Posts by blag@typo.social
(DIR) Post #AYM1ToGmnEqrWYAy00 by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T07:16:48Z
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Here's an #introduction to me, Sam Roberts, reposted to typo.social now I'm here...I produce BLAG (Better Letters Magazine, https://bl.ag), the world's only publication dedicated to #signpainting / #signwriting.A born and bred Londoner, I moved with my family to Sant Pere de Ribes in Catalonia, Spain, in 2019. I've also lived in Bristol as a student, and Cambodia as a VSO volunteer.Here I am with my Lockdown Letterheads portrait by Mark Oatis: https://bl.ag/behind-the-panel-alf-becker-at-lockdown-letterheads/1/
(DIR) Post #AYM1TqHZJIfLlYYcUq by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T07:19:16Z
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Back in 2006, I was working in the advertising industry when I first noticed a fading sign painted on a brick wall.This is it, on Stoke Newington Church Street in North London.I was struck by the idea of painting a sign at this scale, but also the alien notion of having a pen repaired.My curiosity piqued, I set about finding and documenting more of what I later learned were called #ghostsigns.A blog followed (https://ghostsigns.co.uk/blog) and an obsession was born.2/
(DIR) Post #AYM1Ts84RaFzUg83yC by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T09:41:49Z
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In the 15 years that followed, I led a number of #ghostsigns projects: https://ghostsigns.co.uk/projects/.I have also written and published books on the topic, both academic and for the general reader: https://ghostsigns.co.uk/publications/.I curated a national archive at the History of Advertising Trust (https://www.hatads.org.uk/catalogue/search.aspx?Kwrd=ghostsigns) and led a project to document London's remaining street signs with the N.E. postal code (https://ghostsigns.co.uk/projects/nesigns/)3/
(DIR) Post #AYM1TtufoMjF1hsOMi by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T09:43:04Z
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On my return from Cambodia, I wanted to do something different with my life, and set about some experiments.One of these was researching and launching my #ghostsigns walking tours (https://ghostsigns.co.uk/tours).Another was hosting the London screenings of the Sign Painters film in 2014. I had been following its progress while overseas, and it was an honour to bring it to London.Without realising it at the time, this launched my fledgling concept of Better Letters.4/
(DIR) Post #AYM1Tvu2PhPPCJaueW by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T09:43:52Z
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After hearing that I was screening the film, Ash Bishop of Brilliant Signs got in touch. He suggested that I invite one of its stars, Mike Meyer, to come to London and teach a workshop.I rolled the dice, put some tickets on sale, and a couple of months later Mike joined me for three nights of the film at The Roxy, followed by a weekend workshop at Sarah Hyndman's Type Tasting studio.This was the first of what would be over 200 workshops organised in 50+ cites around the world.5/
(DIR) Post #AYM1Txrz6IxFIWeIjI by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T09:45:43Z
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We did so many workshops, and Mike painted so many promotional showcards, that during the pandemic we collated these and published The Showcards Book (https://bl.ag/showcardsbook).This shows the work with Mike's reflections on each showcard.I was also the ghost writer for the definitive contemporary 'how to', Sign Painting (https://bl.ag/signpainting), harnessing Mike's expertise. This was then illustrated by Jasper Andries.Another publishing endeavour were the two Morgue File books.6/
(DIR) Post #AYM1Tzn5xSERFwNQO0 by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T09:47:20Z
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In 2016 I received an email from someone called Karen in Bristol. She told me that she was caring for an elderly gentleman that painted one of the local #ghostsigns in the 1950s.You can read the full story at https://bl.ag/cliff, but one thing led to another and we produced a short film about this 96-year-old former #signpainter.Sadly Cliff died before we had finished editing the final cut, but his was the first in the 'When Better Letters Met...' series.RIP Cliff.7/
(DIR) Post #AYM1U1pIOFBFZLQD5s by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T09:49:42Z
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The reaction to our film about Cliff (previous toot in thread) led to producing three more about retired sign painters: When Better Letters Met...- Josef Samuel, Vienna, Austria;- Stan Wilkinson, Wokingham, UK;- Barbara Enright, Sydney, Australia.https://bl.ag/tag/when-better-letters-met/Funding for these productions came from Colossal Media and Right Way Signs of Chicago, and my time was voluntary—I'd love to commission more via BLAG in the future.8/
(DIR) Post #AYM1U3eNbndZE4KWMC by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T09:55:40Z
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Over the years I have also helped numerous agencies and their clients to find and collaborate with #signpainters and #lettering artists around the world.This is a sampling of some of the projects that I worked on as producer, and I'm always open to new briefs where my skills and network could be beneficial.I don't really plug this page of my site, but it has a load more images of projects I've worked on: https://bl.ag/portfolio/#signpainting #signwriting #signwriters 9/
(DIR) Post #AYM1U5cgH5SzLNYBzE by blag@typo.social
2023-07-19T09:56:29Z
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During the pandemic, I rediscovered my passion for researching and writing about #signs and #signpainting—I got the #ghostsigns book into print, and The Showcards Book (see earlier toot in thread).With no print magazines serving the sign painting trade, I developed the idea of a new print and online publication.BLAG was born, and is now on its third issue: https://bl.ag/03. It takes an international view of the trade, and every article/issue is a pleasure to produce.10/
(DIR) Post #AZr8mXjaBjGsOq5r2O by blag@typo.social
2023-09-16T08:21:58Z
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@dgar This one, which my (also a dad) friend replied to with "hahahahaaarsh".
