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Life at Starr Studios

Life at Starr Studios

By Sean Starr

Previously known as Coffee With a Sign Painter, Life at Starr Studios is a weekly video show with new episodes every Friday, hosted by sign painter and designer Sean Starr, filmed at Starr Studios in their historic 1869 studio building located in the Central Texas town of Calvert. Come along as Sean showcases projects, shares tips and tricks of the trade as well as occasional visits from other artists and clients to the studio.
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Interview: Josh Hall of J. Hall & Co. Gentleman Tattooers Dallas, TX

Life at Starr StudiosJun 02, 2015

00:00
44:51
Copenhagen Signs: The Sign Painter's Redemption

Copenhagen Signs: The Sign Painter's Redemption

Sean talks with Jakob Engberg of Copenhagen Signs in Denmark, a conversation about addiction, meditation, and redemption while painting signs.

Apr 20, 202101:29:01
The Gentleman Racer: Mike Satterfield and the Death of Consumerism

The Gentleman Racer: Mike Satterfield and the Death of Consumerism

Sean talks with The Gentleman Racer founder Mike Satterfield about the over-politicization of modern life and the much-needed death of our culture of consumerism.

Apr 04, 202101:15:18
UK's Sarah Harvey: Stickin' It to the Man One Gypsy Wagon at a Time

UK's Sarah Harvey: Stickin' It to the Man One Gypsy Wagon at a Time

Sean and English Gypsy Wagon painter Sarah Harvey talk paint and design, working for the occasional celebrity client, living free outside the confines of the "norm" and Frank Zappa.

Mar 15, 202101:11:57
Sign Painter Mike Meyer: The Man, The Myth, The Legend

Sign Painter Mike Meyer: The Man, The Myth, The Legend

Sean and globe-trotting sign painter and instructor Mike Meyer catch up and discuss the trade as well as sitting with your own mortality, paying it forward, and Polka music.

 

Mar 07, 202101:42:52
2020 Was One Hell of a Year

2020 Was One Hell of a Year

After a world-changing year, Sean Starr is in relaunch mode with the podcast and looking towards the unknown future with a focus on talking with other sign painters on where we all go from here.

Mar 04, 202119:47
Goodbye Dolores: The Final Episode

Goodbye Dolores: The Final Episode

Join Tom and Sean, The Cranberries Noel Hogan and Fergal Lawler, Singer Sarah Jaffe, Van Morrison's guitarist Dave Keary and a dozen other Limerick, Ireland based musicians and artists as they say farewell and share memories and music of Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan who passed away earlier this year.
Apr 24, 201802:34:02
Interview: Ches & Alex Perry of Chicago's Right Way Signs

Interview: Ches & Alex Perry of Chicago's Right Way Signs

Interview: Ches & Alex Perry of Chicago's Right Way Signs

Dec 19, 201753:46
Interview: Kathryn Hall, Curator of Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Interview: Kathryn Hall, Curator of Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Interview with Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Curator Kathryn Hall. We talk about the current exhibit “For Hire: Contemporary Sign Painting in America”
Nov 28, 201743:33
Interview: Piquant Media Limerick, Ireland

Interview: Piquant Media Limerick, Ireland

Sean and Tom catch up after a crazy January and Tom interviews the creative heavyweights of Piquant Media in Limerick.

Feb 07, 201701:08:01
Goodbye 2016, You Were Kind of a Stinker.

Goodbye 2016, You Were Kind of a Stinker.

In this last episode of the year, Tom and Sean say fare thee well to 2016, roast Chris Dobell and discuss the current state of affairs of sign painting.

Dec 20, 201659:49
Interview: Canteen, Limerick Ireland

Interview: Canteen, Limerick Ireland

Tom does some rogue reporting with the folks at Canteen, a music centric cafe in the heart of Limerick Ireland.

Nov 29, 201653:12
Sign Painter's Q&A: Sean Starr in Cleveland

Sign Painter's Q&A: Sean Starr in Cleveland

Sean answers all sorts of questions in Cleveland Ohio at the Weapons of Mass Creation Fest #7

Oct 31, 201654:58
Interview: Cleveland's Triple Threat Press

Interview: Cleveland's Triple Threat Press

Sean and Laura and Dave from Cleveland's Triple Threat Press talk letterpress, Denton life and the challenges facing working creatives.

Oct 25, 201658:39
Today's Guests: Larry David and Richard Lewis! (No, not really, it's just Tom and Sean)

Today's Guests: Larry David and Richard Lewis! (No, not really, it's just Tom and Sean)

Sean and Tom go on a roller coaster ride of neurosis in this episode as they discuss the ups and downs of working as a creative, with a pop in by sign painter Cole Bridges.

Sep 26, 201601:12:02
Be Yourself... But Not Too Much.

Be Yourself... But Not Too Much.

