Coming up with a great placard isn’t just a matter of grabbing cardboard and a marker. It’s a surprisingly tricky and creative process. You have to balance wit, timing, and just the right amount of sass to make strangers stop, stare, and maybe even laugh.
Seth Phillips, better known as Dude With Sign, seems to have cracked that code. His quick-hit messages have won over millions, which is probably why his Instagram boasts a staggering following. Turns out, cardboard can be a goldmine if you know how to use it.
To get a better understanding of the creative process behind art that grabs attention, we spoke with Amey Piranker, a portrait sketch artist who has been creating for over eight years. His work may be different from Seth’s cardboard signs, but the underlying challenges are surprisingly similar.
Both require originality, precision, and the ability to connect with an audience almost instantly. “It’s not just about making something pretty, it’s about making something memorable,” Amey explained.
“People often believe creating art is easy,” Amey said with a knowing smile.“It’s not. It’s a creative process that requires patience, skill, and a lot of trial and error. What you see in the final image, whether it’s a detailed sketch or a witty sign, is the product of hours of thought and preparation.”
And yes, sometimes those hours involve staring at a blank sheet (or blank sign), wondering if inspiration took a vacation.
“When you start posting on social media, you need to take things up a notch,” Amey added. “Not only do you want to make sure the piece is good, but you also want the process to look good, Pinterest-worthy, even.” That’s where presentation comes in. The colors, lighting, and even the workspace have to complement the art. After all, in today’s scroll-happy world, the journey is just as important as the destination.
Of course, real-life creativity isn’t always as tidy as Instagram makes it look. “Some things can get really messy,” Amey admitted. “But if you’re filming or photographing the process, you need to make sure the space looks clean and organized.” In other words: wipe up that paint splatter before you hit record. The irony? Sometimes it takes longer to make the space “camera-ready” than to create the actual piece.
“And coming up with unique ideas every day can be challenging,” Amey said. “It’s not about forcing creativity, it’s about finding little sparks in everyday life and building on them.” For Seth, that might mean noticing something quirky about how people act in public. For Amey, it might be a fleeting expression on someone’s face that inspires an entire portrait. Either way, inspiration is a daily scavenger hunt.
