Help your art form survive by providing video tutorials. I know and am aware of much more than I would have been without UA-cam. Just as you cherish the book you found, so will future generations appreciate the knowledge you pass on.
Just seeing this process blows me away the artisanship and craftsmanship combined in this craft that's amazing! And I'm seeing this video now 11 years later surprised I haven't stumbled on this sooner
I love the tool that you made for application of the gold leaf. It is so very difficult to work with. Your work is appreciated. I hope you share more videos and explain the chemicals and techniques. I hate that our world is losing all of it's charm. You are fantastic.
Not only is this absolutely fascinating to see the process, skill and artistic ability of this artist but the cinematography is just wonderful and brings this artists story to life. The whole thing is a work of art! Loved it!
Emma LM, Well stated, now retired I spent 50 years in USA as "self taught " Sign painter. When I first started..... out of a necessity to make a living, I had no comprehension of the range of artistic excellence that was involved. I became determined to become a specialist at gold leaf glass guilding. You're comments was well crafted..he's on the level of a modern day Michaelangelo. I learned glass guilding from a book dedicated to this. However I was aware of many techniques but never received any call for this. It was a fantasy to have my "sign vehicle " look like Mr Smiths. I did develop a method of screen printing on a vertical plane as on office doors. I also used "photo film" as a alternative to "hand cut" silk screen. At first not having money to buy an "arc lamp" I figured a way to use natural ultra violet light from the sun as part of developing process. But resourcefulness is indeed a necessity in this field. Mille Grazie Paolo di Califas
As a tattoo artist. I've admired this man for years. just hones the craft more and more everytime I see a piece from him. I can perhaps say this for all of us. Thanks Danny for bringing him to the screen. David's talent and skill is unparalleled
Fantastic work by David. Great film by Danny. This inspirational and also a little sad as I see craft leaving every aspect of professional work and trades. I was a signwriter myself from 16 years old in Australia - I eventually left because the trade was dying. At 27 years I became a copywriter and art director in advertising in the UK - and now 20 years later, these crafts too, and the people that are truly skilled have been discarded by the advertising industry - which is why you don't see great ads any more. It seems skill and years of experience isn't valued anywhere, whether you're laying bricks or writing scripts.
Love it all. Especially that he made that gold leaf tool. I like how he rubs his hair with it so it can adhere to the bristles. Artistic swagger right there.
wow...what a workshop!! this guy actually invented his own gilders tip " smiths tip " I am an "old school" signwriter and can tell you..he is the real deal!!
What a craftsman! Great film. I have a old pub door in my kitchen with SNUG engraved in it in this style, I liked it before, but I love it now I know how it was done!
i've seen this video 102.501 times now! This is just art at its very very finest. And with that said. I was a new one born for SURE! I have to try this out. Just amazing amazing work! And if it will take me a lifetime to do one good sign, let it be it! Let me die happy! The results this man makes is just.... Salvador Dali would BUY this man a beer you know!
I was first introduced to Mr. Smith's work via the still imagery of instagram. It gave me goose-bumps to finally see his work in motion. I hope his craft lives on where other highly technical, culture-rich art forms sadly have not. Thank you for developing and sharing this video.
