Howza Bruthas, I am hankerin'for some lettering on the doors of the Lemon Krate to finish off the exterior. I am looking for info on how to acheive the shop truck style lettering that was popular way back when. Any tips? Thanx, Spooky
One of the styles that you're probably thinking of was just a "bulletin plug" or "sign painter's gothic". Kind of a relaxed helvetica. There's lots of variations and they're usually called by different names. This first one is a sort of sign Painter's Gothic and this particular one was painted by Al Grand...
There's all kinds of scripts (cursives) and casuals, too, and each sign painter kind of took/takes the basic foundation of all of these and gives it his own groove. All this reminds me that I never did send Grimlock, Nailhead54 and Brush some copies that I promised them. Damn...somebody should have reminded me. In the mail next week! No...REALLY! As a side note...LETTERHEADS came FIRST and PINHEADS followed! the letterheads were a small group of sign painters from the Denver area that use to hang out every so often and paint and try new stuff with sign materials. I had the privilege of being taught, breifly, by one of the originals...Earl Vehill. A true master signman. Hope everybody is still awake, now.
I think the Sign Painter's Gothic with a shadow behind it is the one. What is the best method for layin' down the lettering? One Shot as the paint I am sure, but then what?
It has been a while for me, but I would start layout with some tape - as high as your letters. Then do actual letter layout with a stabillo pencil, so you know where to put the paint. Paint it up and throw in shadows once the tape is off. I you are uneasy about the whole thing, get some vinyl cut and weeded for yourself, by a sign guy. Stick the vinyl on and slap the paint on top. Peel off the stencil and shadow as you see fit. There was a post on license plate painting a while back, by somebody who knew what they were doing. Search for that, it has pictures and everything...
here's a really good example of what Dan refers to as sign painters' gothic. note how the strokes on the 'S' are even to the width of the letter. one thing to remember is that letters with a curved stroke top and bottom actually exceed the height of the squared-off letters, ie, 'C's, 'O's and 'S's vs.'M', were you to draw guidelines top and bottom.
Dan...I've always dug that wall job! It has nice layout, nice lettering and outrageous colors...AND IT'S STILL READABLE!! It's hard totop the old guys.
ain't it the truth, Dan. look at it....it's perfect! what little i know about painting signs was taught to me by an old fellow named Herm, best got-dang sign painter in Sioux Falls, SD, when I was a wee irritating lad. one of those guys that had been at it so long he pretty much couldn't make an imperfect letter.
Spooky contact wolf. Not only can he ej-u-me-cate you on the lettering he may be willing to give ya hand. Also I know he would be damned glad to hear from ya. Contact me for e mail address as i don't know if he would want me to post it here. Or you can get his phone. Either way.... I am sure he can help you alot. He made a living doing that stuff for a long time.
Spooky, if you haven't lettered before, I would suggest finding a sign painter in your area to do the job. By the time you buy the right brushes (about $15-$20 each) and the paint (about $5-$10 for the smallest can) and the thinner and spend the day messing with it....well, let's just say you probably won't be thrilled with the results. The stencil method, that Dusty Nuckles described, will work great but the lettering will be really clean and a little too perfect if you want that "period" look. It won't have quite the same warmth and personal feeling about it that you get with a completely hand drawn and hand painnted sign...but it'll still be more authentic than vinyl! Good luck...keep us posted on the results.
The Jalopy Journal