(DIR) Post #AhoXZ5WCCGkdmMdpYG by blag@typo.social
2024-05-06T05:39:52Z
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Jeepneys are a popular mode of transport in The Philippines, and last year I profiled the decorative work that adorns them. This includes a wonderful documentary film by Esy Casey.http://bl.ag/jeepneyToday I found this video about a sign painter that produces the destination and other functional/directional signage for the Jeepneys. It shows the painter at work, including his tools, materials, and techniques.https://yewtu.be/watch?v=YWyXVyD1Hdw#SignPainting #philippines #jeepney #signs
(DIR) Post #AhoXZ7eQGeWKOSVQeW by blag@typo.social
2024-05-06T08:36:18Z
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The way he works—painting the negative space, or 'cutting in'—is reminiscent of Costa Rica's Mr Masking (RIP) and his use of masking tape.https://bl.ag/the-magic-of-mr-masking-costa-ricas-king-of-tape/#SignPainting #CostaRica #MaskingTape #letterng
(DIR) Post #ApZqnr6ZNAwSUvXL3g by blag@typo.social
2024-12-30T16:39:59Z
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@internetarchive Here's a sign painting themed Thimble Theater from the post at https://bl.ag/cartoons: 'It is Hard to Understand' (1922) by E.C. Segar.#SignPainting #SignPainters #ThimbleTheater #cartoon #comic
(DIR) Post #AvvQDxHKxtdnS4Td7Q by blag@typo.social
2025-07-08T13:44:37Z
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@LibrarianRA Don't miss the museum if you're still there, open Wed–Sun: https://bl.ag/my-week-at-the-american-sign-museum/
(DIR) Post #AwEKnQQ9yP8oBZTjG4 by blag@typo.social
2025-07-17T16:43:18Z
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@LibrarianRA When I was there last month I got to see the work-in-progress on this one that will soon be positioned at the entrance to the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati.At work on it is Christine Brunk DeShazo, who led the production of the original design by Noel B. Weber.#SignPainting #MuralPainting #GreetingsFrom #AmericanSignMuseum
(DIR) Post #AwopGgPDo1KQTYHbf6 by blag@typo.social
2025-08-04T06:49:30Z
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I've just posted an update to the Kickstarter for reprinting the Coast Manual of Lettering and Designs. It closes this week, so please back and/or boost to help us to the finish line...https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coastmanual/the-coast-manual-of-lettering-and-designs/posts/4450111#SignPainting #Signwriting #Lettering #GraphicDesign #Layout #RareBooks #Kickstarter
(DIR) Post #AzDrCoHQgf5NqVQexs by blag@typo.social
2025-10-15T04:36:16Z
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My current 'Plus' plan on Vimeo is around £110 ($130) for a year with up to 200GB of storage/hosting. For some videos, I designate them as 'private' except for embedding on my site.Could I achieve something similar with Peertube without having to worry about any of the technical side of things like hosting etc?I wouldn't mind paying slightly more, but not multiples of what I currently have with Vimeo.cc @FediTips @peertube #AskFedi #Vimeo #Peertube #VideoHosting