We've all heard the expression that 'someone has the license to print money'. I've never had one of those but I do have an artistic license which allows me to create some cool artwork. What I create is far from legal tender but it is as good as money for certain things. Our clients sometimes seek our help in creating clever advertising campaigns, most often as a discount coupon of some sort. It's fun to use the customer's mascot and logos (which we also designed) in the design. The coupons hopefully do many things including bringing new and existing customers especially in the slower times. The faux notes also build brand awareness, and hopefully make people smile. All are good for business in the long run. The artwork below was created way back in 2011. We handed them out like candy, at parades and special events. I still see them occasionally, kept as a souvenir and pinned to somebody's bulletin board. Although the coupon was only valid for one season and has long expired it is still effectively advertising the brand. That's as good as a license to print money. :)
Start of something BIG
We are so very pleased to announce a new client whom we have looked forward to working with for a very long time. We will be building three features for this season with many more to come in the future. Our client is Playland at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, BC. Amazingly, the PNE has been in existence since 1910. I first enjoyed it more than fifty years ago and now we will be helping to make it even more exciting.
Playland is adding three new rides this year and we will be creating the theme for two of the rides. They've asked us to keep theme under wraps for a while but we are allowed to show you pictures of the progress as we build. Yesterday, we began cutting and fitting the beginning bits of the structural steel. The pieces are all a good size with the first being the largest. The base is already, designed to just fit out the door. The feature/sign will be built in three pieces. Stacked up when complete, the finished feature will measure more than twenty feet tall! This is going to be a whole lot of fun!
The Juniper
My recent visit to the Hillcrest Shops in California rekindled the railroad fire inside me once again. When I was talking with Sean I showed him a picture I had sketched of a little inspection vehicle I had drawn more than fifteen years ago as part of a project never realized. As we finished our vacation and travelled home I thought about how Phoebe, our oldest grandchild has a little engine named after her and the latest addition to the family, Juniper surely needs equal billing. So it would be fitting that the little rail truck be named in her honour. Tonight I sketched out the little vehicle, both front and rear views, to work out just how it would go together. A second vehicle sure would be handy....
