Showing from afar

This week is the International Sign Association Show in Orlando, Florida. While I've been many times in the past, this year I stayed home. That didn't mean however that I wasn't represented there. Work from our shop is shown in a number of the boths showcasing the products, software and machines we use on a daily basis. I've been recieving a few emails says folks took notice.

Below is the plane/weathervane we built a few of years ago for Coastal Enterprises who make the Precision Board, glues and primers we use. Our job on this piece was to use the High Density Urethane to create as many faux surfaces and finishes as we could muster in one piece. The toughest challenge of this project is the small space we could use measuring only two feet by two feet! The deadline was tight and it went from a quick sketch to finished piece in only four days. It was fun and still holds up well after all this time. Thanks to my good friend Mark from Hawaii for sending me this great picture of the display.

It's great to have my work down there but I miss the chance to say hello to all my friends. I'd rather be there!

 -grampa dan

Almost back

It happens every time. During each Sign Magic Workshop and the Sculpture Magic Workshops we put in incredible hours. I unlock the studio doors at 8:00 am and lock them again at 11:00 pm. Or at least that is the official times it is supposed to happen. 

The reality is that I am in the shop making sure everything is in order and review my notes for the day well before that. By the time the last guest leaves it is often 11:30 - or later. Then it is time for a little tidying and winding down. When I get back into the house Janis is most often still busy baking cookies or some other wonderful treat to be served the next day. And while the official days of the workshop are Friday - Sunday we get going on Thursday when everyone arrives. It is not uncommon for some to come back for a goodbye visit on Monday. It is just the way we do things. 

After two weeks of back to back workshops and very long hours we were pretty tired. This time seemed to hit us harder than normal and Monday we just laid low. No real work was even attempted. Tuesday Janis & I decided to play hooky and do a little shopping for appliances that we needed for the new house. Today, Wednesday I was determined to actually get back to work. I even set the alarm to get me out in the studio at the customary 8:00 am. I was catching up on my large stack of emails and went outside for a bit of fresh air just after 10:00. But a thick plume of black smoke just down the street and the fire trucks leaving the station across the street in a real hurry ended the push to do some real work. A gas station (where I always fill up) was on fire in a BIG way. (No one was hurt thankfully.) The power went out shortly after that on account of the serious fire, ending all thoughts of real work today. 

I decided to head to town to pick up the new John Deere lawn tractor. It was almost work related.  :)  The power did come on later in the afternoon but by that time Janis & I were out once more, working on things for the new house.

Thankfully, Hailey managed to clean the work area of the shop before the power went out, putting away all the workshop items. Tomorrow will be a new day and just maybe we'll get back in the work groove once more.

-grampa dan

Quiet once again

We've been busy the last ten days! We held the Spring Sign Magic Workshop starting Thursday, March 8th. It ran until late Sunday. Monday and Tuesday we worked on the house details and a myriad of other projects and got ready to host the next workshop. Wednesday and Thursday I spent helping a fellow sign maker learn the routing software. Thursday afternoon we kicked off the Sculpture Magic Workshop. Two folks who had promised to attend didn't show. One other guy got sick and one was forced to change his plans at the last minute. This left us with only four guests this go around.

We kicked things into gear Thursday as everyone was eager to learn and get their hands dirty. We had plenty of ground to cover and some very cool things to sculpt. One of the projects was a dinosaur head. Here's Chris' version as it came together. As evident in his sculpture, he is an accomplished cartoonist and illustrator. The purpose of his attending the workshop was to gather the tools and techniques needed to bring his two dimensional drawings and paintings to three dimensional life. I look forward to seeing some fun projects from his studio in the future.

Dustin had no experience sculpting previous to the workshop and in fact claimed to not be an artist. What he lacked in experience he made up with enthusiasm. His finished dino head was spectacular.

Our second project(s) was sample panels on which we did a variety of textures carved into wet fiberglass reinforced concrete. Everyone got right into the process and did extremely well.

Then it was on to the most difficult task - welding, wiring and carving a knarly tree trunk with fiberglass reinforced concrete. Once again everyone was up to the challenge.

From the time we started Thursday afternoon to Sunday evening we all put in more than 54 hours of work, discovery, tons of laughs and plenty of learning. We took our meals in the shop and spent every minute immersed in our creative endeavors. Best of all we became good friends. A good and worthwhile time was held by all.

Thanks to my family and staff who worked so hard to make it a success!

-grampa dan