Bistrot Massilia Business Sign

Hand painted and constructed A-frame business sign for the Bistrot Massilia
An A-frame business sign is what this French Restaurant in Yorba Linda needed. I play piano there, part time.

When I started playing there I noticed that they had no outside advertising for Jazz piano. The idea of the piano was based on the Bistrot’s of Paris in the 1930’s when jazz was so popular, as I’m sure it is today. The idea has been a good one.

So, I did a couple of show cards and also convinced the owners that an A frame exterior sign would help bring in the customers. A-frame exterior signs in my opinion have always caught the eye so to speak. I’ve done quite a number of these ‘point of purchase’ signs over the years.

I designed the sign in CorelDraw and tried to keep the French motif. It was satisfying work, researching fonts that would make a good design. All the colors and panel shapes help to make this sign stand out and be noticed.

This A-frame sign has proved to be an asset that the Bistrot Massilia didn’t count on, showing that ‘point of purchase’ advertising does work.

Hand Lettered Accordian Case

A hand painted accordion caseI play the accordion and have always been intrigued by the lettering done on travel cases of old. I would compare this type of lettering to any of the finest Calligraphy that was penned back then or now.

It was common for suit cases and trade good boxes to be hand lettered with the product name and the individual’s name. I remember in ‘The Music Man’ how he had his suitcase lettered. Most of these hand lettered boxes were works of art.

I also remembered the work that British sign painters did on steamer trunks. The list of craftsmen who yield the brush is extensive.

So, I came up with this design, based on what I had learned and enjoyed seeing from the sign artists of yesteryear. Once I had my design I made a pattern so I could transfer it to my accordion box. The surface is not smooth. It has the texture like the skin on a Fender amp, but it is possible to letter. Of course I used enamel paint for the hand lettering and the illustration of the poppy. People will often ask me why the poppy?

I have two accordion cases and both are lettered the same.

I’ve had more than one person come up, comment on the lettering and take a picture of the case.