Ghost Signs and the Art of Lettering

In this episode, Laura is joined by Sam Roberts - editor of BLAG magazine, the world's only magazine dedicated to sign painting craft, community and culture - for a fascinating conversation about the art of sign painting, ghost signs and the timeless craft of lettering. Sam shares his journey from writing about signs since 2007 to building a global community of sign painters through events, films, books, and now BLAG itself. They explore how a passion for lettering on walls and windows has fostered connections across the world and what the future holds for this beautifully human art form. A wonderful note to end the series on. ️✨ As a special thank you to The Life of Letters listeners, Sam is offering exclusive discounts on BLAG: $30 off the annual plan for the first year - just $89 instead of $119: https://bl.ag/lol30 25% off the monthly plan for the first year - just $9/month instead of $12/month: https://bl.ag/lol25 If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook. Chapters (00:02:01) - Sam's Journey: From London to Sign Painting Enthusiast(00:03:45) - Discovering Ghost Signs and Their Significance(00:07:03) - Building a Community Through Archives and Publications(00:10:01) - The Evolution and Resurgence of Sign Craftsmanship(00:14:58) - Creating Books and Magazines to Preserve the Craft(00:20:12) - The Design and Production of the Sign Painting Magazine(00:25:09) - Surprising Elements in the Magazine's Layout and Inserts(00:29:58) - The Future of Sign Painting and Challenges from AI(00:40:08) - Personal Reflections and the Sign Painting Community(00:47:54) - Favourite Letters and Final Thoughts