Arsenal I agree about "artform lives on " I'm now retired after 50 years in the Sign business. I learned gold leaf glass guilding mostly from a very comprehensive book dedicated to gold work, including surface guilding and had another on glue chipping process. I was considered a "gold leaf specialist " by other sign companies in my area and most of my business involved subcontract work. ( Shop owners wanted to go along and... "watch" my gold leaf & silk screen back up system ....or send another worker" along and I would be honest and say im not giving lessons, implying I would be creating competition and lose their business..most understood. I had my own business called D'Oro Designs... but worked as general sign painter for 4 or five sign shops from time to time. I developed my own method for silk screen gold leaf "backup " on a vertical substrate such as office doors. Using a blue or green "photo-film" required an arc lamp in developing process but I found by using natural UV light from the sun very adequate for a small individual shop as mine. (1st stage) in developing the film..however I made a system using opaque letters or design to shiny acetate carrying sheet, then put my own "rigged" setup in the sun for 90 seconds then immediately covered exposed film . (2nd stage)...took inside my shop and 2nd stage was put exposed film in a hydrogen peroxide solution ( I used a 4 part distilled water to 1part hydrogen peroxide solution in a flat tray slightly washed film by slightly moving solution back & forth for another 90 seconds in developing photo film (3rd stage.) then transferred film to a flat piece of plexiglass and using cold water washed out the developed design/ office door name ... ( 4th stage) then placed screen precisely in center of screen and usingold newspaper blotted the film into screen fabric..( * a computer cut silk screen film is also available ) then adhere film to screen ) *I had a special silk screen frame for standard office doors that was "precisely" 30" wide and I drew a straight horizontal line using a waterproof black ball point pen measuring about 12" down inside frame on fabric . Then made precise cent mark all to indicate as precisely possible where to adhere developed photo/ or photo with hand or computer cut lettering or design such as logos etc ***MANY OTHER STEPS ARE REQUIRED AND ANY THUMBS UP LEFT I. WILL TYPE THEM OUT HERE, BUT IT WOULD BETTER IF SOMEONE HAS A SILK SCREEN AND GOLD LEAF ON INSIDE OF GLASS OFFICE DOOR.,VIDEO IS AVIALABLE. LOOK UP......YOU-TUBE .... GOLD LEAF LETTERING SILK SCREEN PRINTING..however is not too comprehensive and isn't much of a lesson with annoying background tin pan alley piano..I WASN'T ABLE TO LOCATE A GOOD TUTORIAL ON REVERSE SILK SCREEN PRINTING ON GLASS GUILDING..
Absolutely fascinating, would love to spend some time learning this trade. i have done water gilding on frames and furniture, and so appreciate the dedication to a craft. Thanks for sharing this with me.
I assisted a fantastic stained glass artist for a summer when I was a teenager so I understand a little how difficult it can be to work with glass. Mr Smith is a master craftsman for sure.
This is the greatest UA-cam video ever.Great Job Danny! Amazing. Reminds me of a documentary I once saw on Jerry Brown (Potter from Alabama, US). Your editing is beautiful, as is David A Smith's work.
That was great, and nicely made. Both film and glass gilding and etching. David I hope it does continue because it looks great on the wall. Very classily. I would have loved to have seen more of the art of painting glass at the beginning of film, but still It is what it is. and a good job Moggy looks great
absolutely stunning what a craft to be as skilled and talented as this... is an absolute pleasure to watch, now I know who's making the glassware for my gypsy bowtop wagon 🎨💎💯👍👌💕
Nice filming, Danny! You really put us next to David with this video. Like watching this film is the closest I’ll ever come to this level of craftsmanship. David, you’re so good at what you do that it inspires me to find my own talent.
This is fantastic! I'm out of words... WOW! He's a real artist and craftsman to his fingertips... I'm a sign writer my self and I have tried some of these techniques... But this is WAY out of my league :-)
Here from john Mayer. David designed his album cover for born and raised and did a few glass pieces for john and they are beautiful he is really talented. Keep up the great work
He is regarded as the best in the world (and probably aware he is) and there isn’t a shred of pretense and ego. Much unlike many signwriters on Instagram and such.
This is so awesome the craftsmanship is on a whole new dimension. I know he cutting and grinding the glass the old way but isn't there a safe easier way to get the same results.
What an amazing chap! Total respect for this guy. Especially loved his work for John Mayer's album... the sound track for this was also great. Would love to know what the songs were.
Thanks this is brilliant, what an artist
Help your art form survive by providing video tutorials. I know and am aware of much more than I would have been without UA-cam. Just as you cherish the book you found, so will future generations appreciate the knowledge you pass on.
