Louisville artists have successful sign painting company

LOUISVILLE, Ky (WDRB) -- A Louisville couple have turned their passion and talent for art into a successful sign and mural business. They are part of a return to a more "hands-on" artistry.

Amanda Bishop and Ty Kreft work out of the home they share in the Highlands. On Tuesday, Amanda was putting the final touches on a window that she jokingly calls a sort of punk Madonna.

It will go in the soon to be opened El Camino restaurant on Bardstown Road.

The window will join a couple of other of her works that include a mural of a California bear and a mural depicting a California sunset to help the restaurant achieve the feel of a California beach side bar.

"People are appreciating the art of sign painting a little bit more now, its kind of making a comeback," says Amanda. She says the craft kind of fell by the wayside for a number of years after vinyl and computer generated art seemed to be a cheaper alternative.

"More and more businesses are calling us up," says Amanda, "and having their business painted instead of using vinyl that is going to fall apart and shred in a couple of years."

Amanda has a masters in illustration from the University of Cambridge in England. She has been painting since she was a child. "Ever since I can remember, my mother did water colors and I used to watch," she adds.

So her life's passion has become a successful business with her partner. "I really love it," she says, "it is amazing that I was finally able to quit making coffee and do this full time and I also found a partner who I work with really well."

Ty explains their working arrangement. "She is the painter and illustrator for a lot of the projects and I handle a lot of the design, but there is a lot of crossover," he says.

Other recent projects include painting Why Louisville's new mobile store. She and Ty also design some of the shirts that are big sellers at the two Why Louisville stores.

The business is called State Champs. The name comes because both Bishop and Kreft were members of championship soccer teams. So not only are they accomplished artists but have also excelled in the sports world.

But it is likely that it will be the art that will endure. "I am hoping my paintings will still be on the sides of buildings 50 years from now and be a part of that history of sign painting," adds Amanda.