ERIC SEDLETZKY
This is the latest news, events, and recent cool projects page. This is where I'll post all the newest stuff I'm doing and the latest happenings.
Old and New.
This door is original and it's old. it's a truck door off a late 1920's to 1930's
Ford possibly. The paint on the door is
all original and the rust is real.
What's not old is the sign. I painted this sign onto this door and was able to figure out a way to mask off the rusty spots to preserve them under the lettering. After
the lettering was applied I used aging
techniques to make the sign look absolutely authentic.
Also, the font style is vintage. Back in the day there were no computers and digital font libraries. It was up to each sign painter to know their fonts, and each one had their own style. Every sign painter had their own way of designing letters and many times it was easy to figure out who painted what based on the little details of their individual "handwriting" and brush handling skills.
The Patina Factor.
It's all the latest rage!.. The recreated patina, what's old is new and hip and cool.
In addition to the design of the neon sign
being retro, I even gave it a weathered,
sixty to seventy year old wear and tear from the elements look by sanding and wearing the paint away, then using different techniques to artificially age the surface to give it an authentic look like it survived from the 1940's!
This phenomenon has spread into my regular signage business now with requests for something much more unique than the standard computer generated signs cranked out by every other sign shop around. People are looking for something different, they want to stand out and be noticed.
Speaking of patinas, this building and all
the signs on it were all re-created and
artificially patina'd. The building itself is a brand new building that was artfully
painted to look like it's completely rusted and has been there for years. Using multiple
techniques the building was converted from a bland plain brown to this interesting rusted masterpiece. All the signage was hand lettered and you can see how the neon marquis sign finishes off the authentic vintage auto garage look.
A new direction in signage.
Recently, I got an opportunity to build a full on neon marquis box sign for a special client.
The suggestion came up when the client experessed a hightened interest in historical Americana and the golden era of early to mid century automotive service and gas station signage and wanted something unique.
I suggested to him to let me build this neon
sign for his personal hot rod shop. It stands
twelve feet tall and features two sides of neon
tubing, double stroke on the yellow, true red
neon on the border, and true blue argon filled
tubing for the garage lettering. In this day
and age to see a new neon sign, let alone any
operational neon sign is remarkable.
A special thanks goes out to Shawna Peterson
of Peterson Neon in Oakland, California for
her amazing neon glass blowing skills and
for setting up all the interior electrical
components.