The Hand Lettering Forum

Hey, Mike. I think your observations about what burns a memory onto our minds is accurate. However what I interpret Mark to be saying is not that hand lettering is the only thing about which one might be passionate, but that – this being the Handlettering Forum – it is something about which we c...

The only place I have used the mica powders is on glass. I apply it in a similar fashion to what is described above, using One Shot fast size. No need for the egg white wash since you are working in reverse on glass. Instead of a gilder's mop, I just use a foam brush and it applies it quite nicely. ...

Danacolors Smiths Cream D406 works well for blending colors when painting a pictorial, a mural or just doing some decorative painting. I use this formula Bill Hueg wrote down for me and I've found that it always works. BLENDING CREAM (1 Quart): Mix equal portions of Boiled Lindseed Oil (1/2 pt.) Smi...

I'll go ahead and start that new thread and see what we can come up with.

Jeff, Your experience refreshes my repressed memories. In '98 I was working on a window sign for Cache LaPoudre Rifleworks. It was a project where I screen printed the black line art on the windows and then applied the gold leaf, pearl, pictorial etc. Decided since I had the screen I'd buy a nice bi...

Thanks for the info, Larry. I think I'll try some chipping on some tempered glass just to see how it does. I realize I've taken your post in a different direction from where you started but here is one last thought: In my limited experience I haven't had any problems with tempered glass going throug...

That is really beautiful, Larry. The blue split shade really sets off the silver lettering nicely. It's hard to tell from the photo but I'll bet the brown mottled background also works well with the blue shadow and the green border. Love to see it in person. I may be voicing my ignorance here but I ...

DEFINITIONS: It occurs to me that, in order to avoid confusion, I should define our terms here. Definition #1: A Mahl Stick - A stick used by artists and sign painters as a rest for the hand while working. Definition #2 AMAL Shtick - Witty, tounge-in-cheek, huckster-style text used for announcements...

Harold Asmus, the gentleman who taught me how to letter, used a mahl stick that tapered and had a cork at the end, similar to Steven Parrish's stick described by Mike. Of course, I think the layers of paint drips added considerably to the weight of the instrument. A few years ago, after he died, his...

Mark, Not wanting to be a Luddite or to "rage against the machine" I've been an advocate for recogonizing and using technology where appropriate. Having said that some of your points are a needed reminder for me amidst the cacophony of pressures and allurements to rely on all the latest technology. ...

Mark, What a great post. You've made the leap from learning how to send an email to starting a post! This is something I think about all the time. Yesterday while I was hanging a sign a bloke from England saw me and stopped to have a chat. Graham was traditionally trained as a signwriter in 1957, ev...

I usually apply my latex paints with a HVLP. I do need to thin it with some water and some floetrol or airbrush additive but it dries quickly and with 2 or 3 coats it turns out very smooth. Danny Baronian suggested sanding between coats when you roll. If I do need to sand, either with rolling or spr...

Hey Larry,
I'm curious about the purpose of these samples.
Are you doing a whole bunch of the same thing to be able to give to potential clients or do you plan to do differnt kinds of treatments on each 8" square one you've finished chipping them?
Or is it experimentation for your own purposes?
Dan