Ghost Signs and the Art of Lettering

In this episode, Laura is joined by Sam Roberts - editor of BLAG magazine, the world's only magazine dedicated to sign painting craft, community and culture - for a fascinating conversation about the art of sign painting, ghost signs and the timeless craft of lettering. Sam shares his journey from writing about signs since 2007 to building a global community of sign painters through events, films, books, and now BLAG itself. They explore how a passion for lettering on walls and windows has fostered connections across the world and what the future holds for this beautifully human art form. A wonderful note to end the series on. ️✨

As a special thank you to The Life of Letters listeners, Sam is offering exclusive discounts on BLAG:

• $30 off the annual plan for the first year - just $89 instead of $119: https://bl.ag/lol30
• 25% off the monthly plan for the first year - just $9/month instead of $12/month: https://bl.ag/lol25

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Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes.

✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.

Chapters

• (00:02:01) - Sam's Journey: From London to Sign Painting Enthusiast
• (00:03:45) - Discovering Ghost Signs and Their Significance
• (00:07:03) - Building a Community Through Archives and Publications
• (00:10:01) - The Evolution and Resurgence of Sign Craftsmanship
• (00:14:58) - Creating Books and Magazines to Preserve the Craft
• (00:20:12) - The Design and Production of the Sign Painting Magazine
• (00:25:09) - Surprising Elements in the Magazine's Layout and Inserts
• (00:29:58) - The Future of Sign Painting and Challenges from AI
• (00:40:08) - Personal Reflections and the Sign Painting Community
• (00:47:54) - Favourite Letters and Final Thoughts