Goodtype magazine No.1 by Thi N

JUNE 2018

LET TER FROM THE EDITOR

T YPE OF MY CIT Y

BROOKE ROBINSON

City traveler speed-walk along crowded streets every day, barely noticing the typography that are in every single corner of the town, from storefronts, street signs to museums and office buildings signage. But even if you can’t identify a serif from a sans serif, you know you’re in a NYC subway station or in London’s public transport. Typography/ letters as a form of art is embedded within the culture and seen as a city's identity. Type in Austin seems to be a little bit quirky but thoughtful in a way. In comparison to typography especially vernacular type in California, they are so energetic and vibrant. Letters aren't just forms, they are expression of livability, the representation of the neighborhood and perhaps mentality of the people who live there. This issue feature amazing lettering works from many cities and artists all over the world. Reading Nisha Sethi, Annica Lydenberg, and Lakwena Maciver ' stories on how their origins their hometowns have influenced and shaping their career and design practice.

UPCOMING EVENTS SEP 15 22

GOODTYPE BOOK TOUR Book Soup LA, California Book People Austin, TX

OCT 6

ADAM VICAREL The Basics of Hanlettering 1140 Milwaukee St. Denver, CO 80206 $140

OCT 17 24

GOODTYPE MEET-UP Industry Print Shop Austin, TX Santa Monica Brew Works, CA

Meet other letterers and graphic designers in your community, the visiting Nick Misani, Laren Hom, and Brooke of Goodtype.

LAUREN HOM Chalkboard Lettering & Murals 702 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402 $140

DEC 8

Fundamentals of lettering, typography, calligraphy and type design. The construction and process of a lettering piece.

Creative procress on how to bring chalk murals to life.

NICK MISANI Art Deco Lettering Workshop 86 Chambers Street, New York City $200

Embodies the glamour, luxury, and exuberance of the Great Gatsby Era, the roaring 20s and 30s. (all materials included)

UPCOMING EVENTS

NOV 17

Available for pre-order now on Amazon, Rizzoli Book, and Barnes & Noble.

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NISHA KAUR SETHI

FEATURE

Like many hand-crafted arts, sign painting is experiencing a resurgence. Brooke Robinson, the founder of Goodtype, had the pleasure of meeting Nisha Kaur Sethi while she was in Austin, TX for SXSW. Nisha, a talented and dynamic Los Angeles based artist, tells us about her journey to becoming a sign painterâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;about how she developed her skills as a graphic designer behind a computer, which eventually began to weigh on her soul and opened up a part of her that longed to get back to the analog roots of design and work with her hands.

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I’m so delighted to see that people are finally starting to respect and admire the practice of sign painting again.

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Tell us where you are from how you got into sign painting.

I was born and raised in Berkeley, California. My first introduction to art and lettering was through graffiti since I grew up in an urban landscape that was home to lots of street art. I started writing and tagging at age 17 and fell in love with letters. I had no idea at the time that the streets were actually teaching me about typography until I got to college and began studying graphic design. Soon, I found myself deeply researching and dissecting letterforms digitally. I was really passionate about design and landed my dream job at a music label upon graduating. The next three or four years were spent behind a computer where I developed my skills as a graphic designer but kind of started to lose my soul in the process. There was something inside me that kept yearning to work with my hands again and travel backwards into the analog world. That’s when I discovered the Sign Graphics program atLos Angeles Trade Tech. I saved up a bunch of money and left everything to move to LA and study under Doc Guthrie. My life totally switched gears and now I was up at 7 am every morning with a brush and mahlstick, learning the ins and outs of Sign-Painting with 1Shot.

Can society benefit from the art of sign painting? Are there global/social issues sign painting has the power to assist in resolving?

Absolutely. I believe that as artists, we have a certain responsibility to our society to use our talent for the greater good. When you look at previous social movements, art has had a long history of being used as a tool for empowerment and change. For example, you’ve got to think about what a protest would look like without any posters or signs? It certainly wouldn’t have the same impact. I am working to use the art of lettering to make an important statement.

