Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Old-Nail]

Its funny how things go around in ever decreasing circles.

I was looking for an old truck to feature in a painting I had in mind to do and as there are limitless public domain photographs of most types of vehicle on the net I looked around and found an old green Dodge.
I saved the pics of it, fascinated as I was by the texture of flaking paint that it wore, it was only recently when looking through the main site I saw again the old green dodge... it was Ricks!

Well I didn't end up using that one as my 'model' (sorry Rick), but I did paint this one instead. It shows an old abandoned truck in a cornfield enduring the baking heat of summer.
The colours appear a little harsh here, something to do with the camera I had at the time I think, but I thought I would post it for any Dodge fans out there - hope you like it!

[buzzy bee]

Hi

The world is very small really, I like your painting!

Cheers

Dave

[admin]

Nice pic!!!
funny how you found the pic of my old girl (called Bess, by the way)

cheers
Rick

[Uncle Joe]

I like it as well!

old-Nail, have you ever considered turning your artistic talents to things like vehicle signwriting, pinstripng, and airbrushing?

[Old-Nail]

Well UJ around thirty years ago I wanted to train as a signwriter and vehicle letterer. I went to various companies in the hope that I might be taken on as an apprentice, but I was told that all the work was sub-contracted out to established painters and they worked alone.

There seemed to be no way in so I let that particular ambition go, then around twenty years ago I met a chap that earned his living in this way, we became friends and I asked the same of him - could he teach me?

I think the appeal of working on individual projects and taking pride in your work and finished product was the big draw for me, not too many jobs have that kind of satisfaction.
Anyhoo... the signwriter told me that he would be retiring shortly, and that he would probably be one of the last of the original type signwriters, by that he meant that he could letter anything from a van, an office window, to a fairground ride!
The trend back then (mid '80's) he said, was for stick on lettering and "with these new fangled computers there will be no work for you soon".

Thus I never learned that particular skill, and as he predicted the real practitioners have all but died out.

[admin]

From what I can tell there are still signwriters in gameful employment, have a look at all the brightly decorated narrowboats that are dotted around the canal system. That coupled with lots of old lorries being restored, should mean that there is still some demand for that service. I know I'll be needing a fair bit in years to come

Rick

[Uncle Joe]

I would have a tendency to agree with the last comment as regards signwriters.

As far as pinstripers are concerned, there is a company about 35 miles north of me that "imports" a guy from the States for a couple of months every year.

They get customers coming from all over the place, and he certainly has a lot of work to do!

You know the saying, what goes around comes around!

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Still dffinateley traditional signwriting around, I found quite a few on the net a while ago when I was looking into it, one I remember is www.petewitneysigns.co.uk

Cheers

Dave

[Old-Nail]

It's encouraging that 'traditional' signwriters still exist.

I guess the few that still practice have come into their own now because so many have retired the work is there for the remainder.
Factor in a greater interest in the restoration of historic commercial vehicles etc and the wheel has come full circle.

Maybe it's a British thing but we tend to 'price things' then go with the cheapest which today must be lazer cut plastic. I know that philosophy doesn't apply to vehicles that people take pride in restoring but the 'everyday' signwriters trade is lost to computers.

Flying a guy in from the states! wow, he must have a rare skill!

[Uncle Joe]

Funny enough, the guy is neither worse nor better than others I have seen. I suspect that its just the fact that people think "Wow, hes being flown in from the States. He must be good!"

So, Old-Nail, learn how to pinstripe, I'll create a bit of publicity for you here, and you know the rest!

[Old-Nail]

Nice idea... but with the amount of 'grief' I get from my Mrs for buying 'yet another bloody old car, why do you need so many etc etc.' I doubt I can maintain a steady hand for much longer!