Sign-In
Cart
Aspen, Signs of History - Stories & Scalawags
Hardcover
General ArtGeneral World History
Publisher: Old Gaard Publishing
Published: Jun 11 2026
Pages: 276
Weight: 2.59
Height: 0.88 Width: 11.00 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
Before Aspen became a global luxury brand, it was lettered by hand.
This is the story of sign making in Aspen - told from the street level, through nostalgia, by a working sign painter and artist who lived through the town's transformation and helped visually shape it along the way.
Blending graphic design history, commercial art, memoir, and regional storytelling, ASPEN - A History of Sorts documents how hand-painted signs, storefront lettering, advertisements, and visual craft once defined the identity of a mountain town long before digital polish replaced brush, quill, and enamel.
Through short stories, personal recollections, and visual history, this book captures a disappearing trade and the culture it served - where typography wasn't theoretical, design wasn't disposable, and every sign had a job to do.
Inside, you'll explore:
- The evolution of hand-painted signage in Aspen
- How sign painters and designers shaped the town's visual identity
- The relationship between commerce, craft, and place
- Stories behind businesses, buildings, and the signs that marked them
- Northern Canada chapter focused on the Yukon, where isolation, climate, and necessity shaped a parallel sign-painting tradition rooted in durability, ingenuity, and place
This is not an academic design text - it's a working history painted instead of digitally created, grounded in lived experience, visual problem-solving, and the realities of making a living with your hands and your eye.
For graphic designers, sign painters, typographers, historians, and anyone who cares about the soul of places shaped by craft, this book preserves a visual language that is rapidly disappearing.
Order your copy today and step into Aspen as it was painted - one sign at a time.
Also in
General Art
Drawings by Rembrandt and His Pupils: Telling the Difference
Bevers, Holm
Hendrix, Lee
Robinson, William W.
Hardcover
Awake in the Dream World: The Art of Audrey Niffenegger
Sterling, Susan Fisher
Niffenegger, Audrey
Wasserman, Krystyna
Hardcover
The Secrets of Art: Uncovering the Mysteries and Messages of Great Works of Art
Mancoff, Debra N.
Hardcover
The Language of the Face: Stories of Its Uniquely Expressive Features
Gonzalez-Crussi, Frank
Hardcover
Dynamic Still Life for Artists: A Modern Guide to Essential Concepts and Techniques
Sedwick, Sarah
Paperback
Dragonart Ultimate Gallery: More Than 70 Dragons and Other Mythological Creatures
Peffer
Peffer, J. Neondragon
Hardcover
Insect Anatomy: The Curious World of Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, and Bugs
Rothman, Julia
Hearst, Michael
Paperback
Glorious Country: How the Artist Frederic Church Brought the World to America and America to the World
Johnson, Victoria
Hardcover
Discover the Art of Field Sketching: Nature-Inspired Techniques for Pencil, Pen, and Watercolor
Link, Kristin
Hardcover
A Perpetual Journal Practice: Building a Connection with Nature Through Art
Gastinger, Lara Call
Paperback
Ultimate National Parks Coloring Book: Amazing Scenes from 63 of the Nation's Most Beautiful Places
Furia, Elsa L.
Paperback
Creative Junk Journaling: How to Collect Everyday Keepsakes and Cherish Your Memories
Ahmed, Natasha
Hardcover
Fourth Wing: The Official Coloring & Sticker Book (Includes 2 Pages of Stickers to Color)
Entangled
Paperback
15-Minute Watercolor Florals: Create Exquisite Paintings with 30 Beginner-Friendly Tutorials
Poa, Joly
Paperback
What It's Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing--What Birds Are Doing, and Why
Sibley, David Allen
Hardcover
Watercolor in the Woods: Paint a Whimsical World of Forest Animals, Botanicals, Toadstools and More
Carkill, Jane
Paperback
How to Draw Super Cute Things with Bobbie Goods: Learn to Draw & Color Absolutely Adorable Art!
Goods, Bobbie
Paperback
Stupid Faces in Stunning Paintings: A Serious Exploration of Art History's Silliest Expressions
Mierlo, Matthijs Van
Hardcover
The Big Book of Tiny Painting: An Artist's Guide to Tiny Painting Outside in Ink and Watercolour
Stroz, Leslie
Paperback
30-Minute Watercolor Painting for Beginners: Easy Step-By-Step Lessons and Techniques
Rockridge Press
Paperback
Draw Your Adventures: Making Art to Celebrate Everyday Experiences and Travels Near and Far
Baker, Samantha Dion
Paperback
How to Draw Kawaii Cats: Sketch and Paint Your Adorable Feline Friends in Dozens of Different Ways!
Koizumi, Sayo
Paperback
The Rembrandt Heist: The Story of a Criminal Genius, a Stolen Masterpiece, and an Enigmatic Friendship
Amore, Anthony M.
Hardcover
Forever Stamps: 250 Years of United States History Writ Small
Smith, Brian E.
United States Postal Service
Anderson, Gail
Hardcover
Fantasy Crochet: 16 Whimsical Patterns Inspired by Faeries, Elves, Nymphs & More
Bertolina, Jessica
Paperback
Watercolor Wizardry: Paint Your Own Fantasy Forest Dimension with 25 Step-By-Step Tutorials
Maharaj, Kiara
Paperback
Artistry of the Mentally Ill: A Contribution to the Psychology and Psychopathology of Configuration
Prinzhorn, Hans
Paperback
Let's Become Fungal!: Mycelium Teachings and the Arts: Based on Conversations with Indigenous Wisdom Keepers, Artists, Curators, Feminists and Mycolog
Ostendorf-Rodríguez, Yasmine
Paperback
Dungeons & Dragons Worlds & Realms: Adventures from Greyhawk to Faerã»n and Beyond
Lee, Adam
Official Dungeons & Dragons Licensed
Hardcover
Draw Your Own Fantasy Characters: Design Original Characters for RPG Worlds and Beyond
Osborn, Tamara
Paperback
The Complete Orthodox Ethiopian Bible in English (Extra Large Print 17 Point Font): A Comprehensive Collection of Scriptures and Apocrypha Including t
Press, Covenant Sacred
Hardcover
The Album of Plant Families: An Illustrated Exploration of Nature's Beauty and Bounty
Hollender, Wendy
Hardcover
Watercolor in the Garden: Paint a Charming World of Beautiful Songbirds, Baby Animals, Flowers and More
Carkill, Jane
Paperback
How to Read the Wilderness: An Illustrated Guide to the Natural Wonders of North America
Nature Study Guild
Hardcover
Color by Number Adult Coloring Book: Large Print Birds, Butterflies and Animals Coloring Book For Adults
Coloring, Nature
Paperback
Keeping a Nature Journal, 3rd Edition: Deepen Your Connection with the Natural World All Around You
Leslie, Clare Walker
Paperback
The Gelli Arts(r) Printmaker's Handbook: Exploring Image Transfers and Layering Techniques for Creating Incredible Art with Gel Plates
Scherr, Jessica Russo
Paperback
Watercolour Lessons: How to Paint and Unwind in 20 Tutorials (How to Paint with Watercolours for Beginners)
Lefebvre, Emma
Paperback