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When I was in high school, I started organizing with different social justice based youth groups and was given the

role of the Mobilizer; to gather the people when it was time for a protest or march. It was here that I began to delve into the world of political art and researching artists such as Emory Douglas who was the illustrator for the Black Panther Party newspaper. His artwork continues to be a great seed of inspiration for me. Have you seen an increase in demand for hand painted signs and murals? If so, why or why not?

Hand-painted signs are undoubtedly increasing in demand. There was a big chunk of time in between, when vinyl lettering first took off where there was a huge loss of interest in hand-lettering. But I’m so delighted to see that people are finally starting to respect and admire the practice of Sign Painting again. It feels like a lost art that’s being rediscovered. I feel very grateful to be given the opportunity to carry on the legacy of journeymen Sign Painters. There are people like Doc Guthrie & Carlos Aguilar who are really

FEATURE

Being that we live in a very political climate at the moment, I have been focusing more on creating hand-painted signs and collage work that speak to specific causes. These pieces are all a part of a series I am working on that is influenced by protest signage of the 1960s. Most recently, I just wrapped up a project with Amplifier where I worked with a group of youth to see what message they would like to communicate to the world. The youth today are feeling particularly passionate about gun reform so they came up with a slogan that says, “No More Silence, End Gun Violence!” I took this message and used it to paint a hand-painted sign in the style of an old show-card. The artwork will now be included in a larger campaign against gun violence and is available as a free download where folks can print posters at home and take it with them to the March for Our Lives taking place nationwide in an effort to end gun violence.

keeping the art form alive by passing it down to the youth. I have the utmost respect for them as mentors and as artists.

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What influences your style? Are there any other art forms you like to practice?

Being that my parents are originally from India, I grew up traveling there many times. I believe this was the first source of inspiration for me as a Sign Painter. India has a huge culture of hand-painting signs and Bollywood movie posters. I remember walking through the streets there and being completely in awe of all of the visual stimulation. Every wall is covered with advertisements and signs and movie posters. The style of lettering in India is very unique in that it really utilizes all the bells and whistles. The art work has to compete with the already over-saturated environment in which it exists so the signs are very bright and loud and intricate. Fruit and Ice Cream stands were my favorite because they were usually eight color convex letters with several outlines and shadows of contrasting colors, and blends, and fluorescents. I would definitely say that the styles I saw in India have a huge influence on my work. I’d like to think that it makes my work unique and recognizable. It also gives me the opportunity to incorporate and represent my culture, and that is very empowering.

Who are some of your favorite sign painters and artists?

Well I think it’s important to surround yourself with people you look up to so I would say that my favorite artists, firstly, are the artists in my crew TRUST YOUR STRUGGLE. Specifically, Miguel BOUNCE Perez who makes calligraphy look easy and is good at anything he does. In the same breath I would also have to mention SPIE and DREAM who remain legends in the Bay Area graffiti scene. They are the first artists to ever teach me about letterform. In terms of Sign Painters, my favorites include Doc Guthrie, Nurse

Signs from Jamaica, Elliot Tupac from Peru, and Painter Kafeel from India. But the list goes on and on!! I would also like to take a moment and give major credit to all the female sign painters out there shining super bright. Being a woman sign-painter in such a male-dominated field is challenging but there are some pretty amazing folks such as Shelby Rodeffer and Meredith Kasabian who organized the “Pre-Vinylette Society: An International Showcase of Women Sign Painters” and continue to advocate for female empowerment within the Sign Painting community. Do you have any resources, suggestions or advice for anyone looking to learn the craft of sign painting?