Just seeing this process blows me away the artisanship and craftsmanship combined in this craft that's amazing! And I'm seeing this video now 11 years later surprised I haven't stumbled on this sooner
More than just an art. This is Perfection. Mastering this art takes years of devotion
What an Absolutely fascinating trade. Lovely workmanship.
I can't believe what I have just seen, this is outstanding art and craftsmanship.
instablaster
Fancy looks...⚡️.R U 🔮ing ¿.....Paolo di califas
David A. smith, your work looks so fascinating and rewarding. Take that A+ you will always deserve it.
I love the tool that you made for application of the gold leaf. It is so very difficult to work with. Your work is appreciated. I hope you share more videos and explain the chemicals and techniques. I hate that our world is losing all of it's charm. You are fantastic.
Brilliant. It's a good range of skills too, glass cutting, drafting, painting and gilding.
I found the music to be nostalgic and mystical and set the proper mood for the painstaking work.
This guy is top of the mark in the sign trade!
+1-Shot slinger As we others in the field would say: "Over The Top."
Ya 'Love-It-When-Ya-See-It'. . . The Guy's A Master!
Not only is this absolutely fascinating to see the process, skill and artistic ability of this artist but the cinematography is just wonderful and brings this artists story to life. The whole thing is a work of art! Loved it!
Emma LM,
Well stated, now retired I spent 50 years in USA as "self taught " Sign painter. When I first started..... out of a necessity to make a living, I had no comprehension of the range of artistic excellence that was involved. I became determined to become a specialist at gold leaf glass guilding. You're comments was well crafted..he's on the level of a modern day Michaelangelo. I learned glass guilding from a book dedicated to this. However I was aware of many techniques but never received any call for this. It was a fantasy to have my "sign vehicle " look like Mr Smiths. I did develop a method of screen printing on a vertical plane as on office doors. I also used "photo film" as a alternative to "hand cut" silk screen. At first not having money to buy an "arc lamp" I figured a way to use natural ultra violet light from the sun as part of developing process. But resourcefulness is indeed a necessity in this field.
Mille Grazie
Paolo di Califas
What an artisan - I love your work - thank you for keeping up this tradition and sharing so freely.
Amazing. I wish I had learned this craft. Most beautiful artform.❤
SIR David Smith. Light years ahead in the art.
A work that has the Soul of the Artist, thank you for this documentary
As a tattoo artist. I've admired this man for years. just hones the craft more and more everytime I see a piece from him. I can perhaps say this for all of us. Thanks Danny for bringing him to the screen. David's talent and skill is unparalleled
I'm almost speechless.
I'm familiar with some of the techniques, but this level of artistry, is as perfect as I've seen
Blown away by the skill & talent. These days we do not value these anymore. Not enough anyway. WOW.
Amazing work on BOTH sides of the camera. Beautiful craft, and beautiful filmmaking to bring it to us. Thank you!
Absolutely incredible.....❤️
So beautiful!
Fantastic work by David. Great film by Danny. This inspirational and also a little sad as I see craft leaving every aspect of professional work and trades. I was a signwriter myself from 16 years old in Australia - I eventually left because the trade was dying. At 27 years I became a copywriter and art director in advertising in the UK - and now 20 years later, these crafts too, and the people that are truly skilled have been discarded by the advertising industry - which is why you don't see great ads any more. It seems skill and years of experience isn't valued anywhere, whether you're laying bricks or writing scripts.
Fabulous work
What an eye opener! What an education!
This is the greatest video and greatest artist i have ever seen. I'm astounded.
Absolutely incredible work David!
Confident this is the best film on signwriting that I will ever see. Amazing work.
So beautiful. I love it
Love it all. Especially that he made that gold leaf tool. I like how he rubs his hair with it so it can adhere to the bristles. Artistic swagger right there.
I'm in awe. That is some of the best artwork I've ever seen. Bravo David
truly awe-inspiring !!
