Back in the days before computers when I lettered signs and vehicles by hand with a brush and paint my hardest task was centering the words in the space as needed. I’d carefully plan it out with a ruler and china marker, then break out my brush and begin to paint the letters. But it seemed no matter how carefully I laid it out or painted I would inevitably run out of room at the end or just as bad have too much room left, making the lettering off center. Some say I have NEVER gotten it right. Thankfully the computer age cured the that problem for the most part.
The other day at our workshop I instructed the students to write their name on the back of the pieces they were working on. Phoebe who was there, complied immediately. It made me smile as I saw her efforts... and the innovative solution she came up with as she ran into difficulties. It reminded me of my long forgotten sign painting days of old.
-grampa dan