FEATURE

The LATTC Sign Graphics program is the last surviving program in the country that still teaches traditional hand-lettering techniques, so I would recommend checking that out. It’s a two year program and a huge commitment, but you will come out of there knowing how to letter. Besides that, there is a plethora of online tutorials and private classes you can take to learn the craft. I would suggest that you first study the history of hand-painted signs and know what you are getting into. Sign Painting is not just an art form, but a culture passed down from generation to generation so it is to be taken quite seriously. Amateurs will be picked apart. I think you have to truly be in love with lettering and have a passion for working early hours with pretty toxic materials. Overall, if you have enough passion and dedication, it’s a wonderful field to get into and express yourself.

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FEATURE

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GRACE

CALLIGRAPHY

Life is a classroom. We are both student and teacher. Each day is a test and each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject: “Grace”. Grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners and the list goes on. It’s something money can’t buy and credentials rarely produce. Being the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, the richest can’t help. Being a humble person and a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude.

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SIMON SILAIDIS MYKONOS, GREEK

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HAND LETTERING

BEN JOHNSON TORONTO, CANADA

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19 HAND LETTERING

JUSTIN KOWALCRUK EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA

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21 HAND LETTERING

MASER & ACHES CAMDEN TOWN, UK

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23 HAND LETTERING

CYLACOSTA BREWERY TOWN, PHILADELPHIA

JASON NAYLOR LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

JASON NAYLOR WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN

L AKW ENA MACIVER BY JASON NICCO-ANNAN The sun has made a surprisingly long appearance in Shoreditch, London’s creative hub, perfectly setting the scene for street artist Lakwena Maciver’s colorful new show, Up In The Air. It’s Tuesday afternoon and Lakwena, along with her team, is putting finishing touches to her new pop-up space at Boxpark, adorned in her signature style that combines bold inspirational words with bright colours and kaleidoscopic patterns. Taking a break from painting at the coffee shop across the street, I ask her to describe her work in three words. Mid-bite of her smoked salmon sandwich, she pauses, thinking deeply: “Bold, gold, and electric!” she replies. T YPE OF MY CIT Y

Exploring concepts of mythology, philosophy and faith, the North London-born artist has the ability to turn heads and touch hearts at the same time. Her murals – featuring phrases such as ‘You’ve Been So Good To Me’, ‘The Highest Love’ and ‘The Power Of Girl’ – serve as vibrant symbols of positivity and affirmation within the city landscapes she paints in. Reflecting on her influences, faith and goals as an artist, Lakwena sat down with Huck to talk about her new exhibition, which she describes as a “contemporary expression of worship”.

INSPIRING WORDS AND ELECTRIC COLOUR

At what moment did you decide to literally be vocal in your work and use words?

I think I’ve always used text and typography, even when I was a child. Words really interested me and I used to draw them a lot. My childhood was kind of varied; having different experiences and living in different countries definitely influenced my work aesthetically. My mum and dad were both quite political. My mum used to do protest marches in London and I remember making protest signs and posters for her, and using a lot of text. That helped me understand the importance of words and how much power they have. 27

Are there any particular words that mean a lot to you now? In terms of words that get me through the day, it’d definitely be The Bible – that’s also added to my understanding of the power of words. Naturally I’m a bit of a pessimist so it helps to meditate on words of truth and encouragement.

FEATURE

… it’s important to “fire your art until it emits sparks that warm, or burn, those it reaches.”

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What’s your approach to making art? A lot of my work has to do with reading and writing, and just thinking. Before I even start painting a wall, I think a lot about the concept and what I want to communicate. I love the colours and the patterns and all that, but that’s almost secondary to what I want to say. What would you say is the main inspiration behind your work? I don’t get loads of time to read, but when I do it’s usually stuff that talks about philosophy and the power of art. It all started when I was in university and I studied work by a French philosopher and theorist named Roland Barthes. He wrote a lot about art and mythology, and how all artists are essentially mythmakers. And I found that interesting because artists really are just telling stories, whether it’s through making a film or painting a picture. It excited me to see myself as a storyteller and pushed me to make things.

