2024 was my second full calendar year working on BLAG, having launched in April 2022. It's now six issues in (BLAG 06 ships in January), and things like the shop are now well-established, while BLAG Meet has become a staple for each issue. I continue to experiment with the BLAG Forum as a private space for members away from social media, but know that there is more potential to be realised there.All of this is made possible by those that pay for my work, and I'm happy to have welcomed around 100 new members over the last twelve months. I'm looking forward to the next year, and continuing to steadily grow and connect the community through the publication.Top Ten 2024The bl.ag online site now has well in excess of 200 articles and features straddling a broad range of sign painting and lettering topics. Just like 2022 and 2023, I've worked through the analytics to identify the ten most popular across the calendar year. Strictly, this should include pieces relating to BLAG back issues, but I've omitted these to keep the focus on stand-alone articles.However, I have included the three articles that made it two years running in the Top Ten, while Larry Stammer's piece for 'lefties' is the only piece to make three successive appearances in the extended Top Twenty: go lefties!It's been a pleasure to publish a variety of new contributors this year, and these are represented in the Top Ten below, which is once again dominated by the Learning and People categories. While some of the other categories might not feature, I will continue to maintain the breadth of what's published, as well as the international focus; both are important to me and what I'm doing with the publication.So, without further ado, here are the top ten bl.ag online articles for 2024, in reverse order...10. Doc Guthrie: A TributeFew have made a greater impact on contemporary sign painting than Doc Guthrie, and this extended tribute tells his story. (In fact, that influence is felt in this Top Ten, with two of the articles penned by LATTC alumni.)Doc Guthrie: A TributeTribute to Doc Guthrie, sign painter, mentor, and teacher on the LATTC Sign Graphics Program.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersDoc Guthrie in his LATTC Uniform. Photo: Mike Languein.9. Tips for Left-Handed Sign Painters from Larry StammersLarry's timeless article proves left-handedness should be no barrier to becoming a sign painter, provided you learn how to mitigate against some of the challenges it presents.Tips For Left-Handed Sign Painters from Larry StammersBeing left-handed is no barrier to becoming a sign painter, and these tips will help you get going.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersStrokes from Larry's guide for Lefties.8. Meet Earl Phillips: Cleveland's Greatest Living Sign PainterSome sign painters become an institution in their locale, none more so than Earl Phillips, whose story is captured in a wonderful biopic.Earl Phillips: Clevelands Greatest Living Sign PainterBiopic of Earl Phillips, proprietor of Clevelands U-Need-A-Sign Co. at 131st Street since 1960.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersEarl Phillips in 2018. Photo: John Skrtic.7. Getting Into It: Sign Painters' Stories Around the WorldThere's no single route into the trade these days, and Lauren Kerbel's piece profiles the journeys of six different sign painters around the world.Getting Into It: Sign Painters Stories Around the WorldSix sign painters tell the stories of their paths into the trade, and offer their advice to others.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersMichelle 'Meng' Nguyen is one of the six sign painters that tell us how they got into all this.6. Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: George Biles, King of SignwritersThe stories of individual sign painters and sign shops are a personal favourite of mine, and the account of George Biles' life and work was a very special one to work on.Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: George Biles, King of SignwritersThe diverse and prolific output of sign painter George Biles and his Bridport Signs Service Studios.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersGeorge Biles' work-in-progress on a 'Welcome to Bridport' sign.Also check out the retrospective exhibition of George Biles' work that was held in Bridport in August 2024.5. How to Prepare MDO Plywood for Sign PaintingHow to Prepare MDO Plywood for Sign PaintingStep-by-step guide to tools, materials and techniques to prepare MDO Plywood for exterior signs.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersAgustin McCord's step-by-step is once again in the Top Ten, up from eighth place last year. (The latest on his blog is 'Repainting a Sand Blasted Sign'.)Learn more about spackling paste in Agustin's guide.4. Where Can I Learn the Craft of Sign Painting?This guide to ways to learn the craft includes listings of regular workshop providers around the world. The 'Events Roundup' email list is then where I share details of other events of note.Where Can I Learn the Craft of Sign Painting?Overview of sign painting workshops, courses, apprenticeships, and places to learn the craft online.