Photo by: Max Rosenstein

Meet Dave Arnold, the face behind Montreal signature signage

By: Sarah Mackenzie

You may know Dave as Mr. Sign – or at least you’ve already seen his work. Based in Montreal, Dave Arnold is a sign artist whose pieces are regularly painted on food trucks and restaurant window displays. A quick glance at his portfolio reveals that Mr. Sign has left his mark (literally) on many renown local eateries and establishments, including Joe Beef, Lawrence and the Grumman 78’ food truck – my personal favorite. Dave’s choice of playful yet simple bold lettering that is both nostalgic and contemporary is sure to grab a passerby’s attention. Given that Dave is the featured illustrator for this month’s climate theme and a past CreativeMornings/Ottawa speaker, it seemed befitting that we would sit down and ask him a few questions. Plus, we were curious. He seemed like quite a guy. Dave Arnold ladies and gentlemen, coming to a sign near you.

Word on the street is that Mr. Sign evolved as a result of door-to-door visits to local businesses attempting to sell hand-painted Santa Claus window displays. True or false? 

That is actually a common misconception about my origins. I’m not sure how that one got started. Truth be told, my Father and his Father before him were traditional sign painters. Even as a young lad, I’d see the two of them joking and laughing, and painting letters on windows and walls. Oh the fun we had! They both told me that I could be whatever I wanted to be in life, but that sign painting, as a career, was the easiest way to become rich and famous. They’re both alive and well to this day, and so rich it’s ridiculous. They both own their own island in the Caribbean, and fly there in their own private chopper.* (*helicopter)

Your portfolio is impressive. You’ve collaborated with a lot of interesting Montreal establishments, including restaurants like Nora Gray and popular Mile End hangouts like Nouveau Palais. Where might I find Mr. Sign in the future?

More and more these days, I’m working in the field of ‘design.’ In the end, the designs are often executed as hand-painted signage, but the design process itself has become increasingly fascinating to me. I’m working this week with McDonald’s Canada on a complete re-brand of their logo and branding. Without giving too many details, I can tell you this: the ‘Golden Arches’ are going to have pointy tops soon, rather than curved. Stay tuned!

How do you go about creating a sign? Are you normally given artistic freedom or is the client heavily involved in the process?

If the client is smart, they just give me complete creative control, then sit back and watch the magic happen. Every now and again, a client is a total moron and wants to have some sort of creative input. To these clients, I generally respond with my famous catchphrase “you are a complete and utter moron.”

I dig the Western feel and the old-fashioned typeface that you selected for your CreativeMornings illustration. How does the image relate to this month’s climate theme?

I figured that since the current climate issue is often associated with global warming, I’d slip in the old ‘thermometer temperature rising’ trick. As for the lettering itself, I decided I wanted something was, how do you say?…….. the “bomb jiggity”? In my humble opinion, I accomplished this task neatly and completely.

You’re starving and you could use a drink. Where would we find you?

Montreal is world renowned for it’s restaurant and bar scene, but if you compare the prices they’re charging to the prices that the supermarket is charging, it’s ridiculous. 8 to 1; 9 to 1 sometimes. I mean, what am I, a Sultan over here? Get serious. You can find me eating and drinking at my cozy little house, just STACKIN’ that paper. Gangsta stylez.

Still curious about Mr. Sign? Check him out here and follow him on Instagram.