What do you think is your role in society as an artist? I think there’s a traditional idea of what God is; a lot of people see God in the colour of grey. I see God in fluorescent pink and gold and glitter and all of those neon textures – all of that is God to me. So I try to reflect that in a lot of my work. I once read this quote [by philopsher Calvin Seerveld] that said as an artist it’s important to “fire your art until it emits sparks that warm, or burn, those it reaches.” And for me that how I see my work and my responsibility as an artist.

FEATURE

So what’s the story behind this upcoming show? A few months ago, I read in the news that Gucci was going to have a fashion show at Westminster Abbey in June. That really interested me because there are loads of traditionally sacred spaces in this country that are now either flats, shops, or restaurants. It’s just interesting how much commerce and entertainment has kind of encroached on places like this. When Boxpark invited me to show my work at their space I was aware of how commercial the space is. So I thought, “how about I flip that?” and instead create a sacred place in this very commercial space. It also has to do with timing. I’m having a baby in June, and there are so many other things that have happened that I’m really grateful for. So I think that also provoked this as well and made me want to do a show that’s about worship and thanks and praise, but it’s a very contemporary expression of that. That’s interesting because when I first saw phrases like ‘shout out’ and ‘throw your hands’, I looked at that from a perspective of pop culture. It’s very hip hop-driven, but I guess it’s also a huge reference to gospel and Christianity. Yeah, exactly! I was basically looking for ways to say ‘thank you’. There aren’t that many besides ‘thanks’ and ‘cheers’ – those are pretty much the only way. So I started thinking about how else you can be thankful and give praise.

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31 FEATURE

LAKWENA MACIVER LONDON, UK

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LUST SCRIPT

NEIL SUMMEROUR

12/17

10/14

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7/10.5

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Is not the best kind of originality that which comes after a sound apprenticeship? That which shall prove to be the blending of a firm conception Is not the best kind of originality that which comes after a sound apprenticeship? That which shall prove to be the blending of a firm conception of, “useful precedent”… Is not the best kind of originality that which comes after a sound apprenticeship? That which shall prove to be the blending of a firm conception of, “useful precedent”… Is not the best kind of originality that which comes after a sound apprenticeship? That which shall prove to be the blending of a firm conception of, “useful precedent”… Is not the best kind of originality that which comes after a sound apprenticeship? That which shall prove to be the blending of a firm conception of, “useful precedent”… Is not the best kind of originality that which comes after a sound apprenticeship? That which shall prove to be the blending of a firm conception of, “useful precedent” and the progressive tendencies of an able mind.

33 T YPEFACE DESIGN

Neil Summerour is a type designer, lettering artist, calligrapher and designer based in Georgia, USA with one foot in Takamatsu, Japan. He’s published over 60 typeface families (that’s over 500 fonts) and produced numerous custom typefaces for clients worldwide. Lust Script is available on Adobe Typekit.

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AB C DE FG H I J KL MN OPQ R S T UV WX Y Z

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a b cde f g hijk lmn op q rst uv w x yz 12345 6789 ยง & & ! ยก".,

BEN EINE

CIRCUS ALPHABET en Eine, originally a writer, is now one of London’s most prolific artists, specialising in typographical art. The archetype of contemporary UK streetart, Eine’s ‘21st Century City’ was famously gifted to Barack Obama by David Cameron in 2010, and can be seen daily on his canvas of choice: the walls and shutters of the streets of London. His work is a celebration of font and graphics of the shapes, curves, colours and lines, and the beauty therein.

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‘Circus Alphabet White AP’ presents all of the letters of the English alphabet, apart from the elusive and infamous letter "W". Eine’s signature font is beautifully decorative: contrasting, angular striated sections, bouncy curves in a harmonious mix of bright colours that seem to change and merge from different angles, due to the 3D technology of the lenticular printing process.

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ANNICA LYDENBERG

DIRTY BANDIT

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Tell us a bit about your path to a career in hand lettering.

Tell us where you are from how you got into sign painting.

