In a business dominated by computers, he still is doing it by hand.

Since the 1960s, Gary Glenn has been painting signs, cars, murals and any other odds and ends he can get paint on. His first job as an artist was during high school. He painted a restaurant door sign in exchange for a week’s worth of food.

Originally from Lansing, Glenn moved to California in 1977 and found work for stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Tony Danza, Paul Newman and Evel Knievel. He also painted a car for The Go-Go’s MTV music video in 1982.

A true lover of “The Golden State,” Glenn was forced to return to Lansing in 1993 after the sign business became dominated by vinyl cutting computers. He remained loyal to his craftsmanship and still paints everything by hand.

“They haven’t developed a computer yet that can duplicate my artwork,” Glenn said.

He finds most of his business now in pinstriping and custom car and motorcycle painting. He works out of his studio of 10 years at 1917 S. Cedar St., in Lansing.

The flag painted on the side of his building gives a quick glimpse of what the inside has to offer. A wall collage of trophies, magazine covers and newspaper clippings from the past 50 years shows the world through his eyes.

“Like I say, the vinyl letters are taking over the whole sign industry,” Glenn said. “There’s 60 shops in Lansing, Michigan, doing vinyl letters.”

Needless to say, he will be one of the few still using his hands.