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Within the sign industry that is. With me, Id love to have one of my jobs end up on the cover of Signcraft. Reason, other than the obvious ones, is a friend of mine, many years ago, sent me a gift subscription to Signcraft, and I was making signs via hand lettering, in a small makeshift garage on my grandpas property. No heat, no air, and no computer. The magazine showed me things I could not believe and made me work harder to get to the level of what was inside it. Ive still got those first issues and they are well worn. I know it might seem vain of me, and forgive me for that, but its just something Ive always thought about and worked towards. What about you? Anything like that you'd like to have or do?
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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I can certainly relate to your thoughts above! I too have dog-eared and well worn SignCraft magazines on my shelf. Way back then I dreamed of the day my work might be worthy to appear there. Peter & I made the cover a number of years ago and I still dream of the day another piece might be good enough to take that place once more.
I also have the very first issue of Signs of the Times I bought. It was the annual competition issue. I promised myself one day my work would appear there. Last year we were honored with first place in that very category. WOW! what a dream!
To have my work and thoughts appear in the magazines will hopefully inspire someone else to share that same dream I first held so long ago... THAT would be the coolest!
NEVER give up on your dreams!
-grampa 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: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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It's these magazines along with the signmakers that contribute to them that has made our craft so much better over the years! I agree that the work that appears in these magazines is very insperational to us all and keeps us trying to do better. Also the sharing of information between sign people that helps us to improve. When I was first starting out I went to the local sign man and asked a few questions & he deliberately gave me wrong information because he did not want an aspiring young sign painter learning the trade and competing with him. Thank God that attitude has changed! When I went to my first Letterhead meet which was at Ray Chapman's shop in Harker Heights Texas I met Tom McIltrot and had some very nice conversation with him about his Sign Craft magazine and the sign business in general. before we left the meet he encouraged me to send him some pictures of my work. I thought yea like I'm worthy of being featured in Sign Craft! NOT! Anyway I did send some of what I thought was my best work and low and behold he called to tell me that he was going to feature me in the upcoming issue and wanted to ask a few questions. I can't tell you how thrilled and flattered I was when that magazine came out! I couldn't wait to share my excitement with my friends and fellow sign people. I even got a few calls from some former co workers that I hadn't heard from for a long time giving me their congratulations. I was also fortunate enough to win first place in the window catagor of the signs of the times competition then later and honorable mention. That also was a very thrilling honor. So I guess my point here is, John don't just hope for it but send some photos to the magazines so that they can see your work. Dreams come true but you have to help them along. Best of luck and keep on dreamin' and striving to be the best!
Dan
-------------------- Dan E. Kearfott Gibson City, IL
Success comes in CANS - Failure comes in Can'ts Posts: 53 | From: Gibson City, IL U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2000
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Dan, which issue were you on the cover of. Im sure I have it somewhere. Dan E., Ive been lucky to be in Signcraft a few times, and have done a couple of the What does it cost... articles for them. I was extremely happy for that and considered it a big thing. Especially since Im an old hillbilly from the boonies of kentucky. Ill keep on sending stuff in though, and one of these days.....
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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SignCraft Nov/Dec 96 Issue 91. Its framed and hangs proudly on my studio wall.
-grampa 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: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ill look it up tomorrow. Im pretty sure Ive got it.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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Im with John That I might be blessed with a cover. As for the other item One of My Goals looks like it might be reached in the next month by having our Very Own Shop/Building With no partners or outside Help (Besides the bank and the next 20 years of my life).. It really Gives me a feeling of Self Worth that this Might happen all by ourselves. (But I **** my Pants evertime I see the Monthly Overhead)
posted
John, I think of you as one of the "Elite Group" of sign artists with your amazing ability to draw those cool street rods and graphics. I try to learn from everyone and your work does stand out among those whose names appear on this site.
My dream is to someday get a sign project from Disney World theme parks or the studio. I have heard that they don't just use local shops. They have shops all over the country do sign projects for them. Location is not a problem for them. Quality work is their concern. I admire their dimensional signs and the creative ideas that are used to display their message.
I have done signs for Raging Rivers water park for the last 10+ years and really enjoy that kind of work. They have let me have complete creative freedom on many sign projects. But getting a sign job from Disney would be a dream come true. I am also the father that took his kids to DisneyWorld last year and took several rolls of film of signs! Next time I'll have to include the kids in a few of the photos!
Thanks for reminding me to keep dreaming.
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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I agree w/all concerning John, also John, you might entertain idea of self-promotion, send McEltrot those pics man, set the stage yourself, worked for me. I met the McEltrots at a bluegrass festival, man, that family PICKS some bluegrass now!!!! Anyway, I sent some pics upon request from Tom and low and behold, I'm the first pinstriper featured in Signcraft...
