2. The Graphic design industry is a constant
chop and change of trends, every era
holds a specific style that has shaped
it and left an identity. As our society
embraces the new era of technology and
identical structure within design, there is
a eagerness to go back to traditional
techniques. Sign painting is one of few
fulfilling this need to be unique and
traditional, whilst keeping versatile
enough to fit into trends of today, this
is why I have selected it as my chosen
topic. I will breakdown and explore this
future trend forecast for Sign Painting
and what skills are necessary for this
art form to be practiced.
3. Sign Painting in this current era is going
througharevival,sincemoderntechnology
boomed in the 1980’s. It has managed to
keep its presence in the art community
by those who have stayed dedicated
to traditional techniques. Sign Painting
is freehand lettering of words, symbols
by mastering dexterity with a brush and
paint. (Suzanne, 2015) It was the original
way to make contact with customers and
sell a product, brand or event. By painting
these symbols and letters onto surfaces
such as walls, billboards and windows
and vehicles you could announce identity,
ownership, promote a business and what
it’s services are. Also used in instructions,
warnings and directions (Suzanne,
2015). You can see the evidence that
sign painting is back just by walking
down to a new restaurant or store.
“More and more businesses want to
differentiate themselves from their
neighbors by investing in something
that is handmade and unique them”
(M. Kasabian, 2015).
4. In a world of constant change and a dependence
on technology, it is a common sight to see
something promoting ‘organic’, ‘home made’. The
new spike in handmade designs is a reaction to the
proliferation of mass-produced products. “There is
a trend toward a slower and more detailed
process of making things” (M.Kasabian,
2015). You can see era of sign painting
returning, through out Australia, whether it
is a hand painted pictorial at Queen’s Head
Hotel, Adelaide or the store front of Auto
Barn store in Brisbane, sign painting is very
much in our presence and having a come
back. These are businesses ranging from
car parts to food, large built franchises to
a cafe down the road.
5. A trend toward a slower and more detailed process of
making things” (M.Kasabian, 2015). You can see era of
sign painting returning, through out Australia, whether
it is a hand painted pictorial at Queen’s Head Hotel,
Adelaide or the store front of Auto Barn store in Brisbane,
sign painting is very much in our presence and having a
come back. These are businesses ranging from
car parts to food, large built franchises to a cafe
down the road. These are businesses ranging
from car parts to food, large built franchises
to a cafe down the road. It is not only coming
back in it’s traditional state but also evolving
into more technology based techniques. You
can see this with the amount of ‘hand written’
fonts available. When going onto websites
such as ‘dafont’ and ‘1001fonts’, you will often
see a category with the label ‘hand fonts’ or
calligraphy. These are fonts that have been
developed to have a organic, unique feel, much
like sign writing. Used in script fonts, serifs, san
serifs, slab serifs, monospaced and display
fonts. They all have there own feel, depending
on the users preference. Some have an elegant
display, some retro. This is what the designer
is trying to display.
6. For a designer to gain the skills of
sign painting, they would need a
lot of patience and dedication, it is
a minimum of 5 years before one
can be confident and have the
techniques mastered. It takes a
great deal of knowledge in different
areas such as , design layouts, fonts, making
patterns, prepping boards, mixing paints,
outline, highlights, boarders, as well as
centring, balance and correct spacing in work
(Suzanne, 2015). There are also different styles
with sign painting, such as gold leafing, which
can be the most difficult skill to learn. The
traditional and most only proper way to learn is
by apprenticeship, this is how it has been done
for generations. Mastering dexterity is the core
skill within sign painting.
7. The Future of Sign Painting is depending on
the future generation of artist. Those who find
fascination in the technique and ways of sign
painting. These days you can find more and
more old artist teaching the art of sign painting.
The once dying art is having a big come back.
As the future gets more and more involved
into technology, businesses will be wanting to
stand out from the others that have generic
computer made signs. In the crowded
market of today, having something
done by hand gives an authentic look,
something different, this is why sign
painting is becoming so popular and
will be seen more as we come into a
new era. Holding onto the old skills is
what will lead us into the future.
