Insider has written before that painted billboards are making a comeback.  There are two firms – Overall Murals and Colossal Media – which specialize in painted billboards.  Atlanta billboard artist Ben Zaricor estimates that he’s painted 5,000 billboards in the course of 15 years.  Insider interviewed Zaricor to learn more about this craft.

Ben, how did you get started in the billboard business?

My background is in fine arts.  Out of college I went to work in Memphis.  My first company was doing interior design for Holiday Inn.  I worked in the art department.   I did murals and wall decorations for Holiday Inns.  After that I joined Naegele outdoor.  I was fascinated with billboards and people like James Rosenquist who had been billboard artists before entering fine arts.  I did an audition to paint a face on a billboard.  It was 14 feet from the forehead to the chin and the eyes were the size of a basketball.  I had 3 inch brushes.  I started painting and I fell into a rythym.  Halfway through the painting they asked me when I wanted to start.   Later I worked for 3M.

Where have you worked?

Memphis.  Jacksonville.  Atlanta.

What’s your favorite painted billboard design

Coke designs were my favorite.  There were well designed with a recognizable logo and a classic coke bottle.  There’s a Coke mural on a billboard in Jasper, Georgia.  There is another one on the side of a building in Gainesville, Georgia in the historic square.

How long does it take to paint a 14 by 48 billboard?

I can do a copy board with a couple colors and simple letters in less than an hour.  A more complicated four picture background (blended sky, mountains, trees and message) could take several hours.

What’s the hardest billboard you ever had to paint?

Excessive lettering is very difficult to paint.  Portraits are hard to paint.  I once was painting a 200 foot high billboard near Atlanta and the board was swaying several feet.

What sort of painting do you do now?

I mainly do antique signs and beach signs and town names.  New England is a huge market for me. I miss the billboards and want to do more.

If you’d like to learn more about Ben Zaricor’s work or would like to discuss a project with him you can contact him at 770-535-7245, ZaricorOriginals@gmail.com.  His facebook page is Facebook Zaricor Originals

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