The shop was busy on the first day of 2019. One of the projects started today was the last piece for the GOLD MOLE which is bound for Loco Landing in Penticton. Golfers will putt their balls up a broken pipe (on account of the GOLD MOLE) towards the machine and then it will be deflected towards the hole. The pipe is heavy duty 8” schedule 20 pipe. Matt was busy welding and grinding the many joints so they are flawless. By the end of day tomorrow this piece should be ready for the concrete.
Same old but all new
Forty years ago I started doing pen and ink drawings on a full time basis. My work was shown in numerous art galleries and I did many solo shows over a period of about five years. While much of what I did was old buildings, vehicles and boats I also did quite a number of commission works. Often they were of people’s houses. One of these commissions was a farm here in Chilliwack. I got a call last year rom this client asking me if I would do a new original of their new house on the same property. Last summer I went out to visit the farm and take some photos for reference. I also got to look at the original drawing which I had done so long ago. My client requested I do the new drawing in a similar style (black ink with a sepia wash). But things have changed dramatically in my work over forty years - about as much as the farm property had in that time. I handle light and shadow much better now and while I still draw freehand I do the drawing using digital technology instead of drawing on paper with a pen as I did back then I drew the new drawing on my iPad with a stylus. I sent a low resolution file to the customer by email for approval (which they did). Now I’ll send the digital file to a printer and have a single copy printed with non-fading ink on acid free paper. Hopefully it will last as good as the first.
Wild ride!
2018 was a year that defied description in just about every way I could imagine! In the shop it wasn’t our busiest year but the inn project and a host of other surprising things filled in any spare minutes to keep me from getting bored. As I look back over the last year I am extremely grateful. 2019 starts at the stroke of midnight tonight and already the new year promises to be an even wilder ride. Life is good!
Happy New Year to all!
