Over the years I've done more than a 100 historical murals... most as large or larger than the one I am leading in Lodi.
I thoroughly enjoyed doing them, but after more than a 100 murals I needed a change. I went on to other things.
Since being involved in the Letterhead movement I have a renewed interest in murals. While I still do some on my own I enjoy painting with others so much more. This is the third one I've been privileged to lead at a walldog event. I have a good feeling it will be the best experience yet.
At first I had no idea just how I would be able to bring together a team of folks of varying skill and experience to paint a mural I would be proud of. I worried about the short time we had to pull off a such a large work. I also was intimidated by the calibur of artists I was to paint beside... these were the best in the business. I had to bring my "A" game or stay home.
But going to Letterhead meets is so very different than painting murals on my own. I had much to learn! I'm among friends at a Letterhead meet... friends who simply want to help. These same friends are eager to learn what I know (though experience) of mural painting and eager to teach me what they have learned through the years.
For some folks there it is their very first time on a mural. I remember well my first murals and how big and intimidating the HUGE blank walls were. It took me a while to realise that murals are done one brush stroke at a time... and only the stroke I was currently doing mattered. The rest was either behind or ahead of me.
I love to work with this team, concentrating up close on what we are creating. The magic happens as everyone steps back to look at the work we have done only to realise it works together to form a wonderful image. I in fact encourage everyone who works on the mural to do wiggly lines... imperfect brushwork. Its not about the detail or straight lines we might create, but rather about the whole picture. Close up, the mural is only abstract lines and blobs of color. Step back enough to view the whole mural and it all works together to create a wonderful detailed image.
I love to see the huge smiles as folks with little or no mural painting experience realise that the seemingly unsightly blobs and wiggly lines they applied are equal to those which anyone else added. Everything works together to form a beautiful picture.
Once I got over my own learning experience leading a mural at a Letterhead event I found it was SO MUCH MORE FUN than painting alone. Its a trip to put a brush in a newby's hand and encourage them to start painting... no matter how good they think they are or aren't. IT'S FUN! Everyone who has the courage to pick up a brush soon learns that they too can help create these oversize works of art.
I've realized that the other leaders are also great folks, there for the same reasons as I. They are there to have fun, learn, teach and leave behind a legacy for the town.
Pulling off the magic of creating 9 incredible works of art over one weekend is nothing short of AWESOME! Having over a hundred artists from all over the countryside help is what makes it so.
Lodi has ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA of what is about to happen there in a few short days. Those in the town who take the time to come out will be changed as they witness this miracle. It will indeed change the town forever.
There will be lots of fun and games over the weekend to be sure. There will be lots of friendly rivalry, and practical jokes played. But it is SERIOUS FUN!
My intention (and I'm sure the other leaders share this lofty goal) is to leave behind a spectacular mural... my best work to date. In doing so it is my sincere hope I can inspire a few who paint with me to paint murals on their own in the future. I hope to inspire confidence in others to chase and reach their own personal dreams whatever they might be. Besides the murals these are the wonderful legacies of a letterhead/walldog event.
To be able to do all this in the company of wonderful friends is the best we could hope for.
Tony and his crew have worked hard for more than a year to pull this event off in very grand style. Its the realization of a wonderful dream to be sure. They have done the endless work behind the scenes so we can go and play this weekend, making the task look effortless in the process.
It is an honor beyond words to take up this challenge. It is an incredible honor to count myself a letterhead.
Only a few more days until LODI!!!!!!!!!!
-grampa dan
[ May 20, 2006, 02:52 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Tracie Johnson (Member # 6117) on :
It will definitely be an honor to meet you Dan, one of the highlights of my trip. I'm so looking forward to meeting everyone, really. After 25 years on and off in the sign business, it is a dream come true for me to finally get a chance to become part of the elite group I have admired since the early days of Signcraft! And with 16 years between me and a brush... well that should be interesting to say the least.
Wow!
Posted by Tony Segale (Member # 1380) on :
thanks for your post, Dan...
if you don't mind, I'll print this out and pass it around at our last committee meeting before the party...Tuesday, May 23 at 9:30 am....
on last burst of good news to keep my volunteerrs fired up...thanks again
see ya all when you Head West!
Posted by Dale Manor (Member # 4858) on :
Last summer I had the honor of working with Grampa Dan at Mike Meyer's "Mother of All Meets" on a project being lead by Rod Tickle of Australia. What an incredible week we had!
One night I stepped around the monster truck trailer near dusk to find Grampa Dan painting all by himself. I jumped up to help and was taught the fine art of squiggly lines! Behind us a street dance was taking place and a couple thousand people were standing around at the dance, eating, dancing....a few watching what we were up to. No one even made fun when I slid over on the platform and sat in a pool of blue paint.
These are the fond memories I look back on after attending one of these Walldog events, along with many other great moments.
I have attended a couple of walldog meets and have admired and been in awe of how much work it takes to host one of these big events! I can't begin to explain how excited I am to be heading off to my next meet in Lodi. The fact that my daughter will be joining me for her first meet, makes it even more special.
It will be great to meet some of those folks over the Rockies that I have yet to meet.
I want to say thanks in advance to the whole staff out there and especially to Tony for putting this whole thing on!
I'm really looking forward to working with the huge amount of talented people heading west!
