I Went Out Looking for History, but I Found Something Else Entirely
This was supposed to be a post about signs, but that was a lie.
I’m going to get this out of the way real quick so we can get to business. You’re going to learn two things real quick.
How an adventure to find vintage street signs around my city turned out to be the catalyst for something else.
That something else is a brand new digital asset pack, filled with 17 high-resolution images, which I put together to share with you before anyone else.
However, if were are a paid member, you’d get it, and any future asset packs, 100% free. Now would be a perfect opportunity to become a member.
Last week, Beth Mathews published a fantastic article about the history of the midcentury, vacuum-form signage that was ubiquitous in the 60 and 70s. It’s a fascinating read, and when I found out that one of the primary companies that established the style was originally based in my town, I decided to make it part of my monthly photography project.
The thing about towns like Long Beach, CA is that they are constantly trying to shuck their blue collar roots. Between the main thoroughfares and the industrial side streets, there were likely hundreds of these formed plastic or fiberglass signs around town, but most have been stripped away and replaced with something of far less character.
Most, but not all…
It turns out that there are far less of these around than I originally suspected; replaced by more modern interpretations. I was operating on a limited schedule, so I couldn’t do a truly thorough search of the city. Despite not finding more gold nuggets, it was definitely not a loss.
As I drove around the city, I wasn’t just looking for signs to photograph, but also keeping an eagle-eyed watch out for some of my most favorite things: Textures! If it’s distressed, dilapidated, torn, rusted, cracked, or falling apart; I’m paying attention. My camera roll is filled with images of urban decay, from the chipped paint and stained concreted, to the heavily worn and weathered typography that has overstayed its welcome on whatever surface it's barely hanging onto.
Most of these textures don’t find their way into my work, but some do, and the rest are waiting in the wings for their chance to become something more than grunge. Just because I’m not using them, though, doesn’t mean they’re not worthy of being used. I pride myself on finding interesting textures wherever I travel, but instead of hogging them all to myself, I’m going to provide them to you.
Remnants Vol. 1 is a collection of high-resolution abstract images pulled from my ongoing obsession with finding art in the urban environment. Grit, grunge, decay, industrial pattern are the visual language I keep coming back to, and now you can use them too.
Use them as overlays in your digital work, backgrounds in your designs, or print them out and tear them up for your physical pieces. They’re yours to use however your creative instincts take you. They’re royalty free, full commercial license to use in your art. You just can’t resell them to your homies.
But if you want the absolute best deal ever; become a member today and get immediate access to this set and all future sets as long as you stay a member.