To whet your appetite for AIGA Raleigh's presentation of Sign Painters, I've collected an international assortment of videos documenting the art, craft, and business of contemporary sign painting (or sign writing, as it's known across the pond as you'll see).

'Tis the season... to ogle the vast sea of beautiful holiday cards out there, and maybe get a little inspired along the way. These cards range from elegant to silly, but any way you slice it, they're all beautifully done, and I'd love to get any one of them in my mailbox. Which is your favorite?

Years ago, Mark Twain wrote “Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live.” Bike and bike culture is alive and strong in the Triangle area, with avid mountain bikers, bike commuters, and lots of pathways and trails to ride a bike.

As part of Durham’s monthly Third Friday event, I stopped by to check out the open studio event at the Golden Belt artist studios. Once a textile factory that produced fabric pouches for Bull Durham tobacco, Building 3 of the Golden Belt Campus is a dynamic creative site with over 35 artists who work in their individual artist spaces.

The State Fair. It comes around each year and brings to mind food on a stick, vegetables winning blue ribbons, kitchen gadget displays, and pig races. This past week I was able to check out the North Carolina State Fair, which runs from October 17 – 27 in Raleigh, NC. The state fair can be a visual sensory overload with the large number of signs and logos that are placed on garbage cans, fences, rides and food trucks. Between all the standard signage there were some classic hand lettered signs and unique displays that stood out at the fair.