Cutout/Illustrated Signs

Mystic Blue artists do not use clip art, though we are familiar with the techniques used by the great advertising artists of previous eras.

We like to create characters, which come to life in cut-out forms as hanging signs or sidewalk mascots. Grammy Gayle and Django the gypsy cat are drawn in the graphic style with bold flat areas of color.

The toucan from the Snoshak and the opera house alligator are graphics contained within a regular shape, while 'Make me up' is all Hollywood glamour.

We also do more realistic illustration styles like the 19th-century Romantic style portrait of Marie Laveau done for a French Quarter bar, and Tarzan wrestling the alligator, who is a photo opportunity made for a local museum.

Our artists have designed and painted illustrated menus for many restaurants--either realistic or whimsical-- and cut-out coffee cups are practically an icon in caffeine country.

May 2013 Center News

§ Happy Festivals §

Classes

Roman Letters: Drawn and Painted, this six-weeks course has ended, but will be taught in the fall. Please call (504) 525-4691 for more details.

Pen Letters: Calligraphy and Handwriting, will meet Tuesdays, April 9 to May 14, 7pm to 9pm.

Exploring Handwriting: this class will meet on Saturday, March 2, from 10pm to 3pm. Cost of the class $75.

Designing Organically: this class will meet for two 3-hour sessions in May or June. The cost will be $100 with materials included. Interested students should contact Eve or Vince for specific times.

Tutoring: tutoring sessions in handwriting to improve penmanship, tailored to the individual student. Tutoring sessions are 1-1/2 hours.

Font Club

Local graphic designer Liz Cooke will give a presentation at 3pm, Saturday, May 11th at Mystic Blue Signs on using a pen tablet with Adobe Illustrator for type design. Visit LizCooke on facebook for examples of her work.

At our last meeting, Delve of www.delvefonts.com gave a live skype presentation on Saturday, April 13th at 3pm, from San Francisco at Mystic Blue Signs on running a type foundry. Delve discussed type foundry concerns such as production, distribution, marketing, etc.

Font Club normally meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Also you can visit www.aiganeworleans.org for graphic design events and meetings in New Orleans.

NOLA School of Art & Crafts

The New Orleans School of Art and Craft offers classes in all styles of art-making, including calligraphy. They can be reached directly at (504) 944-7900. For more info visit www.NOLAArtandCraft.com

NOLAA

NOLAA is a non-profit organization whose monthly meetings are mini-workshops in a variety of calligraphy techniques, well worth the $25 per year membership fee. Meetings are held on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Visit www.neworleanscalligraphy.org for more info.

Photography by Claire Hassig

We are proud to have an exhibit of Claire's photographs in the gallery. The images present the abandoned structures of the former Six Flags Amusement Park, altered through her unique perspective.

Center Newsletter

To subscribe to our e-newsletter from the Center for the Lettering Arts, please email your contact info to mysticbluesigns@hotmail.com