posted
I get asked so often as to how one would go about having a career such as mine. Even the definition of what I do is hard to define on most days.
Folks constantly ask about necessary education and then where they might apply to get this type work. A few desire to start their own businesses.
The answer to these questions in my opinion is both extremely complicated and simple at the same time.
To quote my friend Steve Shortreed from another recent post
quote:If you have the desire, and are willing to do whatever it takes, nothing is impossible.
Most people aren't willing to do the above.
In my case I have no formal training. I have been self employed for all of my 'art' career. So I guess education & work experience (for others) aren't totally necessary although both would be a definite asset.
I have travelled extensively and learned lots of lessons on the way. Most of the travelling was work related, although lots of side trips were squeezed in.
I collect books & periodicals & read a great deal. Mostly books & magazines related to what I am doing.
I am constantly LOOKING & OBSERVING things around me. My mind constantly is thinking of ways to adapt what I see to my projects. My dad went with me to Home Depot last week & is still laughing as to how I shop. We went in with a list, but as we careened through the isles I stopped constantly and filled my buggy with all kinds of cool things. Many other things were filed away mentally for future reference. I discussed many of the things we saw with him, as to if it would work for the projects &I had in mind. My dad observed my thought process as hilarious but it works for me. I did forget some items on my list, but that is a good excuse to go back & learn some more.
You need an open mind... and must be willing to tackle ANY project that comes along.
I hire experts to help me with my projects and then LEARN from them while they work, both directly from the project at hand & to skills they possess. I ask questions constantly in search of answers I need for projects at hand & those down the road. Sometimes the answers I find inspire new projects and new methods of doing things.
I constantly make mistakes and then learn from them.
I take risks - all calculated. Some are small and some are huge!
I live & work with a MASSIVE passion. I enjoy what I do. I believe the projects I build add to the enjoyment of others lives as well as mine. I don't worry about what others may think.
I strive to remain childlike in my delight of obeserving the wonders around me. I giggle every day.
I celebrate the goals reached daily. Each evening I am thinkful for progress made, even if its only a little. Each morning I set new goals.
Those are my 'secrets' to doing the jobI love.
I'd love to hear of other's tips to achieving the dream careers they have.
-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: 8766 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Spoken with eloqunce and heart. Not a word wasted nor left out. Thanks for the reminder of not only how much I love my work, but how to keep it fresh and fun.
You just may be the truest letterhead of all.
Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
All I ever wanted to do was design and pinstripe since I was old enough to read. Seeing Von Dutch in the ol' Hop-Up magazines my brother brought home was all it took. I started at 9 years old and it went from there. My first love is designing or re-designing however you look at it.
I believe you can do anything you want if you've got the time.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
GREAT post Dan! The HOW TO question is posed by the non-artist usally in the form of.."did you go to school for that?" I belive it is based on our desire to CREATE ART that pushes my thought process to the (what if) mode. My desire to hand letter,came to me by working an 8 hour job(for bill paying)constantly painting on a glass layed over letters until I fell asleep. Just to get up day after day to the same regiment The term "In your minds eye" seems to seperate the artist from the non-artist concerning the ability of keen observation,linked to retaining all that we have seen. Enough so that we are able to reproduce accurately the small details that make for a reasonable fascimile. Combined together,thia allows one to become a very good COPIER of what we have just looked at. Some are better at this than others,while when taken to the form of people and how they act. It becomes the ability to "read" our customers and make decissions from these passed experiences OOPPS almost got of track of my PASSION to live life everyday to its fullest,by way of not letting one thing go unnoticed. With eyes wide open,I endevor to succeed!
Hope this helps
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Boy, I have just got to get one of those magic pumps....
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6465 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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When I am asked the same question.......quite frankly I say, "If you have to ask, find another way of making a living". Even if I explained it as beautifully as you did,......they wouldn't get it... AND....those people who ask, aren't customers so I keep it short, cause the customers DO GET IT!!! Thanks Dan! Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
-------------------- Joe Cieslowski Connecticut Woodcarvers Gallery P.O.Box 368 East Canaan CT 06024 jcieslowski@snet.net 860-824-0883 Posts: 2345 | From: East Canaan CT 06024 | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
(Among others) I have said many a time I would like to live in the head of Stephen King for a day, to see how I can scare somebody s^%*less with just a few words about most anything, or M.C. Escher's to see how to subdivide a clean page into puzzle pieces that brilliantly and cleverly interlock, and I must say ( before I join Raymond in taking a nap), that I want to add Dan Sawatzky to the list to see how it feels to have so much energy, optimism and joie de vivre.
I know Dan, that you must have setbacks and disappointments and projects that just don't work out to your liking - as we all do. It's all in how we handle it, and you are an inspiration in sharing your positive perspective.
-------------------- Myra A. Grozinger Signs Limited Winston-Salem, NC
signslimited@triad.rr.com Posts: 1244 | From: Winston-Salem, NC USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Off topic but... Dan, have you ever done any wall work in Twenty-nine Palms, CA.? I was driving through there a few weeks ago and saw some work that looked your style. It was very nice, whover did it.
-------------------- Bruce Evans Crown Graphics Chino, CA graphics@westcoach.net Posts: 913 | From: Chino, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Bruce.... I think I found the pump you're looking for. A friend of mine just went from a SEPTIC TANK to CITY SEWER. He's got a slightly used spare pump!!!!!!
posted
Yes Doug – you remember it right! Me and my screensaver are an all-day team. It has gotten to where it knows just what I’m thinking most of the time.
And you are a person who pays attention! I like that.
-------------------- Myra A. Grozinger Signs Limited Winston-Salem, NC
signslimited@triad.rr.com Posts: 1244 | From: Winston-Salem, NC USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- 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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29 Palms is one of my favorite places. It's all about the wonderful folks there.
I also have painted 2 murals in 29. The Key's mural (the one on the main drag through town) is one of my all time favorites.
Thanks for noticing!
-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: 8766 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Well said Dan... did you know that 'experience' is that tremendous ability that enables you to recognise a mistake when you make it a second time!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7017 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
After being lucky enough to spend 3 unforgetable days helping Dan in Sterling, IL recently, I can testify that he sure practices what he preaches!! Thanks for the example of a life well lived and thanks also for the explantion of how you look at things, Dan!!
Ian, that's the best definition of experience I've heard!!
Meanwhile, remember, "The world's your playground, act like it!!"
-------------------- Chris Elliott 1longshot@classicnet.net cell 62084two2232 Posts: 686 | From: Scottsdale, AZ & Anthony, KS, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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