Giving an airbrush demo/lecture at a sign painting workshop in 1996.

(Photo from April 1996 Signs of the Times magazine)

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Thanks for your interest! I am an experienced graphic designer and sign painter/fabricator. I am always looking for cool and interesting design projects to work on!

See our Gallery and Projects pages for some pictures of different things I have done.

I am pretty selective regarding the projects I take on- If I don’t feel I can do an outstanding job for you for whatever reason, I am happy to refer you to someone who can meet your needs. I have a good reputation for making sure my customers are satisfied with the work I do. I enjoy the oddball projects that a lot of bigger sign shops won’t touch.

I have extensive experience with water-based paints and finishes, and also am familiar with Matthews, PPG, and House of Kolor systems, though I don’t work with the solvent-based systems as much these days.

Our shop has 3 Mac design workstations, a 30-inch Summagraphics T750 vinyl graphics cutter, two (½" and 1") vintage cast-iron military stencil punching machines, drill press, table saw, miter saw, bandsaw, router table, gas and MIG welding equipment, air compressors, a 500-watt Artograph opaque projector, HVLP spray equipment, and more airbrushes than I know what to do with.


Some “behind the scenes” pictures below:

About me:

I learned drafting, manual typesetting/letterpress printing, offset printing, basic bookbinding, and screen printing starting at age 12, thanks to a great graphic arts program in my middle school.

Inspired by my love for cool gadgets and science fiction art, I began airbrushing in 1990, and apprenticed at Airbrush Creations in St. Paul, a custom shop that did everything from T-shirts to full vehicle paint jobs.

I attended the evening Sign Painting program at St. Paul Technical College while I worked design and production positions at FastSigns® in 1993-94.

I airbrushed T-shirts for 3 summers at Six Flags Great America theme park in Illinois. In the off-season, I have airbrushed at Valleyfair theme park and Rosedale Mall in Minnesota.

I was an adjunct faculty instructor at the St. Paul Technical College Sign Painting program (teaching evening airbrushing courses) for 3 years. From 1995 thru 1998 I wrote 7 full-color feature articles for Airbrush Magazine, based on material I taught at my class at St. Paul Technical College and my experience airbrushing T-Shirts at Six Flags theme park in Chicago. I also contributed several articles to the (now defunct) American Airbrush Association newsletter.

I represented Badger Air Brush Company from 1996-99, teaching airbrush painting workshops at art supply trade shows across the country including multiple times at the Pasadena Art Methods & Materials Show in CA and the Great American Art Event in Long Island, NY. I have also taught many workshops and given demos at large art supply stores like Art Materials, Inc. in Minneapolis and Mathison's in ND, and at events such as the Pacific Airbrush Fair In Anaheim and Airbrush Expo in Atlanta.

I assisted in writing the instruction booklet for the Badger™ model 155 Anthem airbrush. I am qualified to repair and overhaul all models of Badger Airbrushes (and pretty much any other brand as well) and I have provided subcontracted airbrush repair services for a major US cake decorating supply company for over 20 years.

In addition to my individual projects, I worked full-time as head designer for GSS Sign & Screen Printing (real estate and construction signage), and as a custom painter at Tivoli Too studios (3D props/sculpture/retail theming) and Cutting Edge Creations (giant inflatables) from 1996-2005. I have also subcontracted for local fabrication and design companies such as Design Group, Themescapes, and Gruppo Architectural Metals.

Former member of Sign, Display and Allied Workers Union (St. Paul Local 880), Society of Decorative Painters, Int’l Airbrush Association, Letterheads

If you are into aviation, check out my e-commerce website TaildraggerPilotWings.com


Products we use regularly: