Do I need to start fightin' with OP to stir things up around here? Where is everybody?
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
nope ... just convince everyone you created the mac virus ... and then convince them the pc virus is better ...
Posted by Steve Luck (Member # 5292) on :
I just finished the best week of business I have had in 3 months so things are improving. Maybe most of us are working and haven't had time to get on Letterville much like me. I hope that is the case. I have made some great friends here and at the walldog meets the past 4 years. I don't see you on here much either Barry! I think you have great ideas and lots of experience that you have shared in the past.
Spring in Illinois came early with warmer than normal temps in March which brought more work into my shop. I just finished my paperwork and checked out Letterville before heading home. I hope things are picking up for everyone and you all have a great Easter weekend.
Sign-cerely, Steve
Posted by Russ McMullin (Member # 5617) on :
I have wondered about the lack of activity too, and for quite some time now. This place used to be hopping with activity. I think other social sites, like Facebook, do take attention away from this site, but there have to be other reasons.
I would guess that it has a lot to do with the lack of optimism about the future of the sign business, coupled with the slow economy. Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
Facebook, other sites and the aging of Letterville. Not many newcomers interested in the craft side of sign making.
Posted by Barry Branscum (Member # 445) on :
Well that's unfortunate. I for one am all for the merging of the old and the new. If I didn't know how to do it the old way, I certainly wouldn't be able to put a digital spin on it.
Posted by Russ McMullin (Member # 5617) on :
The problem is, even the people who ARE interested in the craft side of sign making aren't showing up anymore.
Posted by Barry Branscum (Member # 445) on :
We live in depressing times. The internet is changing--our business is changing. the economy is in the toilet. We are getting older. A lot of us are just tired or REtired...
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
Barry, Have you had time to read the "oh my" thread? If you did, you should have one hint why Letterville has thinned out. Same old same old.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
I agree with you, Don. I post a little tease about Macs and right off the bat it turns into a political argument.
That said after over 13 years and 10k posts here, I think its probably past time I move on.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Barry...A lot of the original members of this website are getting older and less feisty maybe?
Some are even retired (I know that is hard to understand for many)
I check out this forum every day and still enjoy some of the topics, but in reality, they no longer hold the relevance that they used to for me.
As far as arguing and stuff...not worth it. It solves nothing and I am happy to just watch the palm trees and listen to the Gulf waters.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
ITS ALL GEO W'S FAULT!!!!
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Wondering when you would show up, OP.
[ April 07, 2012, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: Raymond Chapman ]
Posted by Barry Branscum (Member # 445) on :
oh man....
Posted by Michael Clanton (Member # 2419) on :
hey Barry- how's everything since I saw you a few months back? i passed your name on to a guy who was looking for a manual press-- we have started getting busy again, but it's still down from a few years ago-- starting to do more print work and traditional illustration and drawing-- may teach another cartooning/doodling class this summer... stop by next time you are in Conway
Posted by Dennis Kiernan (Member # 12202) on :
I must have missed the "political arguments" some are referring to. Sure wdnt call OP's joke an argument. As for the PC-Mac rivalry, I think that's just like Fords and Chevies, or Cubs and White Sox -- people take sides just for the sport of it. I dont see what's the big deal.
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
Dennis, if you think for one minute that accusing a past president of making up lies to get us into a war has anything at all to do with a Mac computer virus and could not be left out of that discussion, I will be astounded and amazed. (P articularly amazed.)
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
DON............get a sense of humor)))))))))))
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
I have a sense of humor. Follow the #%£*% simple, easy site rules. Is it really that hard to do?
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Hey - OP and I have had some great fun both with poking fun at one another... as well as having some bodacious debates. In the end - I still can't help but like him; even though we're polar opposites in the political realm. I hope some day I can buy him a waffle at the Waffle House... and maybe even coax him into eating a sausage link. ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Hey OP... have you made a 'pizz-pot' yet on the old mud wheel?
Edited because I can't use the word 'Pizz' spelled correctly.
