Patrick Smith of Orange, California

Patrick Smith was first featured in SignCraft in January/February 1985, at the dawn of the computer age. Patrick went on to use the computer in his work but kept his brush skills up, later working as a sign painter and showcard artist at Disneyland. Now 69, he found a new market for his hand painting and lettering skills—and the computer has helped him market P.G. Smith Design.

When I left Disneyland in 2007 I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. During the seven years I was there, I never did side jobs because I lettered every day and they paid me well. About a year later I contacted some of my old clients and started looking for new ones. I got a few jobs but it was a tough time.

In 2011 I decided to join the Chamber of Commerce. There I met a web designer who wanted to help me design my website, which is still my current site. I also started advertising in a local paper, The Old Towne Orange Plaza Review. The editor did a piece on me, and it went online.