I had always been interested in hand lettering but had never considered it a possible career. About 10 years ago I fired all of my web clients and shifted back towards print design and began doing a lot of personal projects with hand drawn typography. There were very few options for learning the craft back then so it was mostly self taught in the beginning. But then, a few years later Type@Cooper launched and I was part of their inaugural class getting a much needed foundation of typographic understanding. Then I talked my way into a few months apprenticing and practicing at New Bohemia Signs in San Francisco to learn the basics of sign painting. I am eternally grateful for what I learned at Cooper and New Bohemia. After that, the field really started to open up and I have learned from many more amazing teachers through workshops here and there. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of a solitary practice, so taking classes and hanging out with people in the field have given me the best opportunities to learn tricks of the trade. The incredible growth of the industry has been unlike anything I ever expected to see. Awareness of the skill has grown past just designers and agencies to the general public. It is no longer hard to explain what I do. I have collaborated with a number of other people on print projects and mural work. I am so grateful for these industry connections that have become dear friends. I

feel a lot of support within the industry which I didn’t go into expecting to find.

Vintage signage has always been my favorite - from ghost signs to old neon signs to old showcard signage. I love exploring other cities and my favorites are always ones with old signs. I used to be obsessed with lower Manhattan and Coney Island back in the early 2000s many of those signs are gone but the Storefronts books by James and Karla Murray are forever on my coffee table full of images of storefronts from all the boroughs from that time period.

Do you have any mottos or design philosophy that help you with your creative work?

When I started out as a designer (and as a lettering artist) I have no problem saying I was not very good. But I was reliable and responsible—I delivered work on time and on budget and this was enough to get me referrals. I was able to buy myself time as I developed my design and lettering skills further, because it does take time. Do what you love, work hard and the money will follow. I’m really big on not expecting or trying to make every job fulfill every need that I have. Some gigs will be for the money, some will be for your portfolio, some will fulfill your soul— be grateful for whatever you get out of a job. But if you can’t get any of those things out of a gig, just say no so you can remain open to one that will.

FEATURE

What are some of your main influences?

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HOTEL ZETTA SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFONIA

FEATURE

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“Some gigs will be for money, some will be for your portfolio, some will fulfill your soul— be grateful for whatever you get out of a job.”

VENARCULLAR T YPE

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NEON BONEYARD LAS VEGAS, CALIFORNIA

GOODTYPE T U E S DAY

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GOODT YPE TUESDAY

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GOODT YPE TUESDAY

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GOODT YPE TUESDAY

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GOODT YPE MAGAZINE / JUNE 18

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LOVE YOURSELF Next issue is all about the power of love. We teamed up with Brooklyn based muralist and artist, Jason Naylor to bring your love to life in New York City. We believe that in order to love anyone else, you must first learn to love yourself. Letter the phrase “Love Yourself” in any style. It must be new work and must be your work. Jason will paint the winning “Love Yourself” lettering on a wall located on Allen St. LES, NYC .Your name will be credited/painted at the bottom. We will select and announce one winner on Goodtype's September issue. This activiyty is all for the fun, encouragement and practice of lettering. Multiple entries welcome. All skill levels welcome. Please submit your work by emailing info@goodtype.us by August 2nd. Entering your work does not make it ours. We give credit where credit is due. Above all, HAVE FUN!

Edited by Brooke Robinson | Layout & design by Thi Nguyen | Published by Rizzoli Book | Printed & bound in U.S.

TYPE OF MY CITY

Brooke Robinson

Simon Silaidis

Letter from the editor

Feature NINA SETHI

Calligraphy GRACE

Lettering BEN JOHNSON MASEART JAYSON NAYLOR

Jason Nicco-Annan

Feature LAKWENA MACIVER

Typeface Design

Neil Summerour Ben Eine

LUST SCRIPT CIRCUS ALPHABET

Feature DIRTY BANDIT

GOODT YPE MAGAZINE / JUNE 2018

Venacullar Type 45

NEON BONEYARD

GOODTYPE TUESDAY

All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrievel system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Â©2018

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