posted
The world we know is a changing place. The change is constant and the pace is getting faster.
The sign business is certainly effected. There's not many folks who are still doing things the way they were done 30 years ago.
We have four choices.
We can complain. It doesn't do much except get ourselves and a few folks around us all worked up. Complaining doesn't make many folks happy either.
We can refuse change, and stick to our old ways no matter what. There's lots of folks in this boat. And there's even a few who make a good living at it too. But not many.
We can go whole hog with the latest and greatest. These days that's an easy way to spend a whole lot of money. The learning curve is endless. In my mind it's a race that can't be won.
Or the last option is to embrace new ways and technology carefully. We can adapt new methods and equipment to make our creative work better and more efficient than ever before.
In our own business we try to take the last way. I use a computer in my design process. I still go with pen and paper for the preliminary sketches, then scan them into the box and use my digital pad to produce the final artwork. It's still hand drawing but with a modern twist. Even experts find it hard to believe I use a computer to produce the art, because the technology allows me to still produce it manually on the computer. The advantage is the look and ease of making world class presentations.
In the shop I make every effort to use modern tools and methods. Mig welders and plasma cutters have replced the torch and stick welding for the most part. We use acrylic paints for our final finishes.
We still stick to old ways where they matter most. The work is hand finished and hand painted. And no computer can help us with that - at least not yet.
We are considering getting into foam sculpting with hard coat finishes. It would make our work much lighter and in the process open up a whole new market for us. When we do so I will buy a CAD three dimensional hot wire cutter and learn the necessary programs to operate them. It will speed up the process and best of all it will take the grunt work out of the equation. We will do all finish sculpting by hand though. And after the sprayed hard coats are applied will apply the finishes with a good old fashioned brush too.
I believe the trick is to selectively aquire and use new technology to help you in your business. It would seem to me a smart thing to use modern methods to take the drudgery out of our work. In the process we can spend the rest of the time putting the craftsmanship bakc into our work the old fashioned way.
Embrace the best of both worlds. Wlecome change while keeping up the good fight.
Most of all its important to keep alive the fun things in life (and work) that give us pleasure. Don't become a slave to modern ways or old fashioned ones either.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8741 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I agree with you ..."the last option is to embrace new ways and technology carefully. We can adapt new methods and equipment to make our creative work better and more efficient than ever before." We have to keep up with the changes in this busness. Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Dan, I remember E. C. Matthews saying in one of his books that he made up his mind that he would keep abreast of the times and learn new techniques and materials as they came out. I believe he would be using a computer and vinyl just like most of us if he was still alive. I will try to find out which book he said that in so I can quote him exactly.
Those who say it can't be done should get the heck out of the way of those who do it!
-------------------- Mike Duncan(from the left coast) Astoria, Oregon Posts: 367 | From: Astoria, Oregon 97103 | Registered: Nov 1998
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Dan, your post is both practical and true for me. It really sums it up! You could write an article for a sign mag for all to see. It does encapsulate our concerns we often agree with. Being on a budget and watching technology grow push me into doing the same, stepping back and taking a good look at what we're doing, plus creating a market for handcrafting marriage of machine technology. Reminds me of old gold world combined with lucite of the new.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Dan, I found E.C's statement, it was the foreword to "The Sign Painting Course". He wrote it 50 years ago and its as applicable today as it was then. He was apretty smart guy, I especiallly like the part "determination and ambition have a lot to do with sucess in any field"
FOREWORD
My reason for writing this SIGN PAINTING COURSE is to teach you to do commercial work for profit.
You will find in these pages practical information on signs and the sign painting business as it is today. There have been many, many changes since I started in the work...and I promised myself, as a young man, I would keep up with the times and change my thinking and my techniques as often as might be necessary.
This keeping out of a rut is perhaps the one single most important lesson I can impress you with. Keep up with the times--give the customer what he wants. Be flexible, both mentally and in your techniques.
I stress these things throughout the following pages because they are of prime importance. The instructions have been proved sound as I have for many years prepared apprentices for sign and showcard work. And I have learned, through trial and error, how best to present a new subject.
This SIGN PAINTING COURSE is the result of my experience in writing instruction pamphlets for beginners and experienced men. These pages also incorporate what I have learned from teaching sign painting in person.
So, I can honestly say that I believe this one-volume course will teach any person of average intelligence to become a good sign painter...if he apply himself and practice enough. And please remember that determination and ambition have a lot to do with sucess in any field.
E.C. Matthews
-------------------- Mike Duncan(from the left coast) Astoria, Oregon Posts: 367 | From: Astoria, Oregon 97103 | Registered: Nov 1998
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I read someone's saying a while ago " You can make progress only if you are prepared to accept some changes of direction at times" or words to that effect.
It's more relevant than people realise- & sometimes the roads are dead ends & need a complete about face, sometimes a tangent, sometimes a surprise!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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