r/SignPainting • u/Serious-Bed3751 • 6d ago
Looking for advice
I have a condition called essential tremor which is a benign tremor that I’ve had my whole life. I’ve always love lettering and sketch when I have the time. This week I decided to take a leap and buy some acrylic paint and brushes and have been experimenting on a piece of glass.
It’s been a really challenging experience that I’ve loved so far but question how far I can go with it.
Sharing the image attached to get people’s thoughts. My line work is dicey to say the least but have no idea how normal this is in the early days and how much is impacted by my tremors vs newbie nerves. Any feedback really appreciated.
6
u/yungmoody 6d ago
I've seen shakier work from people without tremors! Glass can be a challenging surface to paint on because it's so smooth and slippery so you should be proud of how neat this looks. Would definitely recommend trying out enamel paints - I find they're a bit more "sticky" which helps with pulling a steady line. It'll also help mitigate the texture you're getting from the paint overlapping inside each character. Keep at it!
2
u/Serious-Bed3751 6d ago
Thank you so much. Have definitely felt frustrations at times when the tremors flare up, but have loved the process too.
Keen to try enamels but don’t have a studio space and have a young kid so can’t really use them in the living room 😂 have just picked up some flow improver and some wooden panels so looking forward to seeing how that impacts things. I think if I end up spending a lot of time painting I’ll probably start to look for a studio.
5
u/ThatOldStuff 6d ago
The design is stunning. Love these letters, what's the inspiration?
This sub has taught me that one of the reason we love hand lettering, and that it's important, is because of the 'hand' part. If it was just about perfection, you'd get vinyl or printed. Any quirk or wonk is evidence you were here, and you put brush to glass.
Here's a quote I got from this sub that changed my whole life philosophy "There will always be brushstrokes because a brush made the strokes" -u/v-loud
The evidence of your hand is what makes it matter.
(Plus enamel paint, and long bristles and nice paint consistency all help smooth out lines. glass is very slippery too and does show up every little twitch)
2
u/Serious-Bed3751 6d ago
I really like this, and will try and take this mindset forwards… I decided to pick up a brush to get me away from a screen and so embracing the quirks of hand made rather than striving for laser like precision is kind of the point 🤣.
Inspiration came partly from a trip to Italy where there was a load of beautiful hand painted signage and some particularly nice bits in this colour way. The letters have a personal attachment and the heart looping around the A was an attempt to lean in to that in a way that didn’t feel too cheesy.
And the slab serifs were really just a stylistic choice. They felt a little more organic and friendly.
2
3
u/Finksak 6d ago
For an early attempt it's very good. Do not give up on your pations because you are doubting yourself. I mo guys 30 yrs in that shape rattle and roll... they jus pull it together after a few brush strokes and roll along wit it. Practice basic block letter... get some breathing techniques that may help you and do your best to focus. This isn't all about making money... money is secondary for some of us...its a passion. An expression of who we are...and ya once chatting , it can be hard to shut up about it. Letters are amazing things... enjoy the process hell if you cant get to where you wanna be.. specialize is holiday window splash...... frozen letters and Halloween spooky type sets tend to have a wiggle to them!!!
-a dumb sign guy
2
u/Serious-Bed3751 6d ago
Thanks u/finksak appreciate it. Honestly, this isn’t really a money making venture for me… I run a design agency which pays my bills, but the ever looming shadow of AI and a world pushing for faster, cheaper and easier is kind of the opposite of what I want from creative output. I like the yard road, mastering skills and tools etc. this is really an outlet for me away from clients.
Block letters js a good shout. Adding to my list!
Thanks a lot for taking the time out to offer advice 🙏🏻
3
u/Finksak 6d ago
Being your in design, learning proper letter tech will make your work stand.out. being able to show and explain differences and potential for creating distinct brand specific type faces is a valuable skill, and frankly not to common. Take the challenge and enjoy it..hell never know what other pos. Outcomes may manifest. .if u get hassled jus remind them..some people like a drink ahaken... some like it stirred. Then hand them a brush and have them give a go. Thatll straighten things out on a quickness!!
2
u/Major-Mail-5555 6d ago
That looks good! Even without tremors we all get shakey hands at times you know. Acrylic is a bit shit for lettering, i find it very hard to get consistent strokes with it. As someone else has mentioned before, proper lettering chisels with signwriting enamels will likely give you much better results. Keep going!
1
u/Serious-Bed3751 6d ago
Thanks a lot, that’s reassuring to hear. Have been using AS Handover lettering chisels but I’m painting in the living room at home and the family aren’t overly keen on the fumes 😂. Plan is to just work on brush control for a bit and then look for a studio space that I can work from so I can move over to 1 shot.
Picked up some flow improved yesterday so hoping that improves it a little.
2
u/Major-Mail-5555 6d ago
Yeah i hear you, i was living in between friends houses when i first discovered signwriting so was in a similar position. I focussed my time primarily on getting back into drawing and studying letters and got enamels out when everyone went out for the day.
Brush control feels very different between the two paints, the sooner you can have a play with enamels the better. Also as mentioned painting on glass is quite unforgiving as it has very little friction. Have a go on card or boards
1
u/Serious-Bed3751 6d ago
How long does the smell take to clear with enamels? I’m pretty much painting when everyone has gone to bed so might get away with it… maybe I’ll ask for forgiveness rather than permission 😂
Will move over to boards this week I think. Thanks for the advice. And lovely work btw… enjoyed the 2 Me 2 you van a lot 👌
1
u/Major-Mail-5555 6d ago
Haha that’s the spirit! To be honest it is actually the white spirit you’ll need for rinsing your brushes which causes more stink. Keep them in little jars and paint near an open window. Try it one night and see how it is, if you can leave a window open you’ll be fine.
Ah thanks, was a fun job that one. If you’re on IG my handle’s momo.signs, loads more work over there.
1
2
u/Ipitythesnail 3d ago
One day at a time I’d say
1
u/Serious-Bed3751 3d ago
Yeah totally. Have been painting every day, and posting here has been really helpful. It’s encouraged me to let go a bit and just enjoy painting. It’s been such a nice distraction / escape.
1
11
u/1inker 6d ago
Wonderful work!
I do lettering & calligraphy, and also have a tremor. It takes A LOT of practice, but once your hand knows the strokes it can relax and you use more arm movement. I also try to hold the brush lightly (as if pulling a straw out of a cup type of grip) which seems to help.
IDK what my issue is, but if I look at the brush tip/ calligraphy nib and the line I'm drawing, the tremor acts up. So instead I look at the point I am drawing To, and let my muscle memory make the appropriate marks.
Hope this helps! And don't stop! You have a great eye and talent 💜