Meet Charlotte Beach | Writer & Sign Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charlotte Beach and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charlotte, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued a creative career because I wanted to be happy. It took some trial and error in school and just after to realize that if I genuinely wanted to be happy and cultivate a life I was proud of and that was true to who I am, for me that meant being an artist in some capacity. It meant shirking the stigma I’d internalized around having a creative career, identifying and then accepting what sparks joy in me, and then going after it in a meaningful way.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art practice is split up into two categories: writing and sign painting. I’m lucky that my writing work (primarily for PRINT Magazine and the Dieline) compliments my sign painting work so seamlessly, since I get to write about art and design. The crux of my writing works is interviewing working artists about their creative journeys and art practices, which I find immensely inspiring for my own work. I also get to approach these conversations as a peer because I am also a visual artist. I think this makes for a richer and more interesting exchange than if I was just a writer.

Having this dual-pronged creative career sets me apart. My writing enhances my sign painting, just as my sign painting makes me a better writer. I’m proud that I’ve gotten to this point in my career where I’ve cultivated two distinct skillsets that exist outside of one another, but also benefit each other. Having different creative outlets like this also keeps my day-to-day variable– nothing zaps the life out of me quicker than monotony, so this is very important!

Getting to this place hasn’t been easy, and I still have such a long way to go in terms of building the career and life I want for myself. In many ways, I’m just getting started, but I do feel like I’m on the right path. That alone is something to be proud of! I’ve learned so many things already, but chief among these lessons have been prioritizing my happiness and seeking out joy, building meaningful relationships with others (especially other artists I admire), putting myself out there, and, of course, just being a good person. Likeability, generosity, and kindness go a long, long way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s a limitless amount of answers to this question, given the richness of LA, but here’s one version of a response.

Anyone visiting LA needs to go to an Angel City FC game. ACFC is LA’s women’s professional soccer team (within the NWSL), that plays at BMO Stadium near USC (which is also the home field for the city’s MLS team, LAFC). There’s an unmatched energy at ACFC games (which often boast sell-out crowds), with pink smoke billowing out of the supporters’ section that’s packed with ACFC faithful chanting and moving in unison throughout the game. The team’s fanbase is incredibly diverse, queer-friendly, and inclusive, and represents so much that is beautiful about LA.

In addition to my sign painting and writing work, I also help run a small vintage designer clothing store in Atwater Village called The Curatorial Dept. Vintage and second-hand shopping in LA is top-tier, so I’d be sure to show a visitor around to some of my favorite shops. Starday Vintage in Los Feliz and Worship Collective in Highland Park are two of my go-to spots. I also frequent estate sales in and around the city on the weekends, which offer an intimate view into the lives of Angelenos.

This wouldn’t be a respectable LA itinerary without plugging a movie theater. My favorite is Los Feliz 3, which is a little arthouse cinema with a glorious neon green sign atop its purple marquee out front. The theater rooms inside are each unique and quirky, with colorfully painted walls and glittery ceilings. While on Hillhurst, heading down the block for a cocktail at the iconic Dresden is a must.

The last thing I’ll mention before cutting myself off is Clifton’s in DTLA. Clifton’s is an unreal “cabinet of curiosities” nightlife experience unlike anything else, that’s composed of multiple stories of differently themed bars and rooms. Each is filled with unexpected delights like taxidermy animals, a giant redwood replica in the center of the main dance floor, and a wooden boat in the middle of a tiki bar. It recently re-opened after shutting its doors for a few years due to COVID and a flood, but it’s back now and LA is all the better for it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First of all, my parents. Both my mom and dad were journalists, who actually met in the newsroom of my hometown’s local newspaper, The New Haven Register. Thanks to them, I was raised to love and appreciate the arts, having been exposed to books, movies, galleries, museums, music, and theater my entire life. Most importantly, I’ve always had their unwavering support in going down a career path in the arts myself.

I also need to acknowledge the incredible Sign Graphics program at Los Angeles Trade Tech college downtown, which I completed this past May. The two-year program is the only remaining course of its kind in the country that teaches the traditional craft of sign painting. 2024 marked the Sign Graphics program’s 100 year anniversary, speaking to the legacy of the class and its importance within the wider world of sign painting. Taking the course was one of the best things I’ve ever done and quite literally changed my life. Thank you to the current Sign Graphics instructors Carlos Aguilar and Emmanuel Sevilla for keeping the course thriving.

Website: https://www.charlotteowensbeach.info

Instagram: @scarlettepeach and @steady.head.signs

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-o-beach/

Twitter: @scarlettepeach