His name is John Seastrunk, and you’ll recognize his seasonally appropriate handiwork from the windows of Boogaloos, St. Francis, Napper Tandy, a bunch of taquerias, and more. The Bold Italic has just published a piece on him, so you can finally put a name and face to all of that familiar hand-painted lettering. According to the piece, John has been painting signs for over 30 years and has over 120 typefaces memorized!
Read on for more about this unsung local hero.
For your consideration: We did a video about him two years:
http://missionlocal.org/2010/02/he-paints-hearts/
Apparently he started wearing a tie after someone told him that since his work is professional-grade, he should also dress professionally. One of my favorite characters around.
I love this guy’s work. I was sitting in Boogaloo’s and looking out through the windows with hats painted on them one time, and really saw a missed opportunity, to position the hats so that it looks like the diners are wearing them.
Sign painters rule!
http://signpaintermovie.blogspot.com/2011/06/cincinnati-justin-green.html
my favorite was the fathers day he did for st francis, not only was there a wibndow of pimp hats and canes, but another window had a big whiete limo with a chaffeur in front of it and the limo said” vip”
http://www.goodtyping.com/
also hes got a sick fucking cadillac
120 Typefaces memorized, thats pretty bad ass.
I’ve really admired this guy’s work for some time and wondered who he was. Thanks for writing, Helen.
He is one of my favorite locals and gives the Mission a good name. I have always thought he would be wonderful to interview. And I can almost see my building peeking around the corner in the picture of the Saint Francis Fountain.