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Number 22 is about to be installed in Park Forest, IL
This one tells the story of why the Lincoln Highway was named after the former President . . .
Seeing as how automobiles weren't around in Lincoln's day (if I have my history correct), the only real option was to paint a portrait - and tell the story. Since the official document was a "Proclamation", we were asked to somehow feature the original document in the design.
Sadly, the 'official' document was boring and uninspired. So we opted for a scroll-look on parchment . . . and symmetrical since we always have to tell the story and use the town's name. We used the exact wording from the original document - but punched up the design only moderately. I found a colored image of Lincoln as I was asked to do a colored mural this time - not another monochromatic paint.
But I have never painted a true, blended color portrait before so this one proved to be a real challenge. Color mixing and finding the right combination took a long time due to my inexperience with flesh tones. But as with all things, determination got me pretty close. Beginner's luck, to some degree, since it turned out OK considering my relative inexperience.
40 hours to paint the the flag background, scrolls, fades and the pictorial - including cleaning of the brushes. As always, mural panel engineering and border work by the stellar Joe Marshall . . . my design and paint.
The design is the first slide . . . I should have done that on the others so you could make a comparison . . .
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yep it's me, when I see work that nice, I'll take the highway, or is that the high road? No pink shorts, beegees or harley jokes. I'll save them for a more appropriate time and place. I am in awe of your talent , sir!
-------------------- Pete Payne Willowlake Design/Canadian Signcrafters Bayfield, ON
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WOW! What a great job, it looks like all the work on so murals has paid off. Excellent painting of Lincoln.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Your highway has certainly led to great results!!!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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I would love to see some close ups, Jay. Stunning work! Very inspiring, indeed.
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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Jiminy . . . that's some high praise from some very talented people. I'm blushing pink, Pete . . . My most sincere thanks for such genuine comments.
I believe that any person can do just about anything - if they really try. I believe that osmosis - by surrounding myself with amazingly talented people - has been the real driver behind this new skill I have been forced to learn. At work or more often with Letterheads/Walldogs, I have simply seen some of the very best work there is. Who wouldn't be inspired?
So you could say "I've been watching" you all (creepy, huh?) . . . and with Billy Hueg's simplified training while living with us for months . . . I simply couldn't have gotten a better 'head start'.
Not one of us is incapable of doing this very same thing you have so kindly remarked about here. Not one.
Not one.
Think about it.
Then go do it. Whatever "it" is . . .
[ April 27, 2012, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: Jay Allen ]
-------------------- Jay Allen ShawCraft Sign Co. Machesney Park, IL jallen222@aol.com http://www.shawcraft.com/
"The object of the superior man is truth." -Confucius Posts: 1285 | From: Machesney Park, IL, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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for tonight "it" is plunking my butt in in a big comfy chair. And Jay, you're right, after many long hours of practice I can modestly say I'm damn good at it!
-------------------- Pete Payne Willowlake Design/Canadian Signcrafters Bayfield, ON
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Way to go, Jay. Most impressive indeed. There is just something about Lincoln's face and I am not sure it's just our familiarity with it that makes it so iconic.
-------------------- Bob Sauls Sauls Signs & Designs Tallahassee, Fl
"Today I'll meet nice people and draw for them!" Posts: 765 | From: Tallahassee, Fl | Registered: Jun 2009
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Another great piece in a long series of great murals! Awesome Jay!
-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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-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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