Amazing! I love the quality and artistry from the UK. So much has been and is being lost. Preserving the old and incorporating the new is wonderful.
Wow that Morri minor woody is such a nice work vehicle 😱
an absolute pleasure to watch a truly great tradesman
Simply amazing !!! TOP WORK :)
Superb work like nothing else I've seen before! my great grandfather was a sign writer, which is where I found my appreciation for such artistry.
wow...what a workshop!! this guy actually invented his own gilders tip " smiths tip " I am an "old school" signwriter
and can tell you..he is the real deal!!
Thank you.
great work!
What a craftsman! Great film. I have a old pub door in my kitchen with SNUG engraved in it in this style, I liked it before, but I love it now I know how it was done!
i've seen this video 102.501 times now! This is just art at its very very finest. And with that said. I was a new one born for SURE! I have to try this out. Just amazing amazing work! And if it will take me a lifetime to do one good sign, let it be it! Let me die happy! The results this man makes is just.... Salvador Dali would BUY this man a beer you know!
absolutely incredible
I was first introduced to Mr. Smith's work via the still imagery of instagram. It gave me goose-bumps to finally see his work in motion. I hope his craft lives on where other highly technical, culture-rich art forms sadly have not. Thank you for developing and sharing this video.
Arsenal
I agree about "artform lives on " I'm now retired after 50 years in the Sign business. I learned gold leaf glass guilding mostly from a very comprehensive book dedicated to gold work, including surface guilding and had another on glue chipping process. I was considered a "gold leaf specialist " by other sign companies in my area and most of my business involved subcontract work. ( Shop owners wanted to go along and... "watch" my gold leaf & silk screen back up system ....or send another worker" along and I would be honest and say im not giving lessons, implying I would be creating competition and lose their business..most understood. I had my own business called D'Oro Designs... but worked as general sign painter for 4 or five sign shops from time to time.
I developed my own method for silk screen gold leaf "backup " on a vertical substrate such as office doors. Using a blue or green "photo-film" required an arc lamp in developing process but I found by using natural UV light from the sun very adequate for a small individual shop as mine.
(1st stage) in developing the film..however I made a system using opaque letters or design to shiny acetate carrying sheet, then put my own "rigged" setup in the sun for 90 seconds then immediately covered exposed film .
(2nd stage)...took inside my shop and 2nd stage was put exposed film in a hydrogen peroxide solution ( I used a 4 part distilled water to 1part hydrogen peroxide solution in a flat tray slightly washed film by slightly moving solution back & forth for another 90 seconds in developing photo film
(3rd stage.) then transferred film to a flat piece of plexiglass and using cold water washed out the developed design/ office door name ...
( 4th stage) then placed screen precisely in center of screen and usingold newspaper blotted the film into screen fabric..( * a computer cut silk screen film is also available ) then adhere film to screen ) *I had a special silk screen frame for standard office doors that was "precisely" 30" wide and I drew a straight horizontal line using a waterproof black ball point pen measuring about 12" down inside frame on fabric . Then made precise cent mark all to indicate as precisely possible where to adhere developed photo/ or photo with hand or computer cut lettering or design such as logos etc
***MANY OTHER STEPS ARE REQUIRED AND ANY THUMBS UP LEFT I. WILL TYPE THEM OUT HERE, BUT IT WOULD BETTER IF SOMEONE HAS A SILK SCREEN AND GOLD LEAF ON INSIDE OF GLASS OFFICE DOOR.,VIDEO IS AVIALABLE.
LOOK UP......YOU-TUBE .... GOLD LEAF LETTERING SILK SCREEN PRINTING..however is not too comprehensive and isn't much of a lesson with annoying background tin pan alley piano..I WASN'T ABLE TO LOCATE A GOOD TUTORIAL ON REVERSE SILK SCREEN PRINTING ON GLASS GUILDING..
