Do you remember when you saw really nice and high quality
storefront? Perfectly designed shop fascia with a sense of style, using
traditional and time-consuming methods? Simply, when you called it a piece od
art? Never? Of course. It’s very rare in Poland.
Sign painting, this is what we have forgotten. There was a
time – as recently as the 1980s, up to the fall of communism – when sign
painters worked without the aid of computers or other mechanized means.
Storefronts, murals, banners, billboards, and even street signs were all
hand-lettered with brush and paint. Unfortunately, like many skilled trades,
the sign industry has been overrun by the technology, it’s quicker and cheaper.
Our landscape is full of vinyl based, colourfull stickers wich are ushering
sameness onto our environment. In Poland after reinstation of democracy, and
capitalism, old techniques were abandoned and every man were excited about new
materials and simplier ways of advertising. Artists were no longer needed,
every simple computer was able to put random font and print it on a cheap
material.
 |
| http://wiktorpraga.deviantart.com/art/Szyld-Gabinet-Kosmetyczny-477317935 |
In western countries, there’s a growing trend to bring back
traditional sign painting techinque. If you walk down the streets of Glasgow,
you can see how many storefronts are made in classic method aside from some
high-street shops. You can learn this skill in regular schools, and do it as a
proffession.
 |
| http://www.brianthebrushuk.com/us_portfolio/gibson-mill-weaving-shed-hardcastle-craggs-hebden-bridge/ |
Hand lettered signs are more sophisticated and very unique.
Each artist have a different style of painting, so you can see differences
between their pieces of work. Even if they copy font shape from templates, they
are making it on their unusual way. Of course, everybody can see the
imperfection of brush edge shape but it doesn’t matter, it is way better than
synthetic computer-made graphics. If you order a hand-painted sign or outdoor
advertisment, one thing’s for sure – it will be the most distinguish commercial
from among rest of boring ones.
 |
| http://stgu.pl/art-case/art-szyldy-inaczej.html |
There is a niche, gap in polish commercial marketplace.
Maybe some artists can fill it?
I’m highly recommend a documentary film about sign painters
in USA. Several histories, all about present-day sign artists whom didn’t
forget this traditional art.
Movie clip:
vimeo.com/61006621
Movie clip:
Questions:
Sign painting – needless, remote in time or brilliant, worth
of care?
Imagine that you have a small grocery: do you want to put
the cheapest, the most colorful store fascia with window stickers, or rather
pay more for getting more sophisticated and better designed sign?
Did you ever see, knowingly, hand painted sign (on a wall,
plate or fascia)?
Hello. I'm not even part of this group (I finished PJATK couple of years ago), but I'd just like to let you all know that there is a great episodes of "99% invisible" (the audio podcast) about hand painted signs. Highly recommended. You can find it here: http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/episode-74-hand-painted-signs/
ReplyDeleteWhat a great podcast! Thanks for your comment. This branch of art is so undervalued. I'm waiting for a similar documentary about polish history of sign painting.
DeleteSign painting is great thing's. For me associate with tradition and old morality. For egzample in Gdansk is very old ice cream parlor Eskimos where serve are ice cream according traditonal recept. Signboard is in old sign painting style, but eveyone know that ice cream was the best in all Three City. But not to each activity fit sign painting
ReplyDeleteYes it is a good example. You wrote that sign painting is not suitable for all purposes. So what are they?
DeleteI really like it. I have had enough of these soulless, computer design, mass-printed signboards. But I think that if we decide on such a signboard that the whole venue should be designed and decorated in a retro style. Being in such venue we can go back in time. Computer signboards disfigure old squares, markets and city streets, these hand-painted are additional decoration for the cities, because they create an amazing atmosphere. I hope that I will see more of them on the city streets.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your comment! Computer designing is not a main issue of course. It's an indolence of graphic designers, they mostly put on their projects ready to use fonts, without their own creativity. But the main problem is that the most of small buisness owners, don't want to let professional to do their outdoor advertisments, so they do it by theirself.
DeleteI thought about this topic whole day. My mind is not very centralized for visuality. I am typical IT guy. I can name only three colors - pretty, ugly and... Sign painting topic is neutral for me. If letters are part of consistent project (in example design stores or other public places), that for me it is good.
