Who We Are
Handsome Hand Signs was founded in 2015 by Heidi Tullmann after 7 years of self-guided painting adventures throughout North and Central America. Now based in downtown Port Townsend, we specialize in custom lettering made the traditional way: with a pencil, paint and a brush. Heidi thrives in the intersection of blue collar and weirdo, and her work strives to bridge old with new in a fresh and graceful way.
Heidi loves creating non-commercial art. She especially enjoys painting on canvas and working with found material. She is currently honing a medicinal art practice called Talisman Sessions.
What Moves Us
Why are hand-painted signs are so special, and how do they directly enrich the fabric of a community?
As our world becomes dominated by computer-generated everything, objects made by hand are more meaningful than ever. A sign is said to be doing its job when the viewer’s eye runs over it without stopping; essentially the sign disappears as the information is transmitted to the eye and processed by the brain.
We would argue that something else arises at that moment of transmission: the soul of the sign. The subtle inconsistencies of each hand painted letter offer relief to the part of our brain that is dulled from digital perfectionism. The brush strokes are evidence of human touch, without which we would wither. The bright colors, clean lines and contrasting shadows tell a creative story to the viewer without them spending a penny, which achieves the very aim of public art.
Towns and businesses that invest in quality hand-painted signs are rewarded with immeasurable warmth and charm, while staying rooted in time-honored craft.
What Our Clients Say
“Heidi painted a sign for my soap company. She is such a talented artist! She helped me pick the design and colors and I couldn't have been happier. The classic artistry lends a true authentic touch to my sign that I feel proud to use to represent my business.”
-Sarah, Goldie’s Natural Beauty
“I could not be happier with the results! Heidi did an outstanding job working with me to select just the right style, and she got to work quickly and has now produced a number of signs for different uses in my business, along with the large signs on the windows and doors. Her work is very professional, her prices are fair and just, and she is a joy to work with.”
-Eric, Grain Street Bakery
“Sólo wouldn’t be the same without the creative touch of Heidi’s intentional signs sprinkled about the cafe. I have always trusted her vision and given her complete creative control. I am always blown away whether it's a new version of the same sign or a completely new concept shows up, revealing her development and growth as an artist.”
-Lauren, Sólo Espresso
Follow us on Instagram
✶
Follow us on Instagram ✶
MOSTLY TRUE: A chronicle of modern-day hobos, rail workers, and a forgotten outsider subculture. Obscure railroad nostalgia, freight-riding stories, interviews with hobos and boxcar artists, historical oddities, and tons of photos of modern-day boxcar tags are all presented in the guise of a vintage rail fanzine. The book spotlights beloved railroad artists Matokie Slaughter (Margaret Kilgallen), Colossus of Roads (Russell Butler), Herby (Herbert Meyer), Mind Detergent (Big Will), Twist (Barry McGee), and others, including an interview with itinerant sign painter Heidi Tullmann. [interview circa 2017]