Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs . . .

  

I have of late become somewhat obsessed with chalk art. You can find me on any given day perusing the aisles of Whole Foods or Mrs. Green's, my attention glued to all the neat signage they employ to make their goods more enticing.  Half the time I forget what I went there to buy I'm so enthralled with all the pretty colors, the impeccably-rendered typefaces, and the shear excess of it all.

Chalk art is experiencing a boom right now; sometimes I wonder if it's somehow related to the popularity of tattoo art and all things hand-drawn, or a new appreciation of illustration art. Whatever it is, I'm liking it. 

So I've been trying my hand at this art form, and really enjoying it! I've always been a big fan of fonts (having cut my teeth in the printing business some years ago), and let me tell you - chalk art is full of fonts! The more the better . . .  mix and match, modern and vintage. Frilly flourishes and beautiful borders are another reason the signs seem so captivating.

I've been doing some sketching and practicing to hone my skills. With the holidays in full swing, they seem a natural subject (and of course, as usual my other two obsessions make it into the practice sessions):

So it must have been kismet today when Bill and I walked into our favorite local breakfast haunt, Mary & Beth's Metro Diner in Stratford Center, only to see a large, blank "Specials" Chalk Board staring me in the face. Itching to turn all that blank canvas into art, next thing you know,  I've got the gig!

The Finished "Specials" Sign At Metro Diner

I'm excited to see where my passion for chalk art takes me next; meanwhile, I'll keep an eye out for inspiration during the holidays (and if I accidentally ram you with my shopping cart, it's nothing personal. I probably was just mesmerized by some Trader Joe's sign tantalizing me from afar).