Life at Starr Studios

Painting a Vintage Style Wall Mural in Calvert, TX

Come along as we paint a vintage style wall mural in our tiny town of Calvert, Texas. Sean’s apprentice Tristan joins us on this project that was executed during our annual Main street Festival. Website: https://www.starrstudios.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starrstudiostx Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starrstudiostx/

Engine Turned Gold Leaf on a 1930s Sprint Car

An explanation of how we get an engine turned finish on gold leaf as demonstrated on this 1930s Sprint race car Sean painted at a private car collection in Texas. Website: https://www.starrstudios.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starrstudiostx Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starrstudiostx/

Paint and Gold Leaf on a Hanuman Statue

Taking a hand carved wooden statue of the Hindu god Hanuman and applying an antiqued finish of paint and a gold leafed backer before hanging in the yoga studio of Shadow Mountain Yoga. Website: https://www.starrstudios.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starrstudiostx Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starrstudiostx/

Will the Metaverse Destroy Craftsmanship?

Sign Painter Sean Starr explores the idea of the Metaverse to see what effect it might have on craftsmanship in general. Website: https://www.starrstudios.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starrstudiostx Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starrstudiostx/

A Hand Painted Wood Sign for Nielsen Barber

A step-by-step of making a hand painted wooden sign for Nielsen Barber Co. in Taylor, Texas with sign painter Sean Starr of Starr Studios More info: https://nielsenbarbering.com/

Hand Painted Lettering on a VW Bug for Junk Gypsy in Round Top, Texas

A behind the scenes look at the John Lennon Rolls Royce inspired hippie Volkswagen Beetle painted by sign painter Sean Starr for Amie and Jolie Sikes of Junk Gypsy of HGTV fame in Round Top, Texas More info: https://gypsyville.com/

Gold Leaf on Glass for Kessler Baking Studio in Dallas, Texas

Sign painter Sean Starr heads to the Bishop Arts District of Dallas to execute some gold leaf on glass gilding work for Clyde Greenhouse of Kessler Baking Studio. More info: https://www.kesslerbakingstudio.com/

The Sign Painter’s Studio Tour

Come along with sign painter and designer Sean Starr as we tour Starr Studios in Calvert, Texas. More info: https://www.starrstudios.com/

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

Chicken Fried Steak on Styrofoam

Starting Off 2019 With a Bang! Norma Jeanne is co-host and other big news!

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.

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

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

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”

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.

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.

Interview: Canteen, Limerick Ireland

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

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/  

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.

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.

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.

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/

Interview: The Toadies' Clark Vogeler

The Toadies' lead guitarist Clark Vogeler and Sean talk about the artwork Sean created for the new Toadie's album Heretics, vinyl records, the movie Sign Painters, Limerick Ireland and how Clark was at one of Sean's music gigs in Austin back in 1987. More info: http://thetoadies.com/

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.

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"

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.

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.

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/

The Trader Joes Sign Painters

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

Interview: Josh Hall of J. Hall & Co. Gentleman Tattooers Dallas, TX

Sean does his first client interview with long time customer and patron Josh Hall of J. Hall & Co. Gentleman Tattooers in Dallas, Texas. Sean and Josh talk about some of the similarities of the two trades as well as vegan diets and some other weird stuff. More info: http://tattoosonlamar.com/

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.

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.

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/