New at bl.ag online, ‘William Gilpin: Signwriter of Ulverston’, with a reproduction of Tony Lewery’s 2016 article describing one man’s contribution to the character of a Cumbrian town.

https://bl.ag/william-gilpin-signwriter-of-ulverston/

With thanks to Tony Lewery and Forum editor John Neilson for their kind permission to share this wonderful piece with BLAG readers. Forum 31 with the original is available in the Letter Exchange shop:

https://letterexchange.org/shop/forum-journal/forum-31

#SignPainting #Signwriting #Ulverston #Cumbria #SignPainters #Signwriters

New at bl.ag online, ‘Brendan Mooney: Memories of a Signwriter’, with a charming short biopic about this retired signwriter from Birr, County Offaly, Ireland.

https://bl.ag/brendan-mooney-memories-of-a-signwriter/

#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters #Birr #Offaly #ShortFilms

I am helping the organisers of this year's Amsterdam Letterheads: “Sea Level” with their email updates.

If you'd like to receive these, then the dedicated event newsletter/mailing list can be joined via this link:

https://bl.ag/#/portal/account/newsletters

Here's a report from their 2016 meet for a taste of what to expect in the Netherlands this August:

https://bl.ag/letterheads-2016-greetings-from-amsterdam/

#Letterheads #SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Lettering #Signwriters #Amsterdam #IOAFS

“The end of every letter has what’s called a terminus, and the interesting thing about road signs is that Highway Gothic* has a terminus on an angle, which is tricky to paint.” — Ray ‘Moondog’ Polotnianka on cutting his teeth painting Australian highway signs:

https://www.indailysa.com.au/salife/people-and-places/2026/01/08/meet-the-man-behind-this-dying-artform

Based in Adelaide, his website is here: https://moondog.net.au.

*Highway Gothic on @FontsInUse: https://fontsinuse.com/typefaces/20992/highway-gothic

#Signwriting #Signwriters #SignPainting #SignPainters #Adelaide

“Frash, Momery Card” — Another ‘You Spelled It Wrong’ from The Citizen's Abdi Sultani. Read his comments here, signed off once again with his classic “Trust signwriters!” catchphrase:

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/oped/the-bus-was-overloaded-with-fear-and-panic-when-it-tilted-5321032

And browse even more here:

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/abdi-sultani-3020258

#SignPainting #Signwriting #Spelling #Signwriters #Tanzania

New at bl.ag online, 'Getting Into It Again in 2026', with another six sign painters sharing their journeys into the trade and their advice for those just starting out:

https://bl.ag/getting-into-it-again-in-2026/

This is the latest in a series of 'Getting Into It' pieces, with all of them available via https://bl.ag/tag/getting-into-it/.

#SignPainting #SignPainters #Signwriting #Signwriters

New(ish) at bl.ag online, 'When ‘Hand-Painted Jamaica’ Met Bug Art Sav', profiling the Jamaican sign painter keeping the island’s traditions alive.

https://bl.ag/when-hand-painted-jamaica-met-bug-art-sav/

PS. Bug's GoFundMe following Hurricane Melissa is less than $250 away from its goal so please contribute here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-bugs-recovery-after-hurricane-melissa

#SignPainting #Signwriting #Jamaica #Dancehall #SignPainters #Signwriters

New at bl.ag online, 'Chain Letter: Meghan McDermott', with the story of how Vanessa Power's Dublin mural guided Meghan towards her chosen career of sign painting.

https://bl.ag/chain-letter-meghan-mcdermott/

PS. This is the eighth 'Chain Letter' in the series: https://bl.ag/tag/chainletter/

#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters #ChainLetter #Dublin #Mural #MeAulFlower

Goodness gracious me, it's actually a real book, with an introductory essay from the wonderful Morgane Côme.

This one from @letterformarchive looks spectacular and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Lettres Décoratives: A Century of French Sign Painters’ Alphabets

https://letterformarchive.org/shop/lettres-decoratives/

PS. Some of this stuff appeared in a small segment in BLAG 02 (https://bl.ag/02) but this book is next level.

#SignPainting #SignPainters #Enseignes #Signwriters #Signwriting #France #Alphabets

As BLAG 08 goes to print I've noted work, articles, and projects from 17 countries in total: Argentina; Australia; Belgium; Brazil; Canada; France; Germany; Hong Kong; Kenya; Ireland; Italy; Mexico; South Korea; Spain; Thailand; UK; USA.

The international nature of our adventures in sign painting is one of my favourite things about producing the publication.

Join us via https://bl.ag/join

#SignPainting #Signwriting #Lettering #SignPainters #Signwriters #Magazines #Publishing

BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & Culture

Adventures in sign painting craft, community and culture with BLAG (Better Letters Magazine), the only print and online publication dedicated to the trade.

BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & Culture