Priska Neely

Stereotyping in films and TV is as old as Hollywood itself. For some, portraying a stereotypical character — the ditzy blonde or angry black man — is a foot in the door to the acting world. For others, it is a path that can be limiting and repetitive.

Before the age of computers and vinyl printers, sign painters worked by hand to illustrate storefronts, billboards and banners. Sign Painters, a new book and documentary by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon, captures the work of artists around the country who are keeping the art alive.