TrailSigns: original designs

Trailsigns doesn't just make copies of signs, though that is a lot of what I do. Recently I've created some original hand-carved signs, for real-world applications. 

This "Kingfisher Kottage" sign was a commissioned piece, and I had a lot of fun with the design, including a playful script font and some decorative scroll work. It's hand carved and painted, with a black vinyl letter trim and a nice stain on the unpainted wood background. The client will add this little metal kingfisher bird and hang it at their cabin.

I had a customer contact me through my Etsy page, and he told me his mother had recently cleared a trail through the woods on her property in New Hampshire's White Mountain region, and she'd taken to calling the area "Harmony Woods". He wanted a sign for her, referencing something like a Mt. Washington summit sign. Harmony Woods sounded like such a nice place, I wanted to do something a little more fanciful, a bit fairy-tale-ish, and added a pine tree just for kicks. We added the mileage and elevation, as a shout to other trail signs in the mountains. I finished the sign with primer and One-Shot enamel paint, to ensure a long life.

PRO Graphics / Trailsigns

P.R.O. Graphics & Design is a small, independently owned and operated sign company based out of Somerville, MA. I specialize in high-quality interior and exterior signs, custom made to the highest standards. I work closely with clients to assess their needs, offer fun and interesting design, and produce a product that they will be proud of for years to come. 

I worked in the sign business for ten years, working on projects for Harvard University, Tufts University, First Night Boston, as well as hundreds of local businesses, from biotech start-ups to pizza shops. In 2013 I took a hiatus to walk the Appalachian Trail in its entirety, and when I returned was inspired to begin making replicas of signs from, and inspired by, this great American footpath. I use old-school hand carving techniques to make copies of signs for fellow outdoors afficianadoes, usually to commemorate their favorite trail, but also create original hand-carved pieces. I use reclaimed materials whenever possible, since the character of old wood brings dimension to these pieces. 
 
While P.R.O. Graphics and Trailsigns have a different customer base and aesthetic, there is a lot of overlap. In both venues I try to come up with an idea and design an inspired package based on originality and satisfying my clients' needs and wants. I execute this to my fullest ability, using tried and true techniques that will ensure a long-lasting product. I like to merge old and new techniques, from the sharp look of cut vinyl graphics to hand-tooled wood incised carving, from cut steel and LEDs to 23K gold leafing. The wise combination of these processes is what I believe makes a great sign, to create a balance of aesthetics and utility.