ReplyDeleteBut I do not imagine use old fonts in modern design. This is not a good idea.
Your comment is very valuable for me. You are not a design lover, but it's not necessary to feel differences between "Word designs" and professional designed ones. Let me show you this example: http://2.static.s-trojmiasto.pl/zdj/c/n/9/1520/1000x0/1520749-Zmiany-sa-widoczne-golym-okiem-Krzykliwe-szyldy-zastapiono-stonowanymi-informacjami-I-dla-wielu-sa-one-bardziej-widoczne-niz-wczesniej.jpg
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think the computer projects displace traditional creation of ad two obvious reasons: time and cost savings, which must appear at the opening, for example. The new store. Advertising does not have to be boring, everything is a matter of the artist's imagination and the means that the customer can allocate. We observe boring advertising, because nowadays hard to extra time and money for this purpose. However, the development of technology allows you to create so good publicity, and even better example. ad with a 3D effect. Another criterion that you can decide how to implement this kind of advertising is the type of company for which is to be made advertising. It would be better to look handmade advertising in shop painting than a small grocery store.
ReplyDeleteOf course, you are right. Traditional sign painting is obviously more expensive than digital designed ones. But if designers will use traditional skills and workflow to their designs, we should see more diversity and good sense of style on our streets. Unfortunately many "graphic designers" without any qualifications are learning how to use photoshop only, but they know nothing about good taste.
DeleteI mightily support Igor subject due to my experience with drawning handmade letters. When I didn't know what is computer graphic I dreamt about material with newspaper pattern. It was
ReplyDeleteimpregnable in good condition and I had to do this handmade using needle, paint and the most tightly brush and paint on material letter by letter. This experiment teached me be patient and attentive for every sign.
It very important for every designer to know preliminary proccess of create usefull graphic for instance - signboard.
I'm not against to cg typography style because technology is changeable and develop but without fundamental knowledge you can't meet you in profession.
Everything which is handmade, crafted is definitely worth taking care! I’m not sure if getting such a sign will fill each business needs (I cannot imagine iSpot getting one, to be honest), however still it’s a good idea. Personally I’m a big fan of this kind of professions – especially cars pinstriping :)
ReplyDeleteMy only concern is that handmade product doesn’t have to stand for a good quality one. I’m pretty sure professional sign maker profession is barely alive and potential space in the market may be filled not with professional artists, but with their cheap equivalents offering low quality products. The same thing happened to computer graphics artists. As Gresham’s law says - bad money drives out good one.
As I had opportunity to live in London for 3 months I have seen multiple hand painted sings. Loved them all! :)
Sign painting – needless, remote in time or brilliant, worth of care?
ReplyDeleteImagine that you have a small grocery: do you want to put the cheapest, the most colorful store fascia with window stickers, or rather pay more for getting more sophisticated and better designed sign?
Did you ever see, knowingly, hand painted sign (on a wall, plate or fascia)?
This "retro signs" are the most brilliant and fabulous idea ever. I don't know what I can say more in this topic. Just look at this two photos: http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/2b/27/13/z20084523Q,Pasaz-przy-ul--Klonowej-we-Wrzeszczu-caly-jest-prz.jpg
and http://1.static.s-trojmiasto.pl/zdj/c/n/9/1665/1000x0/1665620-W-roku-1975-Elexmetal-wraz-z-innymi-spoldzielniami-i-rzemieslnikami-przystapil-do-budowy-budynku-biurowo-handlowo-uslugowego-pod-nazwa-Dom-Rzemieslnika-przy-ul-Klonowej-1-we-Wrzeszczu-Budzet-wynosil-15-mln-zl.jpg
What you can say about it? Just one word: MASSACRE. Ok, now with already mutilated eyes you can have a look at this:
http://2.static.s-trojmiasto.pl/zdj/c/n/9/1665/600x0/1665609-Dom-Rzemieslnika-zaprojektowal-jeden-z-najslynniejszych-gdanskich-architektow-Stanislaw-Michel-a-sciany-budynku-ozdobily-dziela-Ryszarda-Stryjca.jpg
Difference? Minimal ;)
And a short movie from Gdansk:
http://trojmiasto.tv/Elewacje-kamienic-odnowione-w-ramach-projektu-Nowa-Szeroka-10918.html
In addition, it would be worth to unify the little architecture and all the restaurants gardens. Then everything would be much more perfect.