Gorgeous film, really nicely done
excellent film, excellent subject - very impressive!
So cool!!
You're an INSPIRATION! Lovely,simply lovely.
Absolutely fascinating, would love to spend some time learning this trade. i have done water gilding on frames and furniture, and so appreciate the dedication to a craft. Thanks for sharing this with me.
It is wonderful fine high art. Thank you, David. You deserve so many more likes!
BLOODY AMAZING!!!!!
superb craftsmanship.
humans with fine art and capability is truly amazing!
Perfection!!.....an inspiration to me...love the Moggy Minor aswell.
wau!!! never seen nothing to compare, it's fantastic!!!
AMAZING!!!
You, sir are a true artist and craftsman. What fabulous work you do. Congratulations. How have you amassed such knowledge for a young man?
loved this..great work :)
Great video. You do amazing work. Your a great craftsman.
Wow!!!!!!!! No words
What a Craftsman. Brilliant.
Beautiful, wondrous work! :D
I assisted a fantastic stained glass artist for a summer when I was a teenager so I understand a little how difficult it can be to work with glass. Mr Smith is a master craftsman for sure.
AMAZING
This is the greatest UA-cam video ever.Great Job Danny! Amazing. Reminds me of a documentary I once saw on Jerry Brown (Potter from Alabama, US). Your editing is beautiful, as is David A Smith's work.
Fantastic works. Mersmerizing really ...
amazing!
A true artist!
This has to be one of the most enjoyable videos i've watched in awhile. Id love to learn from you.
That was great, and nicely made. Both film and glass gilding and etching. David I hope it does continue because it looks great on the wall. Very classily. I would have loved to have seen more of the art of painting glass at the beginning of film, but still It is what it is. and a good job Moggy looks great
absolutely stunning
what a craft
to be as skilled and talented as this... is an absolute pleasure to watch, now I know who's making the glassware for my gypsy bowtop wagon 🎨💎💯👍👌💕
Nice filming, Danny! You really put us next to David with this video. Like watching this film is the closest I’ll ever come to this level of craftsmanship.
David, you’re so good at what you do that it inspires me to find my own talent.
This is fantastic! I'm out of words... WOW! He's a real artist and craftsman to his fingertips... I'm a sign writer my self and I have tried some of these techniques... But this is WAY out of my league :-)
BRILLIANT!
I'm amazed.
It is really beautiful love learn more
so good
Absolutely Beautiful!
Felicitaciones !!! Un trabajo increíble, muy bueno
I'm truly astonished! I would sell my house to quit my job and learn this awesome art. Such skills!
You ate atrue master of your craft.
i want to learn everything you know. this was absolutely unbelievable!!
Here from john Mayer. David designed his album cover for born and raised and did a few glass pieces for john and they are beautiful he is really talented. Keep up the great work
He is regarded as the best in the world (and probably aware he is) and there isn’t a shred of pretense and ego. Much unlike many signwriters on Instagram and such.
Very cool
nice video!
Honestly I would love to learn how to do this, it looks amazing!
fascinating - really interesting - tx for sharing ;-)
This is so awesome the craftsmanship is on a whole new dimension. I know he cutting and grinding the glass the old way but isn't there a safe easier way to get the same results.
awesome
What can I say ? FANTASTIC
Excelente .
Awesome work. I'm booking a flight. Dave Herzfeld
its the first time i see this kind of art!! im really @_@
What an amazing chap! Total respect for this guy. Especially loved his work for John Mayer's album... the sound track for this was also great. Would love to know what the songs were.
WOW
Amazing!
I have a collection of around 40 Victorian and Edwardian Brewery Advertising Mirrors and I always wondered how they were made.
Breath taking skill. I'm sure that David is not from this World. Where does he find the time ? LOVE the sign written Traveller ❤️
I wish i could learn this. I do in "modern" sign industry and it is boring. I want to become artist of making signs.
this is fckgn good
magic just that