exterior mural

Ghost signs, blade signs, hand painted signs, OH MY!

I guess it's a "sign" of the times!  Growth is REAL in DC right now and with every new establishment there is a need for a intriguing sign.  It is still true that you never get a second chance to make a first impression and the first impression (other than hundreds of recommendations via social media) is the sign of an establishment. 

These past years have brought us great opportunities to flaunt our custom sign skills — ghost signs, hand painted signs on interior and exterior walls, blade signs, neon signs, and the simpler signs of reproducing a logos. The work has been super fun and diverse which keeps our creative juices flowing!

One of our favorite recent accomplishments was working at Nats Park in their two newest premium suites. We were hired to paint ghost signs of old DC landmarks. Research first, present ideas and sample boards, gain approval and GO!  Truly a pleasure to work at the stadium and the client was thrilled with the results.  I guess that's a "good sign" that we're doing something RIGHT!

Then, of course, there is Right Proper. Three years ago we had the opportunity to create a blade sign for their initial endeavor.  A call back for their new location was another "good sign" that we create a quality product.  This time around it was two huge ghost signs on the exterior of their new building. The work was challenging as we got started on the hottest week in DC, but it all turned out fabulous! Of course we were thirsty but since they weren't brewing yet we had to settle on WATER.  I'll be first in line once the place opens up!

Somehow Bo Blair and his group continue to knock out high quality establishments and I'm happy that we are playing a roll.  Besides Surfside and Jetties, we recently helped to make DUE SOUTH the awesomest (is that a word?) eatery at The Yards (that's the commercial name created for great things happening at Navy Yards).  A couple of faded logos on reclaimed barn wood and a reclaimed retro marque style arrow with our addition of TAKE OUT help to give the place charm.  Only problem is that we heard the food is so good folks seldom look up from their plates!

Brewpubs are here to stay, thank God!  After meeting Bill Madden, the owner and brewmaster,  at Glover Park Day we let him know that we wanted IN on his newest endeavor in Glover Park (their original location is in Falls Church, VA).  After a few months of back and forth we found two great locations for our handiwork.  Below are samples of our ghost sign on the upper level and a crisp and clean look on the lower level.  Great owner, great beer and, uh, GREAT SIGNS!

 

Occasionally we work directly with the architect to make their vision a reality.  In this instance we teamed up with I Studio to reproduce the logo for The Body Image.  This approach is usually a little less creative but either way it is gratifying to produce a quality sign and know that it's a job well done.

 

Look at the signs around YOU.  Good signs?  Bad signs?

Our experience is diverse, our clients fun, our portfolio expanding everyday. Check out our full portfolio here

A Man's Recollections

What I DID NOT expect at first was that the fact that One Man's Recollections would serve to provide reflections for others.  Since the installation of this project along busy Connecticut Avenue, just inside the DC line, I've received emails and phone calls expressing how many others have come to recall their experiences of going to games as kids.  It becomes a shared moment among strangers.  He might have been sitting in the same section on the same day cheering on the same team - one never knows. There was something very special and unique about interviewing the client and watching his face as some of his fondest moments of his childhood came flooding back.  That alone provided me with the feeling of success.  Then, to take those memories and to create images reflecting them I found to be an honorable task.

A picture is worth a thousand words...  Hopefully my efforts, done for one man, have inspired others to conjure up their memories and thousands upon thousands of words may be shared as they  ponder their own recollections.

Glover Park Mural Of Charles Carroll Glover

Do YOU know your neighborhood's namesake? Now everyone in Glover Park is aware of Charles Carroll Glover thanks to this mural celebrating his efforts to help make DC the livable city that we've all come to love. Been to the Nat'l Zoo? Glover helped make it a reality. Ever seen the splendor of the National Cathedral? The first meeting to discuss such a concept was in his living room! Think Rock Creek Park is a treasure? Well, Glover lobbied congress to set aside this land for all to enjoy. Pretty incredible guy and I thought his merits should be shared with all. The mural, made possible with a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, also describes the neighborhood's vibrancy and flavor with a kid and his dog - both of which you'll see plenty of as you walk the streets of Glover Park!


And what a time it was...

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Pearson's Wine and Liquor...  A family owned business established in 1933 when "Doc" Eisenberg bought Pearson's Pharmacy on Wisconsin Avenue in Washington, DC.  At the time, alcohol was sold only by PRESCRIPTION because it was during prohibition.  When booze became legal again (whew) liquor sales overtook the small neighborhood pharmacy.  So Doc, and his wife Sarah, opened Pearson's Liquor Annex - the Pearson's we know of today.  The drugstore is now a gas station!

Steve Silver, and his wife Rae (daughter of "Doc"), began running the store when Doc retired.  I knew Doc as his caretaker would bring him by in the mornings for a short time.  He could barely walk and I never heard him speak.  He must have felt at home there.

One day Steve showed me a page from a magazine, he had carried it around for a while, and wondered if I could "replicate" the look of this advertisement on the facade of Pearson's.  It was a challenge indeed.  A large wall for me to do my thing - public art.  The year was 2001.  We all remember where we were on September 11, 2001...  It was a beautiful morning and I was on the scaffold just doing my thing when Rae came out and thought it best that I go home.  Little did I know at that time that this day would forever change all of our lives forever.

Pearson's
Pearson's

There was much work and planning to be done.  Old signs and marques had to be removed with a crane, prime and paint the entire facade before I even got to lay a brush on the surface. Days went by and I worked on occasionally being summoned down to discuss the work at hand.  I loved speaking with passersby, many my neighbors, and it enriched the entire experience.  Of course, Steve and Rae were great to work with day in and day out.  I got to know them so well, good, honest people running a family business - it doesn't get more real than that.

Well, here we are 13 years later, and it still stands as one of my favorite pieces that I have created.  Thanks go to Steve and Rae for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to do what I love to do.  Enjoy.

To improve the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.  ~ Thoreau

Griffith Stadium Comes Back to DC!

New mural soon to be displayed on the south wall of Circle Liquors in Chevy Chase, DC. 

In the late 50's Richie Cohen was a kid who loved baseball. He and his buddies would get on a streetcar in Silver Spring and ride it along Georgia Avenue to Griffith Stadium to see the Senators (who moved to Minnesota in 1961) play ball. These were days of joy. We hope to capture those memories in our new six panel mural, soon to be installed on the south side wall of Circle Liquors in Chevy Chase. We like to think that so many others will relate their own great experiences to that of Mr. Cohen's as they pass by this new landmark.

   

The panels are putting to use both age old hand painting as well as modern technology. After painting the six small paintings in the studio (one of which was shown on the video), they will be scanned, enlarged and then installed. We hope to keep you informed as the installation process begins.