Things go better with coke.

This morning when I went out to the new house there was a case of coke leaning against the mailbox with a card in an envelope. Someone I had met with last week had dropped it off as a thank you gift. It made me smile and also brought back some memories.

About 30 years ago as I tried to rev up my art career I was looking for a hook - something that would make people remember me. I decided I would use Coca Cola. It is, after all, the most recognizable and collectable product in the world. My plan was to somehow make people think of me every time they saw coca cola. I made it a point to always have a coke in my hand when a picture was taken for publicity purposes. I purchased a few coke collectables and put them on my shelves. I even had the coke truck deliver cases of the beverage to my studio once in a while. I also enjoyed Coca Cola so it was no stretch to drink it as well.

Over the next while my plan seemed to be working. It started with family and friends. On special occasions, like my birthday or Christmas more coke memorbilia was added to my collection. But soon my strategy gathered some serious momentum. Clients who traveled the world saw coke items, thought of me and brought me all manner of coke memorabilia with a wide variety of languages printed on them. Soon, the shelves of my studio were stacked with hundreds of bottles, cans and all kinds of things - all emblazened with the coke logo. Other clients brought me coolers, and signs and even a couple of fridges. It wasn't long until the studio was overwelmed with coke. The storage room shelves also overflowed with coke items. 

About five years ago I decided this coke thing had done what it was meant to. I needed the shelf space for books and other personal stuff. After lots of thought I sold off the entire collection, with the exception of a few special items. Even so every once in a while I still get a package in the mail from someone I havemn't heard from in a while. As often as not, when I open the package there is a set of coke salt and pepper shakers or some other similarly themed item. The plan I had hatched more than 30 years ago is still working it seems.  :)

-grampa dan

Hi Ho, Ho Ho - to work I go!

Many of our customers graciously allowed us to take advantage of the fine summer weather to work on our house instead of their projects. With the advance of the fall season we are busy now in the shop trying our best to catch up on the work we've put off for so long. One of our projects is a new monument sign for Sunshine Homes in Alberta.

 In the last week we've been busy cutting steel, welding and putting together the structure for the base of the sign. We've also begun work on the more decorative parts which will be fastened to the top. The sign is still a ways from being completed but it is coming together quickly. The LED lighting is ordered and will hopefully arrive soon. This sign is large, measuring about fourteen' wide by just over seven feet tall. There is more than five hundred lineal feet of steel in the sign so far and we are not nearly done yet.

Stay tuned for more...

-grampa dan

Ready for a dose of inspiration

I often get asked why I return to the Disney parks time after time. The answer is simple. The Disney parks are a fabulous source of inspiration to me. I love visiting each of them and most likely look at the parks with very different eyes than most who visit there. I like to poke into every corner, with my camera ever at the ready. I find no lack of things to record as inspiration.

Last time I was in Disneyland I snapped a ton of pictures. I would bet most folks don't see these signs for they don't identify major attractions or even stores for that matter. Most people would have rushed by the tucked away places where these signs were hung in their hurry to get to the fun rides and attractions. These signs are small pieces that simply make the place more authentic and story more believable. While the Disney folks could have left the signs out or done them on the cheap they didn't. Instead they lavished incredible effort and skill into making them even better than what we might find out in the real world in most cases. The signs may not get directly noticed by guests in most cases but the effect is what creates the most magical of places for everyone who visits.

I can hardly wait to see what is new on our upcoming visit.

-grampa dan