Vain John? You bet and throw in about a ton of ego too, can't do what we do w/o either, nature of the beast, secret is in how to control it...I'm not good at blown' my own horn, but in the day, I collected 29 covers, 17 centerfolds, and over 100 mentions of some sort from magazines, they all felt like the first one, making me work harder to do better and at same time, provided source of direction as to where industry was going and my place in that, making future more predictable and controlable...though greatest articles are the ones about my own personal rides, there are three of those...
Still collecting mag articles, most recent was last year in Street Rodder, nephew's '34 Ford 3-window vette killer...cool ride and very nasty!!! Heheh, the ultimate sleeper...next month '56 BelAir I did comes out in one of em, forget which one...got three mags lookn' at honda project when finished and the beer truck will get it's fair share of ink too...so John, keep doing what you are doing and let the mag world know you're out there and it will come and when it does, it is a damn good feeling...good luck........
ps: sidethought, with your cartoon talent, some magazine might be interested in a monthly strip of sorts if you were to pursue such a path...????eh?
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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If I could accomplish anything, I would stumble across the magical argument that generates great demand for hand-painted signs. Got nothing against digital work; in fact, I love it. Vinyl is a good invention too, especially for routine "signage." But it's more fun to pull strokes with a paintbrush than to pick flysh*t out of pepper (weed), and we're not getting to do that enough.
-------------------- Bruce Williams Lexington KY Posts: 945 | From: Lexington, KY, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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My goal is to save the world from itself but somehow I think that may be asking for too much.
Edited to add a more serious reply:
Truth is, I've pretty much accomplished the things in this business that were important to me. In the thirty-two years I've been doing this, it was never important to me to have my work on a cover. I'm content with you guys here liking my stuff.
What has been important to me was gaining the respect of my clients and their willingness to pay me sometimes ridiculous amounts of money because they thought I was worthy. I have found as I've gotten older that making money isn't really that hard. Even in the sign business. You just have to remember that you’re in business first and creativity comes second.
I'm a goal setter and once I sink my teeth into something I always get what I'm after. I'm one of those guys that will run you over if you don't move fast enough. I've taken many calculated risks over the years and they have all paid off.
[ February 09, 2006, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Bob Stephens ]
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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I'd like to have a sign business that was worth something when I'm done. All the effort and time should translate into value. Yes, I'd love to have a "cover" and win some design awards, but I've known people who won design contests that are no longer in the business because it wasn't worth the effort. And,like Bill, I'd prefer to have my own building, my landlords a nice guy but I'd like to build equity rather than pay rent.
posted
Hey John, Your talents are awesome! As the others pointed out, it's up to you to get yourself noticed. Submit your pictures and a bio to the magazines. I'm sure they'll run a story on you. That being said, I guess I need to raise my standards a little. I was happy when one of my designs was included in an article that ran in Signcraft. I get satisfaction from my clients that come to me and pay me for my work. And maybe I'm wrong about this, but while one of my signs on a magazine cover will make me proud, it doesn't necessarily put food on the table. I guess my real goals in the sign business are relatively simple ones. I plan to provide high quality products and services to the people that need them. In return I would expect to make a good and honest living where I would be able to support my family without any worries. I would also like to give my wife the option of choosing not to work. And, if I so choose, I would like to become a little more active in the community, supporting programs that I beleive in.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I had some shots in "Signs We've Seen" and it was an awesome feeling. Also, via the website, I've been in Reader to Reader. It is a great feeling of accomplishment to be recognized in the industry.
In the last year I've downsized my company from one that does does the big corporate thing to a more local shop. It took a long time to make that decision and even longer to implement it, but I worked my back to what I truly love to do. Right now, I feel like I;m sitting on top of the world, because I'm back to where I really wanted to be. Late nights now are spent painting, instead of e-mailing. Now, my goal is to paint a massive mural- for someone somewhere, and for good money. During the corporate thing I did some huge graphics on walls all over the place, but I want to do a pictorial. One so real you could walk into it, so big you'd have to stand back 100 yards to take it all in. My dream is BIG! This is where I'd love to be, and hopefully I'll someday make it.
posted
I have always wanted to be on the cover of SignCraft. Unfortunately I don't make signs anymore. I still design them and do some logos (still fun to do) but I've pretty much stopped marketing them to local clients. I've achieved one of my bigger goals already this year and that was to fire a couple PITA clients and phase out sign making. I want to basically get paid to draw! Design T-Shirts, Rock Posters and I'm still putting together clip art collections. It's always been my first love and I now have an opportunity to concentrate solely on it. I'm getting clients coming to me to do my thing on it and they let me have at 'er! The last few projects have been just that so things are starting to get there!
Stevo
-------------------- Stevo Design Illustration Logos Sign Design Clip Art www.stevo-design.com Posts: 1680 | From: Edmonton Ab Canada EH! | Registered: May 2001
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There is nothing wrong with wanting to be in (or on) your favorite mag.
My other passion is mini trucks (the ones that lay flat on the ground), and I was know for the first one that I built, because it was in Mini Truckin' Mag 4 times, and was even on the subcription card for a year. I was blown out of the water when I was flipping through the issue and found it. The hard part to belive is the truck was completly in primer when the photo was taken. The cover is always a good goal.
