New sign painting on wood paneling, 10x10” each, acrylic + enamel paint.
I saw an advertisement for the film ‘She Said’ on a news website and I liked the text’s ambiguity. It made me think of King George’s song in the Broadway show, Hamilton. (of course in that song the king sings, you say, not he said.) Anyway, I wanted to paint just the words She Said, but when I thought about it it felt as though it could use a partner. So She Said - He Said… seemed like a good fit!
Read MoreNew hand painted sign at the studio on a scrap piece of luan. This one inspired by a zine I picked up by Colt Bowden at a fun joint in Brooklyn, NY called Park Deli. A skate shop… sort of. But more like a flower shop… sort of.
Anyway, I was floating around the idea of painting some ‘ice’ signs for awhile but for whatever reason I never got around to it. But when I bought the zine it brought the whole ice thing back to my attention again. I guess moving to Minneapolis helped too. Whenever you mention Minneapolis to anyone the subject of the weather always comes up. Every time. It is a strange phenomenon. I don’t think I talked about Florida weather that much, or even Arizona weather for that matter. Yeah, it’s cool here but…
I had heard how Minnesota people are nice but will act a bit icy to strangers. I personally haven’t experienced that yet but maybe someday, just feels like America to me.
9.5 x 11” enamel and acrylic paint
To view more sign work please check out my Flickr page
If interested in sign painting for your home or business check out my site: http://www.thewonderfulworldof.com/signpainting
I started painting on small 4 x5” pieces of foam core because… well, I was running out of room to be honest. Big art can be a big problem if you can’t find a home for it. So working small is the way to go, at least for me, at least for now.
These started off as individual works. The first one (upper right) was started sometime during the pandemic. Bottom right was second, top left was third. Just making shapes, lines, excitement, imagery that might be associated with the circus arts. It wasn’t until the end of the year that I finished the bottom left. But once it was completed I noticed that they all related to one another (it wasn’t really on my radar at the time). Perhaps this is my take on the year 2020. Only now, right before the holidays, I was able to see it.
So here’s to hoping that things will pick up in 2021: to a better life, peace, prosperity, and a better understanding.
“Four topics, one conversation”, enamel paint on four pieces of foam core, 5 x 4” each.
Check it on my website: http://www.thewonderfulworldof.com/#/mixedmediaartworkseamusliamobrien/
New work up at Aritzia’s Super Puff Pop Up in connection with the Brooklyn fabrication studio, New Project.
Located at 560 Broadway, (corner of Broadway and Prince St, NYC)
I had the opportunity to sculpt and paint the mountain diorama located within the boutique store. Below are some pictures showing the process in creating the work. I believe the whole project took about 4 weeks to complete. ”Aritzia is an innovative design house and fashion boutique. We conceive, create, develop, and retail fashion brands with a depth of design and quality that provides compelling value. We pride ourselves on creating immersive, human, and highly personal shopping experiences, both in our boutiques and on our website - with a focus on delivering Everyday Luxury”
Forbes - You Can Do More Than Shop At Aritzia’s Pop-Ups Thanks To Drake And Jay Z’s Grammy-Winning Designer
Sheets of insolation foam were adhered together and attached to an elevated platform. The rock shapes were sculpted using a reciprocating saw and a kitchen knife.
Once the shapes were established, we painted a joint compound mix over the entire surface to fill in gaps and give the rocks more definition.
Color is added. Shadows and highlights help to create definition. (I would sprinkle snow on top occasionally so that I could see how the work was developing)
A completed boulder…
Snow and branches are added last, the final touch!
The completed project after install.
My daughter checking out the massive yeti at the end of the diorama.
Outside seating for NYC restaurants became permanent in September 2020, offering a mix of sidewalk seating and seats along streets closed off to vehicular traffic. Tooker Alley, located at 793 Washington Ave in Brooklyn, NY, recently extended its seating into its neighbors sidewalk area. So I was hired to expand the sign painting I did over the summer.
The idea and design was based off of Tooker Alley’s store signage… which I painted back in 2014. But admittedly the barrier does have a Beetlejuice sort of vibe to it. What can I say? For a stylish bar, black and white seems to be the way to go in my opinion. (coincidently, it strangely mirrors the sidewalk crossing and street signage) Across the street from the Brooklyn Museum, stop by and check it out… support small business!!
“The spot achieves a rare quality in an era of paint-by-numbers cocktail lounges: The intensely personal Tooker Alley generates a genuine human pulse.” Timeout NY
For more information about sign painting in the NYC/Brooklyn area check out my site: http://www.thewonderfulworldof.com/signpainting
Sign painting on a scrap piece of wood. 8 x 12” Inspired by the ‘Strange Tales’ comic book title page by Marvel Comics.
“Strange Tales is a Marvel Comics anthology series. The title was revived in different forms on multiple occasions. Doctor Strange and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. made their debut in Strange Tales. It was a showcase for the science fiction/suspense stories of artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and for the groundbreaking work of writer-artist Jim Steranko.”
I will be posting this sign on my Saatchi account in the coming days so please stay tuned!
