INSPIRATION - SIGNWRITERS

After watching the 'Writing on the Wall' documentary about the resurgence of traditional signwriting, I looked to some artists I follow on instagram for inspiration.

I had a dalliance in sign-writing years ago and still get the odd commission now, but these artists really have been part of the resurgence in traditional hand painted signs all over the world.

Their use of old techniques like using a 'mahlstick' (a stick you lean on so you don't smudge your work' and using pinstriper brushes to create crisp, clean lines was inspirational to me.

They use enamel paints such as Alphanamal or 1Shot, to create highly pigmented and long lasting coloured art-work that will last inside and out for years.

Their work is so precise and beautiful, it looks like it has been made by machines. This perfection-by-hand is always something that I have strived for in my work. This made me determined to use some of these signwriting techniques in my piece.

Artists - Hurfer, Alex May Hughes, Joby Carter, Joel Poole, Mike Meyer, Koy Sun, Lorna Dunn

PAINTING

Having being inspired by the master signwriters I have been researching, I decided to experiment with some freehand brush work. I was really trying to free myself from the constraints of graphic design, which has always been a passion but a curse due to its infinite perfection. As a perfectionist myself, a piece of typographic work will never look right to me if it isn't perfectly spaced and aligned like a font. I painted a grid and tried to let myself be free. I intended to paint around the text so I knew that if I did go terribly wrong it could be corrected. This practice was really therapeutic for me. I had to get the paint consistency perfect so it would glide on the paper but be opaque enough to hide my pencil underneath. I used pink and red as I love the way they work together. I also had in the back of my mind that this was an experiment with materials and for fun, so the pressure was off. I think I spent around 6 hours painting in total, practicing letters and brush strokes.

INSPIRATION - BLKSMTH

@blksmth aka Michael James Schneider is an American artist who has a huge following on instagram. He makes and posts text based art and installations, perhaps best known for his foil balloon quotes.

I feel his work is similar to what I am trying to achieve - it is straight to the point, no airs or graces, says it how it is. It is deeply personal and relatable, hence his massive 723k following.

These are a few pieces that I feel relate to my themes of mental health, trauma and healing.