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LAst night I sat down with Mastering Layout by Mike Stevens, it had been a long while, and what a refreshing walk down memory lane. I found myself remembering things forgotten, getting the passion back to do my best everytime even in a knock out job and just a great renewed interest in designing.
Wow talk about a recharge, this is definetly a book that is better read more than once or twice, to me this is a book I need to revisit with from time to time.
It's good to recharge the batteries!
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6713 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Bob, what a coincidence, I had coffee with the book this morning. I learn each time I pick it up. In my case I think my right brain comprehends what he is teaching only after I have actually made a particular mistake on a sign. Then I can recognize it and say "Oh so that is why this didn't work."
This morning I read chapter 8 "Color". I love bold colors. My favorite has always been orange. I have decided to consciously tone it down and work with color as he teaches. I thought about some signs that I have done when I read about "brain overload". Yep that's me and I do it so well
-------------------- Kathy Joiner River Road Graphics 41628 River Road Ponchatoula, La.70454
Old enough to know better...Too young to resist. Posts: 1891 | From: Ponchatoula, LA | Registered: Nov 2000
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You will learn something new every time you read it. And it takes awhile just to get used to the language. Like Rick, I like to put in one of his old cassette tapes and just listen to the voice, or watch him do that effortless lettering on his video. He was truely one of a kind.
Wonder what he would think of the state of the industry today?
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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We all seem to be thinking about that question this morning, Raymond. I'm looking at a layout that was e-mailed to me earlier this morning, by a so-called "professional" designer. It speaks, unspeakably, for itself.
Not having had the priveledge of meeting the late Mr. Stevens, I can't begin to imagine what he'd say. Because of his book, however, I CAN diagnose and critique the design I have before me, and explain to a customer - in specific terms - why it doesn't work.
As for the state of the industry, well... for those who spend their days competing to reproduce this kind of dreck for the lowest price, it can't be good.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Does anyone know why the Mike Stevens video on Brush Lettering is not commercially available? I'm sure thousands of people would love to buy it, and I'm sure it would help benefit his daughter. Just wondering...
Merry Christmas.
Chuck
-------------------- Charles Borges de Oliveira Borges Lettering & Design Snohomish WA Posts: 352 | From: Snohomish WA | Registered: Mar 2003
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Chuck - I'll have to check back on my copy of the video to see who actually distributed it. In my old age I can't remember. Mike may have handled it himself. I would suppose the rights to republish would have to go through his daughter.
It was an expensive video, so I don't really know how many he ever sold.
I am really grateful for the information he left us. It is what I use in my workshops...and I do give credit to him for the original ideas.
Cam, maybe it was good that he didn't live to see the advancement of the quickie shops. Of course, he lived at a time when junk produced by a brush was everywhere.
Chester Cunningham and Mike Stevens. It would be nice to talk to them again.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Raymond if ya get that info it would be great to see it posted here. I might be interested in it too as well as many other people here I would bet.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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I have a video of Mike in poor quality that my mentor gave to me when I was just starting out, havent looked at it in years, hmmm maybe its time to dust it off.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I was fortunate enough to take a seminar with Mike and John Cox at an a Letterheads meet (what ever happened to John Cox?). Mike put labels and names on layout concepts for me and organized them to more easily deal with each layout challenge. Stuff I was trying to do instinctively, by the seat of my pants, suddenly had rhyme and reason. He made me a much better signmaker during those two hours.
I still have their handouts from that seminar around here somewhere.
-------------------- Mark Casey Casey Sign Co., Inc. Berkley, MI Posts: 76 | From: Berkley, MI, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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Monte, I remember sharing "The Book" with some graphic designers back when it came out. It was not well received, and generated some dicension that took years to end. They were very offended by him insinuating that there could be a "wrong" in design. Just like people react when you say a certain behavior is wrong, they got very defensive. I think pride and arrogance cause a blindness that is very limiting. As for me...I'd rather learn.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6713 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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