The devil is in the detail

This was a bit of an unusual sign that I will probably put on the rustic page of the website! It is sometimes difficult to decide where example photos should go - this one could easily be on the page of unusual and business signs instead or as well.
The customer wanted to give a real surprise to her fellow and, as you can guess. he spent a lot of time in his new shed doing the sort of things that men do in sheds no doubt - fiddling with clocks that don’t quite work (until they don’t at all), maybe polishing the motor bike, re-potting the agapanthus and even, with his mates having the odd drink,

We discussed the layout and the wording - questions being whether a ‘sensible’ rectangular shape would look better on the shed or the wavy edged one she plumped for in the end, similarly with the lettering whether a more formal font would be appropriate or not - she didn’t realise I could do 'mad’ lettering.
(incidentally it is often more difficult to do something that intentionally looks naive and rustic but still maintains a good design element and satisfies the eye - if you are not careful the sign can just look badly done!)

The mad bottle character drunk (presumably by drinking itself) and singing it’s top off completed the look of the sign.
Often I look on such places as Google Images to find a suitable design to base a motif on but in this case she already had an image to give me - very good it is too - but i wonder if her fellow really agrees that it sums him up!
The tongue is amazing and too a bit of carving I can tell you.
I was a little surprised that she opted for a minimum of paint on this motif but it seems to work quite well.

If only all wooden signs were so interesting - but I do more and more these days as customers see the examples and realise what is possible - and this blog might help too!

(incidentally it is often more difficult to do something that intentionally looks naive and rustic but still maintains a good design element and satisfies the eye - if you are not careful the sign can just look badly done!)