Mastodawn

Here's an #introduction to me, Sam Roberts, now I've figured out the basics of mastodon...

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/

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

Show thread

Sam at BLAG Jul 16, 2023

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.

The Ghostsigns Blog | Ghostsigns

The Ghostsigns Blog featuring hundreds of articles about ghost signs, the history of signs, signwriting and related realms of historic signage and lettering.

The Ghostsigns Blog| Ghostsigns | The Ghostsigns blog is where I write up my own and others' research. I have been published here since 2007 and there are over 500 articles in total. I welcome submissions, and now do a digest of these and other things of interest via the newsletter.

Show thread

Sam at BLAG Jul 16, 2023

In the 15 years that followed, I led a number of #ghostsigns projects, e.g. https://ghostsigns.co.uk/projects/.

These included two major publications, one academic (https://ghostsigns.co.uk/publications/a-book-about-ghost-signs/), and one for the general reader (https://ghostsigns.co.uk/publications/book/).

I curated a national archive at the History of Advertising Trust (https://www.hatads.org.uk/catalogue/search.aspx?Kwrd=ghostsigns) and wrote a book about hand-painted signs in the town where we lived while volunteering in Cambodia (https://ghostsigns.co.uk/publications/handpaintedsignsofkratie/).

Ghostsigns Projects | Ghostsigns

Ghostsigns projects from Sam Roberts, including various initiatives connected to ghost signs, including archives, light capsules, maps and publications.

Ghostsigns Projects| Ghostsigns | In addition to my research and writing, I have been involved with a number of projects and initiatives connected to ghost signs since becoming interested in them in 2006. These have ranged from curating a national archive on behalf of the History of Advertising Trust through to helping to bring London's ghost signs back to

Show thread

Sam at BLAG Jul 16, 2023

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.

Ghostsigns Tours | Ghostsigns

Ghostsigns Tours| Ghostsigns | In-Person Walks I don't have any public walks scheduled for the foreseeable future, but if you are interested in discussing a private walk then I am available over the weekend of 21/22 December 2024. Are of my walks are available below as digital experiences, and the Clapham one is free so you can try before

Show thread

Sam at BLAG Jul 16, 2023

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.

Show thread

Sam at BLAG Jul 16, 2023

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.

BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)

Sign painting publications and merchandise from BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).

BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)

Show thread

Sam at BLAG Jul 17, 2023

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.

When Better Letters Met Cliff Headford

Short biopic about retired signwriter Cliff Headford (RIP).

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

Show thread

Sam at BLAG Jul 17, 2023

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.

When Better Letters Met - 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

Show thread

Sam at BLAG Jul 18, 2023

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

Better Letters Portfolio

Sign painting and lettering projects from Better Letters.

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

Show thread

Sam at BLAG Jul 18, 2023

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/