As far as what I am wanting to do is just be successful in my area. There is another graphic designer in town that charges $75 an hour and she has a huge backlog and can't meet the demand. I would love to be know as "the hottest graphic designer on the Eastern Shore of Maryland". I'll get there one of these days.
-------------------- Mark Kottwitz Kottwitz Graphics Ridgely, MD www.SeeMySignWork.com -------------------------- Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein Posts: 746 | From: Ridgely, MD | Registered: Oct 2000
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We have had 3 covers on Sign Builder Illustrated. (wasn't that hard)
Jon, I'm sure you will achieve that goal, and should have already with your abilities.
Just start writing articles and submit them. But don't stop with SignCraft. They are not the only fish in the sea. I think you would be surprised how much material a monthly magazine eats up and how they are always looking for new sources of creativity.
One reason I don't write a monthly column for Sign Builder, (I just submit step by steps on the better sign jobs we get to work on)is that readers would get tired of me very quickly. And that's worse.
No ofense intended to any writers ( I was really thinking of F--- and MR and some others who really stretch it sometimes to be fresh and creative, but have become downright boring to read.
Sign work / sign art is too vast and way to creative for a few to dominate the writing of articles.
Nobody knows it all and nobody is all creative. We would learn much more from a vast pool of sign makers if they would only submit their ideas and articles to the magazines. Just my opinion.
posted
I have been in SignCraft, Sign Business, Signs of the Times, Sign Builder, and the elusive AMAL....all for meets tho, not really for my (ahem) wonderful work.
What I would really like is for people to come to me for something that they can't get anywhere else, something painted preferably.
My favorite kind of client is one who doesn't quibble over pricing, one who says "Just make it look pretty", one who's seen my work and sought me out. I do have a few like that, but I want MORE!
posted
Well, we're big sign makers We've got golden fingers And we're loved everywhere we go (that sounds like us) We sing about letters and we sing about colors For ten-thousand dollars a design (right) We make all kinds of signs that give us all kind of thrills But the thrill we've never known Is the thrill that'll get ya when you get your picture On the cover of the Sign Zone
(Sign Zone) Wanna see my picture on the cover (Zone)Wanna buy five copies for my mother (yeah) (Zone)Wanna see my smilin' face On the cover of the Sign Zone (that's a very, very, good idea)
I got a freaky ole lady name a Ferrule Katy Who embroideries on my jeans I got my poor old grey haired daddy Drivin' my signcrane Now, it's all designed to blow our minds But our minds won't really be blown Like the blow that'll get ya when you get your picture On the cover of the Sign Zone
(Sign Zone) Wanna see our pictures on the cover (Sign Zone) Wanna buy five copies for our mothers (yeah) (Zone) Wanna see my smilin' face On the cover of the Sign Zone
In the short term, I do hope to always be improving in anything and everything I do, including signs . . . but whether one of my signs, or some peice of art I create ever adornes the cover of a magazine, which, of course, would sure-enough be a nice honor . . . the main thing is if I'm happy with the work, I could care less if anyone else deems it that credible.
Most of the things I hope to accomplish have nothing to do with sign biz, and what will get accomplished may mean nothing to the huge majority of people, but will mean everything to the One who initiated those goals...
Personal little side things, immediate and in the future which I hope to accomplish:
I'd like to be the best Mom I can be to my kid.
And a little more financially able to do the following:
Lots of International travel
Some missionary work
Learning to fly an airplane
Lots of writing - 3 study booklets, each on various subjects, and memiors.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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I'd like to get my novel written...published would be good too, but just having the time to get back to regular writing....but between projects, family and a tempermental muse... *SIGH* Oh well --someday soon..
On a more immediate note--I'd like to accomplish making the best use of my time! Gosh we waste so much time...If I have one regret it's going to bed wishing I could have gotten something else done--or visited with customers less, or stayed off the web more or...well you know...
Posts: 2500 | From: Clinton, AR USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Susan for a hefty franchise fee, you can have someone show you how to make it happen. But be careful what you wish for, being self employed is a hell of a lot more work than just being an employee for someone else.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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What do i hope to accomplish? Funny, I just went to the new Pat Catan's not far from me, & I was in "Dreamland"! I hadn't realized how much I loved & missed sitting down & doing some pen & ink & colored pencil work. I simply LOOOOVE that kind of work! Suddenly, i found myself wishing I was rich, so I could just do THAT, & nothing else!
On the way home, tho, I remembered all the things i havebeen learnign to do that I am getting much better at. My hand painting my letters, & even the striping thing. Got a ways to go on that one!
But, like Sheila, there are other things I want to accomplish also, in my personal life. To be able to minister to others that have gone through what I have been through.
To find out what the "call" is He has on my life, & to fulfill it. So far, He uses me to help others that come to me for work.
To develope better fruit in my life.
Edited to add: When my time here is up, & He weeds out the hay & the stubble, I want some good things to remain!
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