banjo

I've driven past this sign 23098098 times and have never really noticed it. This store is on the corner of 1st South and 7th East, right next to that outdoor sport shop. They have a sign on the front of the building but this one is way better (its on the side) This treatment is playful and fun just like banjos. Plus its done beautifully, who ever hand painted it did an amazing job. I think the size change really does its job, and is flawless. I'm totally in love with it.

A+ market on 2e and 9ths

I'm not totally sure why this didnt post the first time... regardless, this is a beautiful hand painted sign. It used to be lined with lights, but they have since been broken, or taken out. The shop this belongs to is rather scary, but have recently learned that they sell Pabst individually for 49 cents (incase you need to buy is one beer) The tall sans serif letters are slightly wompy but have a lot of character. i especially like the uneven letter spacing in FOOD, and the strange kerning between the K and S. All in all this pink wonder gets an A+ for being one of the best signs in all of salt lake.

kilby court

Liea Bell is one of Salt Lakes most wonderful prizes. She is by far one of the greatest show poster designers around to date. Her classic scrawl can be recognized immediately. And one of the most notable venues around town used to be (and will soon again be her shop Signed and Numbered is moving back to Kilby Court) her stomping ground and this sign that hangs on the outside entry has been there as long as I have been going there. Liea is a wonderful typographic style and her hand drawn cursive is beautiful.

goat numbers

we're revisiting the state fair, because its too good to pass up and not share. The day i went to the fair happened to be the day the goats were judged on however you judge a goat.

When i saw their numbers i just about fainted. I sometimes forget all the beautiful ways typography can be applied. Not to say that these are particularly good characters, but their styling really isnt too bad.

Especially the 4 on 34, its a really great strong roman character. The slight inward curve of the left stem is what i really love, so beautiful.

utah ice storage

The Utah State Fair

The Utah State Fair is an amazing wealth of hand painted typography. Man-oh-man! By far the sideshows had the best signage. The worlds smallest woman, Holy Moly!, Strange!, and the best treatment i found had to have been Giant Snake. the snake for an S! At the animal sideshow Americas Largest Sideshow where most of the yellow, red, and green signs came from were most likely painted by a professional sign painter, which was really amazing to see. These treatments are all very unusual and represented sign painting from the 1940's and 50's. All in all i hope you made it to the fair.

Foreign + Domestic

I love these two sign simply because of what they're advertising. I dont know how much i would trust the hand painted complete auto repair for my domestic car. However it also offers a mom and pop shop aspect. I walk past this store a lot and there are always AMAZING cars out in front. these guys use their talent for fixing cars as apposed to paying for a fancy sign. Thats why i love these handmade typographic moment, because it usually indicates something great inside.

Pupusas

This sign is on about 8th south and between 8th and 9th west. This is by far one of my favorite hand painted signs in town. I can't get over how stylized the counters (the fully or partially enclosed space within a character.) are within the P's. I also love how high the Cap Height (The height of capital letters) and how tight the letter spacing is. This typographic treatment is incredibly unique and  I think the composition is really amazing as well, slightly off center and  pushed to the right. 

I (we) love tacos

Found next to a taco cart around the Bayou between 600 and 700 south state street.