Sean and Tom get into the mechanics of operating their sign studios and the need to adapt to changes. Niki pops in on the last few minutes of the show to roast Sean and Tom (as usual).

Jul 26, 201601:18:01
Sean, Tom and Cleveland's Go Media try to make sense of it all.

Sean, Tom and Cleveland's Go Media try to make sense of it all.

Sean and Tom take each other on in GoMedia's Designer Face Off and talk about the upcoming Weapons of Mass Creation design extravaganza coming up in Cleveland in August where Sean will be hosting a workshop and talk. Tom interviews architect Manuel Smalis.

Jun 21, 201602:10:51
Reunited, And It Feels So Good

Reunited, And It Feels So Good

Sean and Tom kick the podcast into high gear with this new episode which includes a tour from Charlotte at A.S. Handover in London

May 17, 201601:27:16
Interview: Seth Collins Limerick, Ireland

Interview: Seth Collins Limerick, Ireland

Who hangs out with the Cranberries and co-directs short films with seasoned film makers at 11 years old? Seth Collins, that's who, and he's cool as a cucumber.

Nov 03, 201530:56
Interview: English Signwriter Ashley Willerton

Interview: English Signwriter Ashley Willerton

Sean and Kayleigh interview English signwriter Ashley Willerton at the Red Hen Bar in Limerick, Ireland and talk about painting signs and how Tom Collins should seriously consider running as Mayor of Limerick.

Oct 20, 201501:07:02
Interview: Jack Hollands, London England

Interview: Jack Hollands, London England

English Signwriter Jack Hollands and Sean go deep in this existential episode conducted at the Red Hen Bar in Limerick, Ireland.

Oct 06, 201547:45
Interview: Colin Thickbroom, Sign Painter Since 1937

Interview: Colin Thickbroom, Sign Painter Since 1937

An interview with Colin Thickbroom, a retired English Sign Writer who started painting signs back in 1937. Interview at the Red Hen Bar, Limerick Ireland.

Oct 01, 201501:11:59
Interview: John Grenier, Michigan Sign Painter

Interview: John Grenier, Michigan Sign Painter

John drops into Starr Studios while on a trip through Texas and talks to Sean about his many years as a sign painter, hanging with gold legend Rick Glawson, Chris Craft boats, David Smith and Gary Martin.

Sep 22, 201501:02:21
The Sanest Days Are Mad

The Sanest Days Are Mad

Sean reads an excerpt about painting with his Dad from his book "You, Me and Morrissey" which was made an Official Entrant for the Pulitzer Prize in Letters in 2008.

Sep 15, 201525:04
Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Sean and Kayeligh have left the building and are landing in Limerick, Ireland as this episode goes live! Updates on the project in Ireland as well as a brand new music feature from the archives of Arhoolie Records.

Sep 08, 201517:10
Interview: Sam Roberts of Ghost Signs

Interview: Sam Roberts of Ghost Signs

Sam Roberts talks about his work archiving ghost signs from around the world on his website: http://www.ghostsigns.co.uk/

 

Aug 25, 201548:42
Interview: Canadian Sign Painter Cal Trauter

Interview: Canadian Sign Painter Cal Trauter

Canadian Sign Painter Cal Trauter and Sean talk about moving around like Gypsies and the constant artistic challenges posed by the trade and how that has kept them both moving forward over the years.

Aug 18, 201552:29
Interview: The Collins Family, Limerick Ireland

Interview: The Collins Family, Limerick Ireland

More Irishy updates for the Elemental Arts Festival this September in Limerick Ireland as Sean talks with Limerick sign painter Tom Collins and family.

Aug 11, 201534:35
Updates on Limerick's Elemental Arts Festival

Updates on Limerick's Elemental Arts Festival

Irish Sign Painter Tom Collins joins Sean for some updates on the Elemental Arts Festival in Limerick, Ireland in September.

Aug 04, 201520:46
Interview: Sign Painter Vanessa Power, Dublin Ireland

Interview: Sign Painter Vanessa Power, Dublin Ireland

Vanessa talks about how she got into sign painting, life as a "girl" sign painter, the help she's received from other sign painters and the upcoming Elemental Arts Festival in Limerick, Ireland. More info: https://instagram.com/signsofpower/

Jul 28, 201533:46
Interview: The Toadies' Clark Vogeler
Jul 21, 201534:29
Interview: The Cranberries, Limerick Ireland

Interview: The Cranberries, Limerick Ireland

Sean talks with the band about life in the 80s, Morrissey & The Smiths, Sign Painting and the upcoming screening of the film Sign Painters at the Elemental Arts Festival in Limerick this coming September.

Jul 14, 201532:18
Interview: "Keepers of the Craft" Film Maker Nathaniel Day

Interview: "Keepers of the Craft" Film Maker Nathaniel Day

Sean gets to interview film maker Nathaniel Day who has shot several documentaries on Starr Studios including "Keepers of the Craft"

Jul 07, 201530:35
It's the "We're Going to Ireland" Episode!