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersLiane Barker's workshops and online courses are profiled in the feature on ways to learn the craft of sign painting.3. The Basics of Letter Shades: Left, Right, Up and DownErwin Indrawan's guide continues to prove most useful, explaining the fundamentals of letter shades in a clear and accessible way.The Basics of Letter Shades: Left, Right, Up and DownAn introduction to the placement of shades on different types of lettering used in sign painting.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersFind out in Erwin Indrawan's guide.2. Why Lead Paint Makes Signs Last: A Toxic LegacyAfter years of seeking an explanation for this phenomenon, Jill Strong answered the call with this extended feature on the legacy of lead.Why Lead Paint Makes Signs Last: A Toxic LegacyAn account of the enduring (and highly toxic) legacy of lead paint on signs, and sign painters.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersLoaded with lead: 1 Shot Light Green. From Jill Strong's feature on lead paint.1. Intro to Foundational Sign Painting Strokes: The Gothic AlphabetAnd top spot in this year's list of the most popular bl.ag online articles goes to Jenna Homen's guide to the strokes of the Gothic alphabet.Intro to Foundational Sign Painting Strokes: The Gothic AlphabetBuilding the Gothic (Block) alphabet with tips on brush technique, materials, and practise strokes.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureJenna HomenStrokes and variants for painting curves from Jenna Homen's Gothic guide.Everything published at bl.ag online is made possible by BLAG's wonderful paid members, patrons, and sponsors. Join today to add your support to our adventures in sign painting, and independent, advertising-free publishing.Make it a Top 20And, as a small bonus, here are the articles that came in places 1120.11. Enjoy a Free Fileteado Porteo Lesson from Gustavo FerrariEnjoy a Free Fileteado Porteo Lesson from Gustavo FerrariStart learning the Fileteado Porteo artform via the new online course from Gustavo Ferrari.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters12. Meet the Letterheads: Keeping the Craft AliveMeet the Letterheads: Keeping the Craft AliveThe Letterheads movement continues to go from strength to strength as it nears its 50th anniversary.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters13. Reflections on the Impact of Sign Painters, Ten Years LaterReflections on the Impact of Sign Painters, Ten Years LaterSign Painters stars reflect on its influence, alongside those whose sign painting lives it changed.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters14. Bringing a Gilded Victorian Transom Window Back to LifeBringing a Gilded Victorian Transom Window Back to LifeAndy at AJ Signs in Dorset gives a new lease of life to a beautiful piece of Victorian glasswork.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters15. The Apprentice: Colossal StyleThe Apprentice: Colossal StyleInside Colossal Medias apprentice program, learning to paint large-scale mural advertising signs.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters16. Marketing Without Social Media: Advice for Your Creative BusinessMarketing Without Social Media: Advice for Your Creative BusinessThe problems with marketing creative businesses on social media, and alternatives to set you free.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters17. Peeling Back the Layers of Chrystel Crickx's Typographic LegacyPeeling Back the Layers of Chrystel Crickxs Typographic LegacyChrystel Crickxs novel contribution to lettering and type history is celebrated in a new book.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters18. An Origin Story of Sorts: Better LettersAn Origin Story of Sorts: Better LettersA decade ago, Better Letters launched. But its origins go back further, as Sam Roberts reflects.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters19. 60 Years On the Brush: The Barker Signs Story60 Years On the Brush: The Barker Signs StoryMaurie Barker founded Barker Signs in 1964, with his daughter Liane now keeping things hand-painted.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters20. An Introduction to Quick Showcard Lettering, Norwegian StyleAn Introduction to Quick Showcard Lettering, Norwegian StyleReproduction, with English translation, of a rare Norwegian showcard lettering and layout booklet.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersHere are the Top Ten lists from 2022 and 2023, with even more inspiration from the articles and features at bl.ag online.2023BLAGs Top Ten for 2023, and Reflections on the YearRound-up of the years most popular articles from the adventures in sign painting at bl.ag online.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters2022BLAGs Top Ten for 2022, and Reflections on the YearRound-up of the years most popular articles from the adventures in sign painting at bl.ag online.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters