From Farmhand to Sign Painter
I started painting signs out of necessity, because I needed them for my family farm, and I couldn't find anyone to make what I envisioned. I've always been creative and ambitious, so I decided to pick up a paintbrush and do the work myself. I am endlessly excited about the creative possibilities of designing and painting signs and murals. I approach my work from a background in art history and photography—so observation, historical reference, and visual context is the foundation for my materials, lettering styles, and design choices.
Why Hand Paint?
Look around town…most of the signage you see these days is made of plastic. Vinyl and digitally printed signs, while cheap and efficient to produce, don't have the longevity and inherent character of hand-crafted signs. And unfortunately, they cannot be restored when they start to peel and fade—they are destined for landfills.
I’m on a mission to bring artistry and craftsmanship back to the sign industry, one hand-painted sign at a time. What thrills me most is the challenge of unearthing age-old techniques and learning time-honored traditional methods. Hand-painted signs are heirlooms that can be touched up year after year, lasting a lifetime if cared for properly. Let’s work together to create handcrafted signage that speaks to the quality, essence, and timelessness of your business.
Don’t Fence Me In
My passion is sign painting, but my vision for Hired Hand is to provide a wide range of creative services beyond the brush. Here is a list and here are some examples of the variety of projects I can wrangle for you!
Jess Marsh
jess@hiredhandsigns.com
Do you value authenticity, craftsmanship, and artistry?
Let’s work together.
News and Press
A Front Page Feature
Jess was recently interviewed by Lee Wicks for the Montague Reporter. Read all about the genesis of Hired Hand Signs and the reporter’s visit to the studio in this fantastic in-depth feature.
Exhibition of Women Sign Painters
Jess was featured in The Pre-Vinylettes’ Suffragette Centennial, a unique exhibition of hand painted signs made exclusively by women, trans, and post-binary sign painters in the commemorative spirit of the landmark anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
The exhibition ran from September 26 through October 25, 2020 at Ford Gallery in Portland, Oregon and was organized by Shelby Rodeffer, Meredith Kasabian, and Remedios Rapoport.
Featured Artisan
Jess was recently selected as a Featured Artisan by the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Mural delivers good vibes in downtown Greenfield
“When there was the opportunity to put something up in the space, I wanted to do something that was going to have a positive spin on the tough year it’s been for everybody,”
The mural, which depicts different ways people can reach out to one another during the COVID-19 pandemic, was installed at 188 Main St. on July 23
Live-Painting Murals at the Green River Festival
“Designer Jess Wissemann stood on a ladder at the festival painting 1960s-era rock posters: bright, monochromatic images of musicians in a screenprint-style with distorted, flowing lettering.”
Corn Maze Designs Featured on Wired.com
“Making a corn maze might seem simple: Grow a field of corn and cut out everything that isn’t part of the maze. Most farms stick with geometric shapes and simple pictures. But Wissemann’s goal is to fuse fine art with seed corn—and that can be difficult.”
NASA Invites Maze Designer to Celebrate Voyager’s 40th Anniversary at Event in DC
In 2017, Jess designed a “postcard from Earth” to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Voyager space mission. NASA liked it so much, they invited her to celebrate the anniversary at private event at the National Air and Space Museum!
Corn Maze Design Published by National Geographic
It’s weird…but it’s true!