I agree with your article. Good quality and perfect realisation of signboard is equal to price for it. When we want to have nice, well designed and well-chosen colours on our signboard we have to have performed it to good and experienced graphic designer, what causes that the price will be higher. But only then we will have great looking signboard. I am really upset when people are not taking care about how signboard are presenting their companies and stores, because they think that it is not significant, but in fact it leads to lowering theirs earnings.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I must admit that I designed two storefronts in my life (but I have no talent and I'm a graphic designer so it was computer-made) Banner advertising shop / restaurant / company can not be just a pretty - it must be functional. Of course, the most important is the idea but the time to create such a project, we must remember that must fit the image of the company and the place where it will be hung. I think that sometimes machines are required to achieve a particular result.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, often people do not understand that the eye-catching advertisement costs a lot and they choose inexpensive production methods that destroy the whole effect and makes it ordinary.
I have personally seen many breathtaking, handmade projects that can be called a work of art, and most of them belonged to the restaurant.
And so, if I had my own business I'd spend more money to have a good design and advertising because it represents the company.
And the answer to the first question: sign painting – definitely - worth of care
I really like that idea, and I would love to see it used more often. I think its going to get more popular with time. I think its a nice compromise between non invasive marketing and art
ReplyDeleteSign painting looks very nice, but I rememebr only few places where I saw this things. I always wondered how it's done. I am not very creative person, but I am fascinated by people who are talented and can by their own hands create such a beautiful things.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see more sign painting. For me this is a kind of art wich gives a soul espacialy to small businesses. In my opinion its also a first impression. I'm sure I'm not the one who wants to enter to shop with beautiful sign paint more than with trashy sign printed for very low cost.
ReplyDeleteHand-painted signs are beautiful and unique. Unfortunately, mass production is a sign of our time. Companies do not want to pay for a hand-made sign. Its implementation requires more time, but in my opinion they are brilliant and worth of care.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a small grocery I'd rather pay more for getting more sophisticated and better designed sign. I am aware that this is a big expense and not every store can afford it.
Unfortunately, I do not recall having seen somewhere a hand painted sign.
1.Sign painting – needless, remote in time or brilliant, worth of care?
ReplyDeleteAs a graphic designer I really appreciate this kind of art, it has it's own personality sometimes you can also feel an artist soul in it. Certainly it's wort of care.
2.Imagine that you have a small grocery: do you want to put the cheapest, the most colorful store fascia with window stickers, or rather pay more for getting more sophisticated and better designed sign?
Of course I would pay more for getting more personal and original sign, I don't like mediocrity.
Did you ever see, knowingly, hand painted sign (on a wall, plate or fascia)?
Of course I saw a lot of painted signs, especially in smaller towns and villages, because of lack of money to renovate the old buildings.
I consider sign painting an obsolete practice and find it needless. It is reflected by sign painting being virtually nonexistent nowadays. Having said that, it is a viable way of distinguishing your business from the competitors as the sign or fascia are the 'package' of a store and I have seen examples both modern and old that add charm to the whole street. I would consider it for my grocery store, assuming my potential clientele would value artistic and unique decorations and would be ready to pay a premium on goods bought in a fancy grocery store. Otherwise I would be happy enough with window stickers.
ReplyDeleteI am designer, so I appreciate this kind of art. It comes from within the soul of the artist, for its value is greater.
ReplyDeleteOf course I would pay more- branding is important in marketing strategy, if my shop looks better, i will be have more clients. Nowadays people are more people are more educated and more likely to appreciate well-designed things.
Yes, I saw. In small town and village people think, that they don't spend money on their image- therefore an create their own characters.
Need To Boost Your ClickBank Commissions And Traffic?
ReplyDeleteBannerizer makes it easy for you to promote ClickBank products using banners, simply go to Bannerizer, and get the banner codes for your favorite ClickBank products or use the Universal ClickBank Banner Rotator to promote all of the available ClickBank products.