Stockholm International Signpainting Workshop
This year, I’ve made a commitment to take my passion for sign painting to the next level. Over the years, I've been immersing myself in this traditional craft, but like all creative pursuits, finding the time to truly hone my skills has been a challenge. However, I know that the only path to mastery, or at least, being relatively good at something, is through consistent practice.
I’ve had the privilege of attending a few workshops, learning directly from professionals, which I’ve found to be invaluable. So, when I saw the lineup of talented signwriters leading the upcoming workshop in Stockholm, I knew I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
Workshop poster by Letterboy
The workshop took place at Sthlm Signs, who, in their own words, are a unique blend of old school and new school. They combine graphic design with traditional sign painting and bring new life to the long lost artform of handpainted signage. Henrik & Pontus, the signpainters and designers behind the studio, kindly ran the workshop helping us all to get familiar. Seeing their studio and being in their company, was alone worth the trip. I was captivated by the chance to see a professional sign painting studio in action, and observing the variety of commercial projects they were working on was incredibly inspiring.
I arrived a day early to attend an evening screening of Sign Painters: The Movie, a 2013 documentary I've watched countless times. Yet, experiencing it alongside other fellow sign painting enthusiasts, was a really fun experience to be able to geek out over letters with others who understood the beauty in constructing letters. You can now watch the movie on Vimeo for free, here - it’s well worth the watch.
Sthlm Signs studio
Sthlm Signs studio
Henrik Lindquist & Pontus Bergman of Sthlm Signs
Painted by Kenji Nakayama
The workshop was run by three of the industries leading signpainters; Ged Palmer of The Luminor Sign Co. based in London, Peter Liedberg of Letterboy based in Tokyo, and Kenji Nakayama of Need Signs Will Paint based in Boston. Talk about a stellar line up! I had been admiring the craft and dedication of these signpainters for years, and having the opportunity to be taught by all three at the same workshop felt like an unbelievable treat.
We were welcomed on day one with our very own personalised signpainters toolbox painted by Kenji, complete with the two different brushes we would need for the weekend, a bull nosed brush, and a chisel brush. Plus some other signpainting enthusiast goodies.
Day one was all block lettering and understanding and practicing the basic strokes of which to form letters using the chisel brush. We were shown how to hold the brush, load the brush, and how to apply the right amount of pressure, simple things which when done correctly, make your letters and you work more successful.
I've spent years practicing the art of painting short vertical lines, repeating the strokes over and over. But painting alongside others who share the same appreciation for this simple, meditative practice was a completely new and fulfilling experience—it felt like I had finally found my community. Once we had mastered the basics, we moved on to applying them, shaping the letters themselves. Seeing how these individual strokes come together to form letters offered a profound lesson in the construction of an alphabet, and served as yet another reminder of the timeless beauty of letterforms. By golly I just really bloody love drawing and painting letters!
My personalised welcome gift, painted by Kenji Nakayama
A chisel brush, and a bull nose brush, a signpainters necessity!
Putting my learnings into practice
Sthlm Signs Studio
Sheet one of many.
Day two was dedicated to Casual Script, my favorite style of sign painting and one of the reasons I fell in love with this craft and graphic design in general. Known as a sign painter's ‘money maker,’ this style is prized for its quick execution. Every signpainter should have a casual style under their belt, and it can evolve into a unique signature voice—something I can only aspire to achieve one day.
Our workshop was led by Ged Palmer of The Luminor Sign Co., and watching their script flow effortlessly was truly awe-inspiring. Casual Script may appear laid-back, but its letterforms are built with precision and adhere to specific rules. When we began practicing, it quickly became clear that this style is a prime example of the saying, ‘it’s not as easy as it looks!’ One of the most valuable lessons was understanding the importance of counter space within the letters. Even the slightest adjustment can dramatically alter the look and feel of a letter. Every part and every curve serves a purpose, and must be carefully considered and respected.
Ged Palmer of The Luminor Sign Co. teaching us Casual Script
Casual Script practice sheets
Stroke details.
Casual Sunday indeed!
Throughout the weekend we were also treated to a gold leaf demo by Veronika Skilte
As the two-day workshop wrapped up, I left feeling excited to start practicing everything I’d learned. Spending time with fellow sign painting enthusiasts in the beautiful city of Stockholm was such a rewarding experience. It’s been a few months since the workshop and I’ve managed to practice pretty consistently and I’ve already noticed a huge improvement in my letterforms since.
Thank you Sthlm Signs for the hospitality, and thank you Ged, Peter & Kenji for sharing your knowledge and passion and helping us to learn this incredible craft.
Team photo by Joakim Eklöf of course my eyes are closed.
Managed to fit in a spot of sight seeing too, Stockholm you were beautiful!
Since getting back home, I've been diving into practicing both my block and casual letters. Sure, sticking to the basics might seem a bit repetitive, but there’s something so satisfying about painting those strokes again and again. It’s like the simple act of repetition itself becomes rewarding. I don’t know exactly where this passion—or even just this hobby—will lead me, but I’m not sure it really matters 😊
Repeat Repeat Repeat Repeat
Practicing a tapered edge
My favourite corner of my little office
I find 'G' and 'U' the hardest, that curve going from right to left aint easy. But look at that 'R'! I'll take that.
