33 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 264 - April | May 2026 “are prepared to pay a bit more for that refined aesthetic”. And his own aesthetic is infused with Art Deco and Art Nouveau influences, plus the occasional dash of Argentinian Fileteado when the job calls for it. Leonel feels grateful to have found a trade that he is “passionate about, and which also puts food on the table”. For those that might follow in his footsteps, he recommends honing observational skills before developing one’s own style and direction. Also, when things don’t go as planned, such as spelling something wrong, it’s important to “resolve the issue properly without losing your ability to see the funny side”. Martín Gabriel Oubiña instagram.com/filetes_martinou Martín Gabriel Oubiña originally hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where, from a young age, he displayed an aptitude for drawing and painting. He went on to study at the University of Fine Arts in La Plata before specialising in painting at the Institute of Visual Arts in Lomas de Zamora. From there, his training continued under Guido de Setta, a master in the vernacular Argentine artform of Fileteado Porteño, before deepening his practice with José Espinosa, another influential ‘flieteador’ (painter of Fileteado Porteño). In 2007, Martín started working professionally, initially painting percussion instruments for carnivals and performing arts events. These allowed him to explore unconventional approaches, blending Fileteado Porteño motifs with illustrations and characters from outside that art form's traditions. In 2019 he relocated to Barcelona where he now works with a variety of clients including tattoo and piercing studios, barbers, bars, restaurants, and milongas (Argentine Tango dance venues). They come to him for his collaborative approach, and the “personalised, unique, and warm” projects that he delivers. His new home has also seen him “incorporating influences from Catalan Modernism” into his output, once again blending different traditions in new and unexpected ways. Martín is passionate about “reconnecting with traditional crafts that offer a more conscious and slower approach that can positively transform our surroundings”. For those seeking out this reconnection, he advises patience and “beginning with the technical foundations of the craft, supported by consistent practise”. Further, he emphasises the importance of meeting with other craftspeople, as he did in his formative years, because “exchange often leads to valuable insights”. ADVENTURES IN SIGN PAINTING WITH SAM ROBERTS ▲Leonel Fernández in his studio working on an Art Decoinfused fascia sign for L’Osteria del Prat. The Italian restaurant is located in the Barcelona suburb of El Prat ▲Martín Gabriel Oubiña originally hails from Argentina but has now made home, and studio, in Barcelona
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