Maxine Pearlman, Sign Painter
Written By: Emily Meyer, Founder of Emily Makes Stuff and Church Alley Barista
Maxine Pearlman has been a sign painter and muralist for over 40 years. She is from Brooklyn, New York and obtained a degree in Fine Arts from Brooklyn College.
Career paths can be a long and winding road, how did you come to be a sign painter? Was it something that interested you and you went for right out of the gate?
My first job was as a Caseworker for the Welfare Department. At that time (the 1960s) all my artist friends worked on their art on their own time and had a day job.
A few years later, when I met my husband in San Francisco we were looking for an occupation that we could do in movement and allow us to travel. We combined my art skills with his salesmanship skills and step by step taught ourselves sign painting, occasionally meeting some real sign painters who gave us great tips and lessons. We travelled all over this country and Mexico in an old truck converted into a camper painting signs and murals. With time and practice our skills improved. When my husband insisted I learn how to sell, I was terrified. What, go into a strange place and try to get someone to buy something they had no idea they needed? Eventually, learning how to sell and painting signs transformed my life. It gave me the ability to be independent and the sense of solidity that comes with that. Also, the ability to do this on my own for the last 30 years.
As young artists in college and the years after, we all looked down on commercial art. I never would have imagined I'd become a sign painter and love it so much. Or, that I'd be still painting signs after more than 40 years.
I love the freedom of being self-employed. I love the variety of customers I meet and work with...from the restaurants to the antique dealers to the barber's and nail shops, in every part of the city and in any city. I love being able to paint something that makes people happy and helps them with their business, utilitarianism. In 2018, I was hired to paint signs for the movie, "The Highwaymen" and was able to witness and be part of the awe inspiring creativity that goes into the production of movie sets.
Sign painting seems to be a disappearing occupation. What is your take on this? Do you feel like there is a resurgence and this artform will live on? Is there a younger generation already learning the ropes here in New Orleans?
I am saddened by the disappearance of hand lettered signs in favor of computer vinyl. A beautiful craft being lost. It has also been hard on my business. Fortunately, there are still enough people who want a hand lettered sign. I imagine one day, one of my signs will show up on " Antiques Roadshow" and be worth thousands of dollars.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is starting a new project. With my own painting, inspiration can come just walking down the street, the way the sunlight hits a particular building or seeing color combinations that are startling. Unlike the fine Arts, with signs you have to work with the customers to make sure you are giving them what they want. So, inspiration often comes from the business or person ordering the sign. Sometimes, they already have their own logo or design. If not, you try to come up with a design that will best promote their business, image and message. Most of the head work goes into the layout. The painting can often be like a Zen meditation with complete attention and oneness with the brushstroke.
What is worst part of your job?
The worst part of my job is dealing with the dead periods when you are sure it's all over. I usually go out selling during those times but motivating myself to do this is often difficult. Sometimes I'll make myself go out and look for a business that looks like they need a sign. Other times, I'll sit in my house and be still for an hour or so, maybe meditate. At times this has led me to go directly in the most unlikely direction where there is someone wanting exactly what I am offering. At times I'm inundated. At other times I've felt like I am hanging on by a thread. But the thread continues. So my advice to anyone is don't give up.
Is there an artist or business that you admire?
The artist who left the greatest impression on me was my college painting teacher, Ad Reinhardt. It was not because he was my favorite artist or even a great teacher. It was his ability to be uncompromising in what he believed in, which was abstract art. He used to famously say "art is art and life is life". Don't know what he would have thought about sign painting. He would probably say that's" life" and not "art". But that's okay. "Life" is good. And how many artists get to drive down the street and see their paintings hanging everywhere?
Outside of art, what is something you love to do?
In my free time, I love studying and learning spiritual and self work teachings...The Course in Miracles, Buddhism, etc. I do believe there is a spiritual and joyful part of each of us that is worth working toward and living in.
I have also written a book about the travels, adventures and lessons of part of my life that I almost got published in part. I think I will self publish it if I can ever figure out the computer skills to do it.
