ABOUT SERAINA’S OTHER TALENTS & HIDDEN GEMS
A Special Restoration Sign Project
As a professional Restoration sign writer you get things come into the studio that your just fall in love with. This toy box was one of them. Hope you enjoy this Case History.
CASE:
Restoration Signage, Lettering Project
Toy Time
So here’s a great look behind the scenes, stories about my studio and site work: just some special highlights I want to share.
Stay curious and hope you enjoy this story of this hand painted restoration.
Restoration Sign Writing
Vintage Toy Box
Some months ago I had an interesting enquiry in my mailbox, asking if I would be interested to restoring a heirloom antique hand-painted toy box.
Yes, of course I am! Was my unabated response – I absolutely love to work on heritage lettering restorations.
Restoration sign writer: Restoring vintage hand painted treasures like these requires tuning into the moment they were created. It’s all about giving these antique things a new breath of life while keeping all their original character.
I fell in love with the box when I saw it shown here in the photo above.
SB
A lovely piece of genuine hand painted fairground traditional sign writing on the lid, and the front with nicely detailed painted toys.
The Work of a Signwriter and Letter Restorer
THE RESTORER’S SPECIAL DELVING, IMAGINATIVE JOURNEY
So this beautifully painted chest found it’s way to my studio to get checked over and colour matched.
That’s always the first step of a restoration. Looking at it’s history, how it was originally done, and starting to feel the colours and textures.
”Often I’m imagining the object’s real world origins”
It is like entering a time capsule, becoming quite forensic, trying to analyse quirky details of the style and it’s knocks and dings. The moments in it life, that made it the way it is.
The box was in a pretty good condition and I only had to work on the lid.
Lettering Restoration WORK BEGINS: THE MAIN CHALLENGE
I couldn’t wait to start. I was a little nervous about the large area of missing paint across the ‘S’ character. There are several methods to rebuild this type of dense paint loss.
So I had to spend time just looking at the piece and work out the best option in my mind, of several suitable restoration paths.
I ALWAYS USE BEST STUDIO MATERIALS AND TOOLS
Working with faux painted finishes like this is all about choosing the right detailing sign art brushes, professional painting skills and training… and of course using the best sign-art materials alongside fine art materials in correct combination.
I make a lot of special pieces but none would look as good without firstly choosing the very best for my clients.
Seraina B.
SENSITIVITY OF THE ARTWORK – TRACES OF HISTORY
The trick with painted restoration signwriting is to find the right measure and balance. It has to look like a convincing antique piece and not simply repainted of course.
I didn’t intend to finish it in one day.
To keep my eyes and head fresh, I spread the work over time allowing for drying and returning to it over a few days.
RESEARCH COUNTS
Nick tracing from original 19th century Soho type in 2017 – referencing original heritage pieces is a part of building our knowledge base.
Importantly I decided to leave those special chips that gave the box so much character and not to over restore it which is a common mistake – the box needed to look like it hadn’t been restored but had become lovingly aged over time.
It means so much knowing the box is now back in it’s home and delights the owner every day.
Pretty soon it came to it’s natural fruition! I didn’t really want to give it back in the end. But hey!
The box took several days of delightful work and when the piece was finally beeswaxed and presented, client was delighted!
It’s a beautiful ongoing story for us to all share!
COMMISSIONING RESTORATION AND GIFT-LINE SIGNS
If you have something in mind as a special gift or something hidden away in the attic just give me a call and let’s see what we can do.
SERAINA BEGINS THE RESTORATION OF EMANUEL SCHOOL LONDON
E mail: ngseraina@gmail.com
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07949 327987
