A New Clubhouse
Recently we were asked by Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services to help with a project that they'd been working on for some time: a new clubhouse on their Highland Park campus that would help create an additional space where they could better serve the youth of Los Angeles on their journey to strong, stable adulthood.
Lettering requires precision
This project was mostly lettering, and entirely some very straight line work. This means that precision was critical to every component. Mistakes in lettering like this, whether it's an angle that's off or kerning that's not even, become very obvious when painted. So measurement, taping, and careful consideration of reference points like how high up on the bricks, and how far below the windows, become very important.
Also as important is to make sure that they felt the placement and sizing were exactly how they wanted it. This can be something that's very difficult to tell until there are some reference points put up on the wall: where the text starts and ends, how high up it should be, and and what you'll be centering it around. Jobs like this may take a couple of tries to get the reference points correct, so flexibility is key.
Color matching
OYHFS had a set of brand colors that they'd used in a variety of mediums, though mostly digital. This presents an interesting dilemma in selecting paints: screens of various types show colors in different ways, so matching paints to the way that one device displays them won't mean they'll be universally accurate. Luckily, with the help of a t shirt with their logo, we were able to mix shades that matched and get to work.
Sketching, taping, painting
We were measured, placed, and had our colors ready to go. Now it was just a matter of getting everything up on the wall. As with so many projects, with sufficient planning the actual execution is an enjoyable and pretty easy process. We love to paint, so this is where we're able to listen to some music and just focus on the craft.
In the end, the sign turned out great – like what the original designs, but now hand painted.
What this means
We love all the projects that we work on, but it's always especially gratifying to work on a project that can do something to help our local community. It feels great to see some of our artwork on display with people who really care about their mission, and with the people who it will be directly benefiting. This job also allows us the opportunity to learn about so many different organizations around Los Angeles that are as unique and varied as the city itself.
