I’m still here!
In effort to prove the world that I’m still alive and well, I decided to jump on my “computer machine” and drop a few lines.
As life has changed drastically for many (mine included, to a degree) through the great COVID-19 pandemic, it is worth expressing that my family has been remarkable in adjusting to the “new norms”, including some of the bittersweet dampers that it has caused. One such damper involved my son missing out on his Senior Prom and subsequent Graduation. I was impressed how he took everything in stride and felt it was a great life-lesson for him (and everyone else for that matter). The novelty of it all is something that will surely force our “Corona times” to be an indelible part of our mind’s eye for years to come. Remember to always see the best in things, even if it isn’t what you had originally expected.
What’s new?
Anyway, in the world of sign-making, things have been extremely busy for me. There has been a steady stream of custom commissions and a large part of my late Spring / early Summer has been spent fulfilling a rather large order for a timeshare resort in Virginia. Oh, and - yea, I am writing this blog entry on a brand new MacBook Air! That is a big “plus”, as much of what I do in the design aspects of sign making requires a fast machine capable of running the Adobe software used in such activities.
Here are a few pics of some recent work. I have much more to show… I just need to take the time to upload them. Let’s go with these for now :)
Here is a ‘group portrait’ of a motley crew o’signs.
A custom tavern sign for a client in Williamsburg, VA; The family was renovating their house and wanted to honor their dog in a whimsical manner by including her in the fabric of an original tavern sign.
Just a small little guy… this sign was done on the whim. I wanted it to appear as though it had once been part of a farm wagon or a road side stand.
One of the most prominent horologists (clockmakers) in America, Joseph Ives came from a family well versed in the art and craft of time keeping machines. Joseph Ives began his career in the early 19th Century in the East Bristol part of Connecticut and spread his travels to Brooklyn, NY. If early American clocks interest you, check out http://www.heritageparkpublishing.com/purchase-american-wooden-movement-tall-clocks.htm; It’s the bible of clockmaking and early clock specimens - a treat for both serious collectors and laypersons wishing to learn more about this fascinating genre.
The picture taken here isn’t great, but should give you the basic idea of things. This sign was created for a loyal customer in the New England area. A big fan and frequenter of Scotland, this is a small version of an original sign that hangs above a watering hole in Edinburgh, Scotland - The Last Drop. And, of course, being the appreciator of all things “punny”, I found this to be something right up my alley :)
Another version of a commonly requested sign - City Tavern. This version is a bit unique, in that it features the the interesting features one might expect to see in an old sign - molding of significant girth, wood of extraordinary character and texture, and (my favorite) the most dazzling degree of layered paint. The crimson tones seem to trickle through the ebony tones in ways that even I would have a hard time duplicating again. The gold sunburst and lettering literally shimmer against the dark backdrop when the light hits it.
This is an original painting made on oak. The left and right edges were bread-boarded for an interesting feature. The scene was made, based on the style of folk art masters ranging from Warren Kimball to Rufus Porter. The scene features the Manor House, an historical structure that still exists within the property of a resort in Gordonsville, VA. In the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, this resort ties together the rustic charm of the surrounding countryside with the rich history that once played prominently in the story of early America. There are far to many to mention here, but you may have heard of one such fellow who was quite familiar with this area - James Madison :) Yes, he was a rather large player in the American story.
This original image was photographed and later served as the source for later versions, printed on 3/4” cabinet grade hardwood. The printing was done with state-of-the-art UV-cured inks, resulting in a look that almost appears indiscernible to the original at first glance. The (simulated) texture carried over to the printed versions, with the physical texture of the printed object remaining nice and smooth.
A boring picture, I know! But, this is one stack of game-boards that will eventually be assembled within coffee tables. These coffee tables will be part and parcel of some of the dwellings within the Virginia resort mentioned earlier.
Beyond today -
Looking ahead, I am anticipating something quite remarkable in terms of my workspace. I’ll certainly elaborate on this in my next blog post, but suffice it to say that Colonial American Sign Company is going to be receiving a brand new studio. For a long time, I have been tinkering around with the notion of building a workshop - one that’s entirely devoted to my sign work (and not in the mix of my living space). During the past 4-6 months, I have moved forward with plans to have a beautiful timber-framed barn build on my property. I will share details with you soon, so stay tuned!