[ April 09, 2012, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: Todd Gill ]
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
I love OP, too. Like a lot of you, I shed some tears when we thought we lost him...and she'd a few tears of joy when we got him back.
Doesn't change that this is supposed to be an oasis from petty politics.
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
Shed. I hate when this thing tries to spell for me.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
only one making it political IS YOU........give it up...........
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
That's just so much bu##sh!t, OP.
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
You know what, Joe...
If this website isn't being monitored, I am wrong and there are no rules anyway.
Posted by jack wills (Member # 521) on :
All the commercial folks have retired, the lettering ink sucks, most of the client base is low rung with small budgets only suited for quick print and we are just doing more fishin' and making art to suit ourselves...Computing has sucked the art of signs dry...
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
sorry don you are so right and iam just so wrong...its all my fault that you cant see it any other way.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
In the fantasy world in which I reside, I'd like to think that there is a place for the classic hand-work and for new technology.
I am frequently impressed by the digital skills of Joe Diaz, for instance. I'm not ashamed to say that on a few occasions I have poked around the Diaz website for inspiration...
In fact, there are some crazy good digital artists who's talents I'm certain I will never equal.
The good news is, that if a person sets their mind to it, they can evolve their skills towards the digital world.
Taking a hand drawn type-face, for instance, and then turning it into a computer font for sale is one example. Has that been part of sucking the art of signs dry? I don't think so... I think it's helped a lot of sign folks apply the hand-executed look to digital media.
Posted by Doug Haffner (Member # 12445) on :
I've often been told that I really missed out on not being involved in this business back when the letterhead meets were in full swing. I've heard about the passion, the love of the craft...the friendships and the desire to pass it all on. I do wish I'd been around for all that.
I'm thrilled to be learning it all now, though. I pass by old ghost signs and marvel at the talent...and mourn the loss. I see new work from the people who've been doing it for a few years or decades and I marvel at that, too. I paint alongside new friends at the Walldog meets and feel as lucky as a lottery winner to be doing this instead of sitting in the cubicle I lived in 3 years ago. It's like going to a family reunion with people I didn't know were in my family until now.
I am trying to embrace it all and find my own path. I do know this: You can let any industry you work in dictate what you're doing, or you can make your own way. Roll with it, let it roll over you or find your own way.
Say what you want about religion, politics or computer brand. I'm not a pastor, politician or a computer salesman...but at least an argument about HDU, One-Shot or which brand of vinyl won't work provides new opinions and knowledge I can try to learn from. Tell me about a new font you've made, I'll check it out. Post a video about painting a truck door and I'll watch it. Tell me about a 20 year old trick for getting paint mask to work great and chances are that's new to me...or keep punching each other over the politics, religion and computer brand. That's ok, too. Let me ask you, though, does it make you happy?
Posted by Russ McMullin (Member # 5617) on :
Amen, Doug. It does make me happier when people find ways to come together rather than divide. I have been itching to go to a meet. It's been way too long since I had that opportunity.
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
Doug, you're the ultimate ambassador for Letterheads and Walldogs - you soaked up the culture as well as the talent and ran with it. I watch as you hook up your new ShopBot and just imagine what you'll accomplish next. We first met in Danville as I was admiring a killer sign kit you made. People like you inspire me to continue learning new tricks and I hope there's more out there like you.
I've been hanging out here for quite awhile and I lament the fact so many good people have come and gone - the overwhelming reason being a perception of negativity from a small group of folks who can't seem to back off from an idealogical fight, whether it's politics, religion, or PC's vs. Macs.
No matter what you see on the surface here, there is an incredible network of dedicated people collaborating on any number of projects all over the world and we have LETTERVILLE to thank for that.......
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
It seems that facebook has taken a lot out of our website. I find it much easier to post a picture of a painting there than here. Even when I email it to the Shortreeds, there is something that don't work between Canada and the US. No matter what happens, my loyalty will never change from Letterville. This is where it all started and brought us all together. God bless Barb and Steve.
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)