Sam Roberts

A lesser known rival to Pepsi and Coke in Amsterdam (via @FadingAd)

Photo: Frank Jump I like this sign from the Fading Ad blog, looks like it may have been repainted, perhaps by these guys.

29 Apr 2012

Great Middlesbrough ghostsigns

Photo: Caroline Derry Some great discoveries over on Caroline’s blog.

28 Apr 2012

Weathering in Idaho leads to reveal of c.100 year old ghostsign

Photo: Roger Plothow This treasure has just been uncovered, more background on Roger’s blog [Link since expired].  It’s an interesting case of the weather working to ‘save’ a sign rather than eroding it.

27 Apr 2012

Will Bristol Ban Outdoor Advertising?

This article highlights a petition to ban outdoor advertising in Bristol which, if successful, would mean it joins Auckland and Sao Paolo among others.  This Howard Gossage article offers perhaps one of the most compelling critiques of the outdoor format

26 Apr 2012

Short film about Syracuse’s ‘Love Letter’

Via the Noon-Gun blog I came across this short film by Signpainter Movie directors Faythe Levine and Sam Macon.  It is part of the ‘Love Letter for You’ project, using large scale signpainting for artistic expression and community development. Reminds me of the Ferodo bridges in the UK, albeit much more colourful and not selling brake […]

25 Apr 2012

Uncertain future for the ‘Polo Tower’ in Morcombe (via @willsh)

I’d never seen this unique piece of hand painted advertising until I came across the picture and dim appraisal of the town on John’s blog.  I’m pretty sure it must be hand painted but correct me if I’m wrong.  Regardless, a bizarre contractual situation has ensured its survival to this day, despite the closure of […]

22 Apr 2012

Lost Type breaks new ground in linking type designers to buyers

This initiative is innovative to say the least.  If you’re feeling tight you can pay nothing, but if you do pay (what you want) for your font download then you can rest assured that every cent is going directly to the designer responsible.  Great find by the No Relavance blog, it’s also worth checking out […]

21 Apr 2012

Dr Ken Jones’ mosaic technique for ghostsigns photography

Dr Ken Jones is a former NASA imaging expert whose work in the 1970s included digitally photographing the surface of Mars. This required the use of image ‘mosaics’, a technique which he is now applying to the more terrestrial subject of ghostsigns.Dr Jones’ work starts from a fairly simple concept of what he wants from the […]

18 Apr 2012

Restoration Project for Ghost Signs in Salisbury, North Carolina

Details of the process for a specific restoration project, with a facebook page to accompany it.  More posts on restoration projects and issues here.

18 Apr 2012

Penge Fashion House Considers Hand-Painted Signage Options

Anyone know if this and/or this have been followed through to execution?

17 Apr 2012

Conservation guidelines for ghostsigns in Australia

This report, Conserving Historic Signs, was written in 2002 and published by the Heritage Office, Department of Planning, State of New South Wales in 2006. I was alerted to it by Jos Peeters and it is a detailed and fascinating account of some of the considerations when conserving ghostsigns. The work on the HAT archive seems […]

16 Apr 2012

Ghostsigns of Winnippeg, Manitoba

Rick kindly sent me this collection of Canadian ghostsigns, including one that appears to be painted on the side of a lorry.  He gives some background: “Here are some photos I took while working on a movie call ‘The Assasination of Jesse James’ in the City of Winnippeg, Manitoba.  The City is full of these […]

15 Apr 2012

An RIP and a half from Surrey and Wimbledon

Photo: Ewan Munro This sign in Oxted, Surrey, is no more, while this one (pictured) is subject to the whims of ourdoor advertising company primesight.  Credit to Sebastien for picking these up. The True Form one reminds me of the Kings Cross Road BP sign before its eventual demise, and the ongoing updating of the billboards at […]

14 Apr 2012

When letter-press meets hand painted advertising on walls: San Miguel Fresca posters

I’m briefly back in London and it is hard not to notice this poster campaign for San Miguel’s new summer beer, Fresca.  (That might have something to do with the fact that 10,000 locations feature the work.) Created by the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi it has involved a collaboration with letter-press artist Alan Kitching to give a distinctive […]

13 Apr 2012

Walls by Deidi von Schaewen

Deidi von Schaewen’s ‘Walls’ is a lovely hardback book that documents hand painted advertising on walls in the 1960s and 1970s.  It’s geographical coverage is noteworthy with examples from Berlin, London, New York, Paris and elsewhere in France.  Most of the photography is in black and white with a handful of colour images, all of […]

11 Apr 2012

Is this the easiest hand lettering technique possible?

Geraldine discovered this lovely little film from British Pathe, a ‘how to’ guide for a simple block lettering form.  It even doubles as a secret code…

10 Apr 2012

Vancouver Arts Profile the Grandma’s Boy Reveal

This sign continues to win affections, and now there is this new material and analysis from Vancouver Arts.   See the story so far on this post and this one.

9 Apr 2012

A Clever Twist on Hand-Made/Painted Lettering

This fascinating project explores the relationships between upper and lower case letters, and the transitions between them, using hands and paint.  (Found via Creative Review.)

8 Apr 2012

Overall Murals, a New NYC Sign Painting Company

I’ve just discovered this company producing hand painted wall advertising in New York via the film below. More signwriters here.

7 Apr 2012

Digital Engagement & the Ghostsigns Archive: History Workshop Article

Laura Carletti and I have written a short paper for History Workshop Online.  This builds on the survey and offers some reflections on the development of the archive in 2009-10.

4 Apr 2012

Hand painted propaganda from Chairman Mao and the cultural revolution

Collection of seven images here.  Apparently these large handpainted and wall mounted posters were called ‘dazibao’ which means big character poster.

4 Apr 2012

April and the fascinating world of fresco

A headline that started “Where there’s a wall” led me to this page (fittingly for today’s date the image is called ‘April’) and subsequently to the wikipedia entry for fresco. This is clearly an area that I will have to do more research into, especially given the global nature of the art form and the […]

1 Apr 2012

The joy of writing copy for butchers (with @Desightation)

Photo: Nick Garrett Not one, but two bits of playful copy on this sign by London-based signwriter Nick Garrett.  Reminded me of the line on this ghostsign, also found on this one: “Pleased to meet you, meat to please you.” Do you know of any other choice cuts from the realm of butchers’ copywriting?

31 Mar 2012

Brilliant new website: Traditional Sign Maker Magazine

Via the Signpainter Movie I came across this facinating site which profiles signwriters and has already introduced me to the beautiful world of Filete Porteño in Argentina.  Lots more good stuff to come from them no doubt…

30 Mar 2012