Exhausted but happy

Tonight I sit exhausted but happy. After four long, long days of sculpting workshop it is now done. This group of students were among the most eager we've had yet. They asked so many questions, worked so hard on their projects and we laughed and joked our way through the days while creating a wonderful assortment of creative sculptures. I had a great time and so did everyone else!

It was the most possible fun we could have while learning!

Thanks to all who attended and who helped pull off this fabulous event!

-grampa dan

Two full days in one...

Today was busy from the time I unlocked the shop doors - right until I locked them again a little after 11:00 pm. We encourage our workshop guests to arrive a little early - actually the day before the workshops officially begin. But before our guests were to arrive in the late afternoon we decided we could squeeze in a full day's work - just for fun.

Peter and big Matt started in on the steam donkey log skids, mudding them before lunch with the sculpting starting just after. By afternoon coffee they were done and looking fine.

With a little help from our early comers we decided to go one step more and apply the fiberglass reinforced concrete to the logging truck log as well. All hands worked hard to polish that off before 5:00. We'll let it all cure until next week but we are now down to paint on these two major features.

By that time all of our guests had arrived. Everyone was eager to get started on the hands-on portion of the workshop. I gave some basic instructions to the group and they were off. It was with great reluctance they stopped (after a lot of coaxing) for a quick pizza supper. Then it was back to work once more...

The group worked hard until just before 11:00 pm. It amazes me how the same assignment (in this case sculpt a dinosaur head) can produce such imaginative results with each one so different from the rest. It happens with every workshop. I'll be posting more pictures tomorrow and through the weekend of our progress.

Another Sculpting MAGIC Workshop is under way!

-grampa dan

Ready set... relax - just a bit

Today the crew was busy getting the place and shop ready for the Sculpting MAGIC Workshop. They also spent a good portion of the day working on the features for WhistlePunk Hollow. Aside from organizing the crew I decided to tak one day off - just a little, and act as tour guide for three of our out of town guests. We headed up the Fraser Canyon to Hell's Gate for a tram ride over the river. Sadly, the attraction was closed for three more days before the tourist season officially begins. Plan 'B' was to head to the Othello Tunnels. Built at the beginning of the 1900's as part of the Kettle Valley Railroad, the tunnels are a marvel of engineering. But they too were closed due to dangerous rockfalls. I did grab a great shot over the fence at the entrance.

We still enjoyed the hike and scenic views along the way.

Then we headed up to the summit of the Cocahalla to see some snow. At the 4,000 foot level there was still a fair amoint of snow. The mountain scenery was spectacular along the entire way.

We even stopped to take a few pics of the giant duck we built a few years ago - just for fun.

Then it was back to the shop to get busy once more. The rest of our guests arrive tomorrow.

-grampa dan