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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 9 matches

by Dave Draper
Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:51 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Traveling sign painter?
Replies: 9
Views: 5836

My mentors, the guys who trained me my craft, were the Johnson Family in Bloomington, Illinois. Hinie Johnson was the "Snapper" in his younger years, and his son Bud took over the business after World War 2 and took it to bill boards and high rise signs. Hinie wrote articles for Sign Of Th...
by Dave Draper
Sun Dec 26, 2004 11:40 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Walldogs... Saw This Mural at Downtown Disney
Replies: 0
Views: 2047

Walldogs... Saw This Mural at Downtown Disney

We spoted this wall at Downtown Disney while getting tickets to Cirque Du Soleil...La NouBa! (which is well worth the $90 per ticket)

Viewing the workmanship in this mural, ....priceless! :)

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by Dave Draper
Sun Dec 26, 2004 11:28 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Pocorn Wagons We Spoted On Vacation
Replies: 0
Views: 1927

Pocorn Wagons We Spoted On Vacation

Here are a couple popcorn wagons we spoted in Florida at a theme park in December 2004. Enjoy!
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by Dave Draper
Thu Jul 22, 2004 12:08 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Signmaking 101: Storing brushes between coatings
Replies: 3
Views: 4313

At the "BIG SIGN SHOP" I apprenticed at, we had a can half full of mineral spirits with a hook attached, or clips, so that the brush could hang vertically in the thinner with out touching the bottom of the can to avoid it getting all bent out of shape. It was my duty to make sure the botto...
by Dave Draper
Thu Jul 22, 2004 12:01 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Signmaking 101: Ladders/Walkboards & Sketches
Replies: 4
Views: 4545

Speaking of ladders and walk planks, that is one thing I don't miss about the old days of wall dog work. I still use scafold, very sturdy double sided step ladders, and of course scissor lifts, but my days of strecthig a plank between two extension ladders are over. No job is to "die for!"...
by Dave Draper
Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:47 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Signmaking 101: Snap Lines
Replies: 5
Views: 5516

I hate the smell of chalk, I hate the taste.

We take BABY POWDER, and add a little blue chalk so it is light "baby blue" (get it?..."baby powder blue")

Thus, you can see your line and it doesn't stink, and you don't stink when a customer comes up.
by Dave Draper
Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:32 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Signmaking 101: Mahl Sticks
Replies: 15
Views: 13956

I use both methods, "hand over" and "stick it" methods. I wasn't fussy, I grabbed a wooden yard stick, walking cane, tree branch, paint stir stick, whatever, and broke it to the length I needed at the time when I wanted to use it, then tossed it in the dumpster (out on a job). On...
by Dave Draper
Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:20 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Signmaking 101: Making large ovals
Replies: 6
Views: 6160

And... One thing you can do, if it is a very large oval, is make 1/4 of the oval. Thus by flipping it and drawing around it, flipping it and drawing, you can effectly make a giant oval and not have a very big pattern. To make some ovals without a string and pen, the alternative way the old timers ta...
by Dave Draper
Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:46 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Who would Use Sign Paint? Who Would Use Acrylic Latex?
Replies: 3
Views: 4593

Who would Use Sign Paint? Who Would Use Acrylic Latex?

Subject: Hand Painted School Mascot on new elementary school gym wall. Size: Mural is 8 foot high by 13 foot wide, 7 feet off the floor on up the wall Background paint is acrylic latex sprayed on concrete block wall. Just for fun, who would use traditional sign paint and the reasoning why you feel i...