Growing up watching his father bending neon tubes, it took Neil Martin some time to navigate his career pathway back to the neon sign business.
“When you were young, no matter how cool or successful your family’s business was, you still wanted to try something new for yourself,” says Martin, who was a musician. “And when I finally got access to my own neon sign business, I wanted to create a brand more aesthetic than my father’s commercial neon business.”
Apart from commissions from local businesses, including Blackbyrd, Highlevel Diner and Smokey Bear, Martin also loves offering neon designs for home decor.
“It’s always touching when my neon signs bring people together. I still remember that family that got in touch with me for a design for the dad. When we installed the finished product, they let the dad in, blindfolded, then showed him the neon sign that lit up the room. Everyone was so happy. It was a wonderful Christmas.”
Over 40 years into designing and making neon signs, Martin has seen the neon trend come and go, “but it always comes back somehow.” While Martin prefers sketching his designs with chalks on a board, he finds the softwares that young artists use fascinating, and is happy to see many art schools in North America offering neon art programs.
“Neon is in the future,” says Martin. “The neon trend is being moved forward by young people with artistic minds.”
Shop neon components and custom designs at Neon Guy.
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