For more information about sign painting in the NYC/Brooklyn area check out my site: http://www.thewonderfulworldof.com/signpainting
When I moved to Brooklyn (2006) one of my first jobs was at Lite Brite Neon. I might have worked there for a month or two… mainly assisting with holiday installs, but they hired me specifically because they needed a sign painter for a job at the Stussy store in SOHO, Manhattan. I believe it was a pop up shop, and for one area I had to paint a list of famous street artists names on a wall. The only one I had ever heard of at that time was Mark Gonzalez, to whom I was a big fan of growing up. I remember wanting his skateboard sooooo much. (Vision skateboards were really popular back then)
But anyway… I’m happy to say that I recognize more of the names now. Including
Wes Humpston
Neckface
123 Klan
Kaws
Gary Panter
The work was up for about a month or two, really quick turn around. And what happened to the signage?
No idea, lost in time..
For more information about sign painting in the NYC/Brooklyn area check out my site: http://www.thewonderfulworldof.com/signpainting
New sign painting on a scrap piece of wood. Inspired by “Space Adventures” comic book logo.
”Space Adventures (sometimes cover-titled Science Fiction Space Adventures, Space Adventures Presents Rocky Jones and other variations for particular issues) was an American science-fiction anthology comic book series published sporadically by Charlton Comics from 1952 to 1979.“
This work is actually a remake of a sign I posted on March 15th (the original was purchased on my Saatchi Art homepage) So I decided to make a new one.
I needed to redecorate my bathroom. My wife suggested installing some of my recent signs on the wall and you know what? It works! Mix and match to suit your aesthetics.
Interior decorators… have your people call my people!
Hand painted sign on a scrap piece of wood. 12 x 16”
Inspired by “The Strange World of Your Dreams” by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
For more information about sign painting in the NYC/Brooklyn area check out my site: http://www.thewonderfulworldof.com/signpainting
New hand painted signage at the offices of La Radiant in Midtown Manhattan. 18.5 x 34.5”
“La Radiant is a jewelry design and production company that offers wholesale jewelry lines as well as private label services.” This is the first sign I’ve been able to paint since March due to the NYC quarantine so a big THANK YOU for the support!
It is still quiet in Manhattan but there is some movement (some businesses are open, some people walking around). So hopefully we are on the road to recovery. Fingers crossed…
Interesting article about sign painting in Brooklyn, NY. The two restaurants talked about in the article are only a couple of blocks from my home.
”When people reopen, people are going to want things that feel like home. And another Helvetica vinyl sign does not feel like home. Industrial design doesn’t feel like home. So I hope that there’s more and more hand-painted signs … I think that there are a billion different ways that sign painting infiltrates our culture, and people haven’t been paying attention that much. But sign painters are still working. It’s an imperative part of how we communicate, and I think that it’s only increasing in value.”
New sign painting for Scalino GP, a traditional Italian restaurant (659 Manhattan Ave) located in the quaint Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY.
For this particular business, having a hand painted sign fits perfectly well with its aesthetics. The hand painted quality is reminiscent of old New York City and reflects to its customer the restaurants commitment to detail and quality.
For more information about sign painting in the NYC/Brooklyn area check out my site: http://www.thewonderfulworldof.com/signpainting
New sign painting up for the front entrance of The Rage Cage. Located at 235 Grand Ave in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, NY. “a destruction services provider - also known as a "Rage Room" or an "Anger Room." People come to The Rage Cage to have fun, de-stress, and break things! Whether it be for a stressful week at work, a celebration, or even a first date, you’re always going to have an amazing experience…”
The 235 address hand painted on the window above the door.
Special thanks to the Rage Cage and 1-Shot paints!!
New sign painting up at the new Hiltzik Strategies office at 99 Madison Ave, NYC.
Thanks to the good folks there for the opportunity.
For more information about sign painting and murals in the NYC/Brooklyn area check out my site: http://www.thewonderfulworldof.com/signpainting
In connection with New Project, I had the opportunity to help build and paint the stages and cases used to display the instruments for the exhibit ‘Play it Loud’ at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
”The exhibition is co-organized with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and will present approximately 130 instruments alongside posters and costumes. Many of rock's most celebrated and recognized instruments will be featured, representing artists across generations and subgenres. In addition to institutional and private collectors, many musicians are lending their performance and recording instruments.”
Now on display from April 8 - October 1, 2019.
I was lucky enough to speak to Max Cavalera at the opening reception about his music. (His guitar is included in the collection) A BIG FAN of his work… I had so many questions that I wanted to ask that I can only remember now in retrospect. Haha, hopefully I didn’t make too big of a fool of myself.
In connection with the company New Project, I painted aspects of the ‘Hudson Rising’ exhibition now on display at the NY Historical Society in Manhattan. The exhibition runs March 1 - August 4, 2019.
A lot of the displays ended up being covered in vinyl but they were painted initially.
The rocks and boulders were carved/painted at the New Project studio in Brooklyn.
”Hudson Rising explores 200 years of ecological change and environmental activism along “the most interesting river in America” through artifacts, media, and celebrated Hudson River School paintings. The exhibition reflects on how human activity has impacted the river and, in turn, how the river environment has shaped industrial development, commerce, tourism, and environmental awareness. The exhibition also explores how experts in various fields are currently creating ways to restore and re-engineer areas of the river in response to climate change.”
