Artist advise on Processuim arch's

[MarkThompson]

Greeting one and all. It is my first time using this message board,( Its a long time since i've been a virgin.) and i need help?

Can anyone advise me what paint is suitable on wood and metal for my processium arch?

I also need to find the best picture tranfers as i am crap at drawing?

Thanks

Mark Thompson.

[ruby]

Dont know what the English do .
The best paint is sold in Lymm in Norfolk for the writing of signs Having the Wrights make everything easy. They send to me far away and are nice.
Also they have the brass for letters
To cheat with pictures you can get the forms for embroidery flowers and paint them in.
Or you can come back to Andalucia to have them all painted by the one who does caravans.
Mind there is man in Birmingham who makes stencils of flowers as on Ebay.
There is lining tape at many car dealers,
Happy Art to you.

[johnstoate]

I tend to use alot of 'Japlac' enamel - It's easy enough to get hold of, (All the big diy. stores carry it) and suitably primed gives a lovely finish, Then a very light rub-down with fine steel wool and finish with a couple of coats of good polyurathane varnish, (Matt or silk finish for preference) to keep the damp out. For larger areas I use 'Dulux weathershield' same suppliers, if applied following the instructions it's guaranteed for six years! - I think the short answer is, any good quality will do, so long as you don't apply it too thickly, (Build up a number of thin coats, rubbing down lightly in between) And for lettering, thin to a usable consistency and use a good quality, long bristle lining brush, again building over several thin coats. Hope this helps

[lesclarke]

If you can't draw or paint why bother when it will probably look terrible.
Even people who can paint and draw can get in bother when using gloss type paints on wood. Signwriting is a skill best done with the correct paints and brushes.
Think about shapes and patterns, 3D cut outs.
Preparation and a good base coat are needed.
One really reliable way to get a good painted finish is to use spray paints. 'Plasticote' and several similar 'own brands' of spray cans have loads of colours including metallics, they dry within minutes, and work on wood or metal.
How about stripe, stars and crescent shapes, using masks and templates. A look at all the picture galleries will show that not all prosceniums are sign painted.

[James]

Remember, masking tape is your friend.

[Miraiker]

No James, Ive been working on my social skills and now I have people for friends - not many, I admit, but I've moved on from the days down the pub with the masking tape.

[James]

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows your name. Homebase!

[Trev]

James,

have you been sniffing the masking tape again?

[James]

Pritt Stick's more my thing.

[Trev]

remember what happened to Adrian Mole and his model aeroplane...

[billywand]

I have allways used Hammerite, easyto use, and so tough.

They have a nice smooth finish red wine colour, which looks great with hammered finish gold.

You can see the results on one of Chris's Allsorts galleries on this website, or on mine www.billywand.co.uk

The lettering was done at a local graphic supply shop, and is laser cut from a tough Fablon type material. It is computer generated, and can be done any size or style.

[Nick Jackson]

I printed out my lettering and gave it to a friend who is not afraid of the bandsaw – he cut them out of mdf – and this was around 15 years ago, before the makeover programmes made mdf famous:



I used the same lettering for the front of the show but traced over it using carbon paper. Much more difficult as I don't have a steady hand when it comes to brush work.



For my portable outdoor show I just painted gold on red – fortunately I don't have a copy to post.

My portable indoor show is trimmed with maroon denim and I cut out the lettering from gold fabric and stuck it on using that double sided iron on stuff. Quite effective. Will post a pic when I find one.

[Morris]

If you prime wood with ordinary house emulsion you can use oil paints on wood just as on canvas, which is good if you can paint sopectacularly well (I envy you). Otherwise, inscribe acrylic paint is good for ease of painting but needs to be varnished afterwards to make it last. Enamel paint has a tendancy to be difficult to work with for detailed stuff unless you are very patient with it.

Although after saying that, I confess my booth is done largely with leftover car paint.

[MarkThompson]

Thanks everyone for the advise on paints and drawing.

I have decided that should i fail i will ask Bryan Clarke.

Once again thanks

Mark.

Ps What day is the punch farewell to summer on in october???

[Trev]

Mark,

why not trot to the local arts college and offer to buy some poor starving student a sandwich and coffee in exchange for them doing the sign and using it in their portfolio?