It really fulfills a primal urge to smash something with a hammer, but turn that hammer into a power hammer that strikes 220 times per minute and you’ve got yourself an art-making machine. Of course, the machine itself is only as good as its user, and Lyle Poulin of Hand Forge is a true artist when it comes to working steel into a beautiful shape.

During my visit to his shop, Lyle was making a tomahawk—one of many stunning pieces in his repertoire. He worked to transform a bar of steel into a blade in what seemed to be a series of effortless maneuvers, which we all know to be the sign of someone well-versed in the craft.

Lyle’s blacksmithing started with working at his family business and eventually lead to him starting his own in Portland. His strong foundations lead him to do things that aren’t entirely “necessary” but make a better quality product, and Lyle takes the time to push his products toward perfection.

In addition to Tomahawks, the Hand Forge shop also sports home goods such as bottle openers, Damascus steel knives, Damascus wedding bands, as well as other various, intricate ironworks. It’s amazing to see what all Lyle is able to do in his shop and I can’t wait to see what other great products he makes in the future!

When you think about all the print advertisements and other signage fighting for our attention day-to-day, it’s hard to remember there was ever a time when signs were only made by hand. I met up with Colt Bowden of Mac Sign Painting who is working to keep this age-old art alive.

I first met Colt at a lecture he gave with Hand-Eye Supply’s Curiosity Club, which is a series of talks about pretty much anything and everything. Colt not only knows how to paint a sign, but he knows a chunk about the heritage and history of sign painting too.

Although Colt had just finished up a series of truck doors, he was taking it back to the basics by practicing his Gothic Alphabet, only tracing a few guide lines and free-handing the rest. I jokingly asked for him to make me a sign, and in a few minutes he had nearly finished it.

Colt is currently apprenticing with Northwood Signs in Carlton, OR, which is where this shoot took place. Stay tuned for more pictures of on-location jobs that Mac Sign Painting has coming up in the warmer weather.

Hand Forge (Portland, OR)

Mac Sign Painting (McMinnville, OR)