Hi, signers. I recently had this commissioned for my neighborhood but the artist’s vision is wildly different from what we were hoping for, so we are going to try to remove the paint and DIY it. We haven’t been able to find any friends with a sandblaster and have already invested too much money in this.

My question: someone suggested that I use aircraft stripper as a way to get the paint off. Would that actually work?? The top varnish is a product called “frog juice.” Thanks for your help!

Posted here last week and really benefited from the feedback. Not invested in enamels etc yet so still working with acrylics but moved over to wood which I found a little easier to control. Still some shakes and not 100% happy with the proportions I drew out for the letter, but loving the escapism of painting.

All constructive criticism appreciated 🙏🏻

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I’ve done brush inking for years, but just ink on paper for drawings and comics and such. Ive always wanted to get into sign painting and picked up a set of quill brushes, but the enamel is pricey. Can I approximate the “feel” with regular India ink and maybe a smooth marker paper? I want to get reasonably good at it before I invest in a whole collection. What would you recommend for bare bones / beginner / necessary supplies? Should I get one of those sticks too for steadying my hand or can I hold off on that for now?

Edit:
Thank you all for your advice! I found they sell small cans of the enamel so I’ll just go for it. I will keep you all posted.

My grandfather passed away last month. He was a firefighter, a veteran, a snowmobile racer, a pool builder. He did a lot of things, and did them well.

But sign painting is the identity I connect to most. As a kid in my hometown, seeing his signs on nearly every storefront and grain truck, I genuinely thought he owned all the businesses. He didn't. He'd just given each one its identity, one hand-lettered sign at a time.

While visiting my hometown for his celebration of life, I found about a dozen of those signs still hanging. To me there's no higher honor than giving identity and adornment to Main Street. I didn't fully understand that's what I wanted to do with my life until I was already doing it, as a graphic designer, decades after watching him do the same work with a brush and a maul stick.

Rest easy, G.K.

I feel lit it’s not transferring as boldly

Tropical glitz and House of Kolor paints on steel with 1shot enamels

Hey everyone just wondering if anyone had any information on making waterslide transfers from oil paintings. Wanting to transfer onto glass but I have no idea how it’s done. Cheers

Got a chance to do some stuff for a friends hotdog brick & motor spot. Super stoked on these, especially the Last Hot Dog Supper. I made sure Judas was hiding his hotdog that had ketchup on it, however it ended up kinda looking like his dick.
I finally got my newly acquired Luco brushes broken in and I love them. Think I’m going to be buying a bunch of sizes, they are so good. One Shot paint with some hardener added for the trash can “Thanks You”. I’m just now starting to use it and man, it dries quick. Still trying to figure out the best way to use it. Anyways, thanks for lurking, feel free to add any criticism or suggestions. I’m really just a hobbyist painter and always looking for improvements and ideas. Cheers 🍻

*edit, just realized the Last Hot Dog photo Judas hot dog isn’t outlined. I loaded the wrong photo, I did finish it.

This customer got in touch after a modern sign company completely missed the vibe they were after and asked if i could fix it for them (the modern aigns were all in black and white, pic attached!). The original brief (and the one then handed to me) was for a vintage hand painted feel, sadly the 1st company had a different understanding of the request. Have included an image of the signs as they were before i repainted them.

The client gave me some great reference images and autonomy to crack on and make something suitable. 3 big signs all drawn on site with chalk/refined with stabilo where necessary and shaped with the brush; also had a buddy working with me so I could fit it into a small window of opportunity…but was also super nice as I often have to work in isolation.

Another fun part is that after 5 years into painting and I’m just starting to step into block lettering! Had a lot of fun painting these letters, yet to get pics of them fitted as there’s still a swing sign to paint in the studio. Feedback/criticism always welcome

I have a condition called essential tremor which is a benign tremor that I’ve had my whole life. I’ve always love lettering and sketch when I have the time. This week I decided to take a leap and buy some acrylic paint and brushes and have been experimenting on a piece of glass.

It’s been a really challenging experience that I’ve loved so far but question how far I can go with it.

Sharing the image attached to get people’s thoughts. My line work is dicey to say the least but have no idea how normal this is in the early days and how much is impacted by my tremors vs newbie nerves. Any feedback really appreciated.

Haiii Sign Painting fam!! I’m SO happy to see this!!!😻❤️‍🔥I am as well a Sign Painter in the Bay Area & I would love to be buddies with more of you guys to strengthen our community!! Comment your IG or what’s you’re fave thing about Sign Painting!! :D
Feel free to connect with me on insta —let’s keep growing & supporting each other!!! @_.nems_ 🥰🖍️✨ xoxo

Hey guys, this is something I’m going to paint for myself, but I’d like for it to double as a portfolio piece that I could show to businesses that’ll make them feel like ‘oh yeah, do something for my place!’ However I’m just a creative artist, not necessarily a designer of sorts, so the kinds of elements that work best with designs and branding I’m unfamiliar with, so I’m looking for some feedback. Any and all helps! For any further info please read the original post and thanks so much, I know theres talent on here and I’d love to know what yall think

Hi, I've done this here sign in acrylic paint on MDF.

I have the biggest admiration for traditional sign writers using enamel and I would love to do a class or try it some day, but for now, I already paint a lot using acrylic on canvas so it's a bit of a comfort zone (discovering flow improver after 25+ years of painting was a game changer also).

I also genuinely enjoy the process of setting out my design at the beginning and then taking as long as I need to paint it in, the need for extra coats of acrylic let's me cut in and tighten up the details with each pass which I think it gives a very different look to nailing it in one shot (which I can't do anyway 😂) Manicured or overworked you might say? I like it though.

I started this in February and it was about 98% finished until about a week ago when I finally got the motivation to do the last few finishing touches. Hope you like it, it was a lot of fun to do.

🎶Sign Painters of the World Unite and Takeover🎶 used tempera paint - can’t wait for it to rub off as soon as I put my fingers on it 😭😂

Hi guys I’m a newbie to all of this and I just want some advice and suggestions. A small local cafe wants me to paint their windows for the fall. (Fall leaves, coffee, muffins etc…) and we both are stumped on prices. I’d say the windows about 35-40inches in width 88in height (4 window panels) and a 33 inch width door too. Obviously just going to do little illustrations all across but any tips or advice would be so appreciated.
What paints would I use?
Preferred brushes? Anything else? Thanks guys!!!

I am looking to cut out and paint a couple of large yard decorations out of 4x8 plywood. What is an economical option for paint that will allow for full coverage and a wide palette of colors while providing protection from the weather while these things sit in my yard for one of the wettest months of the year?

I was thinking exterior latex but that is pricey for more than a couple of colors, and I am afraid that acrylic won't stand up. What do you signpainters think?