1-Shot, but the MacMask adhesive caused a bad reaction with the solvents in the HOK. It actually etched the basecoat/clearcoat finish on the ...