An article in the travel section of the Atlanta Journal showcased a town in Florida called Lake Placid with a TON of murals, among them, one by our own Dan Sawatzky and his son Peter. Here's the link - cool stuff - http://murals.htn.net
Theirs is #25- Train Depot
[ January 28, 2002: Message edited by: Sonny Franks ]
Posted by Rob Clark (Member # 787) on :
Come on Dan, Fess up now, How'd you get that train to follow folks down the hill?
Great work,absolutely love your style, well done.
RobC
Posted by Mike Kelly (Member # 2037) on :
I believe that mural w/ Dan and Peter was on the cover of an issue of Signcraft back in the early 90's. Fantastic work and great article. I was just reading it the other day. What talent!!!
Posted by Jackson Smart (Member # 187) on :
Very Nice.
I had the good fortune of meeting Dan in his studio in downtown Chemainus, B.C. several years ago...1986, Not very long after he finished his first mural in Chemainus. It was a storefront, looking inside, called "The Company Store". It shows an interior depiction of the Victoria Lumber and Manufacturing Company Store in 1917. He created a deep perspective of the colorfully-laden shelves from old photographs. The V.L.&M. Company used one of the first known credit card systems in the store. The purchaser would pay for the goods with coupons. In turn, the store would recieve credit for the same from the company, which would deduct the amount from thier employee's pay check. The name "Victoria Lumber &Manufacturing Company" and it's trademark, the letter "V" in a diamond became known throughout the world. (from the book "Chemainus, A Celebration Of Canadian Heritage" "The Little Town That Did!") I found Dan to be a very delightful, energetic person. He gladly showed off his extensive collection of "CocaCola memorabilia". His retail art gallery was located downstairs in the middle of town. There is a picture of him in the book...a rather "Young" looking Dan with a slightly receeding hairline...hahaha (sorry Dan) Here is a quote from him "There's no place in the world I'd rather be! I can feel the sparkle in the air just approaching the town. I've never been so involved in a community."
A trip down mermory-lane for Dan....and another perspective of a "very talented guy"...You The Man..Dan!
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Thanks for the kind words guys.
This is the mural featured in SignCraft a few years ago but the cover shot was actually a mural in Ontario, Canada.
Over the years we did a lot of train murals, reflecting a life long facination of them.
The Lake Placid Florida mural was especially cool for us... it was the first time we got to paint under the shade of a palm tree, and in the dead of winter too.
I remember it was cold for our hosts, but we were painting in shorts and T-shirts and enjoying every second of it.
We spent 4 days in Lake placid and then went to celebrate with Mickey for the rest of our time there.
