For years the bulk of my work was hand lettered neon window splashes.
Occasionally I get the lead out and go to great heights to keep my Wall Dog status among other fellow Old School Letterheads.
I duplicated the lettering on Jeff Hudson’s complete restoration. I worked off his scale model race car kit’s decal set.
I restored the 50 year old fiberglass cows at Holland Farms Bakery & Coffee Bar. Over the years, they have become local landmarks.
Here I am after successfully reinstalling “Chuckie” and “Cupcake”. We had TV and newspaper coverage…until the cows came home.
This sign is at New Hartford’s main intersection and while not apparent from the road is completely hand lettered except for the 22 karat gold bullets. With 4 coats of oil enamel on it, I hope it too becomes a time worn landmark.
Among the packaging things I’ve designed these are the latest Holland Farms coffee cups.I know that everyday hundreds of folks are waking up to fresh hot coffee and my cartoons and designs.
I tried to creatively make people smile as they drove by Holland Farms during the Covid 19 pandemic.
I wasn’t sure if the cow masks were too early in the pandemic to be humorous, but apparently it was cool. They made the front page of the local news paper, a snippet on local TV news and a nice Editor’s Note in Signcraft Magazine.
Once again, this project started with a problem, an idea and a sketch. Charlie at “It’s A Utica Thing” makes and sells food items that were originally created in Utica, NY. (Tomato Pie, Chicken Riggies, Halfmoon Cookies and the famous Utica Greens.) He has had a Food Truck for years at the New York State Fair. Yes, I designed and lettered that also. He wanted to make his presence at the New York State Fair bigger, more exciting and enticing. He also truly is Hometown Proud.* He came up with the idea of calling the whole thing “EXIT 31”. That’s Utica’s Exit number on I-90, the New York State Thruway. The Matt Brewery (Utica Club/Saranac) saw the potential to increase their brand exposure just with a sketch. Once I received the logo art from Mark Joseph Kelly, Charlie’s designer and the Brewery’s art department, I was able to convert the files to my need and begin fabrication.
I can create anything you may need. If I can’t, I can steer you in the right direction.
*While I’m not originally a Utican, after 40+ years it’s safe to say that I too am a Utican at heart. This project was special because Charlie truly is trying to promote a city that has given us both so much. - Tomm
While not dynamic, it is big. I was presented with the customers problem. A TeeRific customer of mine, Steet Ponte, took over a dealership with a secondary building that was gutted and unattractively visible through the windows to passing cars on our main Commercial Drive. They asked me for a way to hide the inside and turn it into a quick read billboard for passing cars, but do it on a budget because the building’s future is uncertain.
So after measuring the site and turning the measurements into a digital template, I offered the customers a few choices of designs. They chose BIG CLEAN letters that were easy to read. In the end, it’s all about ease of readership. If people can’t read your sign quickly they may choose not to.
I back painted the glass with latex and used intermediate cut vinyls to keep the cost down. Now they have 3-5 years to decide the building’s fate AND they have a billboard. Price divided by 36 months makes it cost effective.
And for the record, I have hand lettered and vinyl lettered these particular windows for over 36 years. First E.J. Peters Jeep, then the Carbone Hyundai, then Carbone Nissan, then Lithia Nissan and now Steet Ponte Nissan. And while the building may not last, I look forward working with the Steet Ponte Auto Group because it’s always so easy to do business with them.