It's the "We're Going to Ireland" Episode!

Sean talks with Limerick Signwriter Tom Collins and Dublin/New York Signwriter Simon Robinson about the upcoming project in Limerick, Ireland that will include a screening of the movie Sign Painters, an art exhibit showcasing sign painters from around the world and the project Sean is designing and will be executing in Limerick with some help and inspiration from the band the Cranberries.

Jun 30, 201546:56
Interview: Berkeley Sign Painter Derek McDonald Part II

Interview: Berkeley Sign Painter Derek McDonald Part II

In this second part of the interview with Derek McDonald of Golden West Sign Arts in Berkeley, CA Sean and Derek discuss lots about music, Ireland, the upcoming Letterhead Meet and living as broke sign painters.

Jun 23, 201536:01
Interview: Berkeley Sign Painter Derek McDonald Part I

Interview: Berkeley Sign Painter Derek McDonald Part I

Sean talks to Derek about his experiences with sign painting madman Mike Meyer, the movie Sign Painters and Jimmy the Saint. Part 1 of 2. More info: http://www.goldenwestsignarts.com/

Jun 16, 201531:05
The Trader Joes Sign Painters

The Trader Joes Sign Painters

Sean fields a listeners question about the behind the scenes sign painters of Trader Joes grocery stores.

Jun 09, 201514:19
Interview: Josh Hall of J. Hall & Co. Gentleman Tattooers Dallas, TX
Jun 02, 201544:51
Interview: San Diego Glass Artist and Sign Painter Roderick Treece

Interview: San Diego Glass Artist and Sign Painter Roderick Treece

Roderick and Sean talk signs, surfing, "Big Daddy" Ed Roth and Sean gets schooled on planning for the future.

May 26, 201501:17:17
We Hate It When Our Paints Become Unsuccessful

We Hate It When Our Paints Become Unsuccessful

Sean answers a listeners question about the ever changing quality of materials including the new One Shot Low VOC formula.

May 19, 201520:02
Interview: L.A. Trade Tech Graduate Alex Kirikake of Smart Alex Signs

Interview: L.A. Trade Tech Graduate Alex Kirikake of Smart Alex Signs

Sean talks to Alex about his experience going through the Los Angeles Trade Tech Sign Painter's program and what motivated this young newcomer to the trade. More info: https://instagram.com/smart_alex_signs/

May 12, 201551:49
Interview: Philadelphia Sign Painter Gibbs Connors

Interview: Philadelphia Sign Painter Gibbs Connors

Gibbs and Sean discuss all sorts of things sign painter (and non sign painter) related in this episode, including Volkswagens and the Smithsonian screening of the movie Sign Painters. More info on Gibbs: http://www.gibbsconnors.com/

May 05, 201501:08:53
Interview: San Francisco Bay Area Sign Painter Ken Davis

Interview: San Francisco Bay Area Sign Painter Ken Davis

Sean and Ken (a.k.a. @coolhandken) complain like two old grandpas about technology, social media and why painting signs is awesome.

Apr 28, 201501:22:15
Studio Tip: Scheduling

Studio Tip: Scheduling

Sean gives some ideas on what has, and hasn't worked over the years in keeping the studio schedule managable.

Apr 21, 201511:27
Interview: Canadian Sign Painter John Lennig of Big Top Sign Arts
Apr 14, 201501:12:40
Ch Ch Ch Changes

Ch Ch Ch Changes

Sean talks about the ever changing reality of life and how change should be accepted as a sign painter (but not everyone's version of change)

Apr 07, 201521:34
Interview: Colt Bowden, Sign Painter, Illustrator & Letterpress Guy

Interview: Colt Bowden, Sign Painter, Illustrator & Letterpress Guy

Colt Bowden talks about getting into sign painting after studying as an Illustrator and has some tips for newcomers to the trade.


More info: http://coltbowden.com/ 

Mar 31, 201537:15
Interview: Meredith Kasabian of The Pre-Vinylite Society, Boston

Interview: Meredith Kasabian of The Pre-Vinylite Society, Boston

Meredith fills us in on what the Pre-Vinylite Society is, how it came about and how you and other lovers of painted signs can get involved. More info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/previnylitesociety

Mar 24, 201542:39
Interview: James Roy Thomas of Bluejacket Sign Co. Costa Mesa, CA
Mar 17, 201548:27
Why I Hate WalMart

Why I Hate WalMart

Sean talks about how the models of franchising, corporate greed and materialism are incompatible with a dude who just wants to paint signs and live his life.

Mar 10, 201523:29
Interview: Los Angeles Creative Director Mathew Foster
Mar 03, 201558:35