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At this year's FKAB Meet in Quebec City, we had an opportunity to scan Bill Riedel's portfolio of Letterhead Portraits. It's taken some time to process each picture, but here it is, just in time for Christmas.
I know I'm not alone when I say Bill is one of my favorite Letterheads. At 75 years of age, the man is still a human dynamo. Nobody works harder than Bill at live meet. He's often the first one at work and the last to quit. Over the years, he's been a teacher and inspiration to all.
I was tempted to say especially the ladies. Bill is a chick magnet. Even my own Grand Daughter fell victim to his charm. This is one special guy. I've heard it said many times that Bill is the Dad we all wish we had been blessed with.
We're honored to be able to share this collection with all of you. There's a brief bio on Bill and his company, as well as an explaination of the tools and process he uses to produce these masterpieces.
There's around 70 portraits presented in a slideshow format. Grab your favorite beverage and take some time to enjoy Bill Riedel's Letterheads.
quote:I've heard it said many times that Bill is the Dad we all wish we had been blessed with.
My dad was pretty cool in his own right but he wasn't the warm & fuzzy type. Yes, that exactly what I told my husband when we met Bill in February - Bill is everyone's ideal dad/grandpa.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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-------------------- aka:Cisco the "Traveling Millennium Sign Artist" http://www.franciscovargas.com Fresno, CA 93703 559 252-0935 "to live life, is to love life, a sign of no life, is a sign of no love"...Cisco 12'98 Posts: 3576 | From: Fresno, Ca, the great USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Dear Bill and Steve... Thank you. I can honestly say that this tour through Portraitland was the best gift I'll get this Christmas. Bill, your talent and your story are truly inspirational. (sniff!) Thank you for sharing your gift with Letterville. You are one of the few painters who can capture the character of their subject. You transfer their own individual personalities and spark of life onto a little piece of paper. Bravo, my friend. Are we allowed to pick a favorite? It is nearly impossible! Each one is great. But my favorite is Al Zanetti. I never had the honor of meeting him, but I can almost feel as if I knew him just from looking at his Riedel portrait. And then there's Unkl Ian...and Pierre....well, you get the picture. THANKS GUYS. Love- JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I've gotta tell you...it captured him PERFECTLY. Right down to the cigarette! LOL.
He had a very serious demeanor and was always looking at something as if he were trying to figure out the meaning of life itself.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Thank you. That was an amazing show. I really enjoyed the portraits of the heads I know. You capture the essence of the person. Example, Fred Self, with the twinkle in the eye and that grin, I felt he was about to say something. Pierre lokks like he has already said it!
Great talent, thanks for sharing.
-------------------- Kathy Joiner River Road Graphics 41628 River Road Ponchatoula, La.70454
Old enough to know better...Too young to resist. Posts: 1891 | From: Ponchatoula, LA | Registered: Nov 2000
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I think you should do Jillbean!!!!!! With ??? color hair, any color will work. hahahha CJ
-------------------- Ed CJ Williams CJ Graffx Christiana,Pa. cjgraffx@comcast.net Just have'n fun.... Posts: 296 | From: Christiana,Pa. | Registered: May 1999
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like jillbeans if I had to pick a favourite portrait I would have to go for John Jordan. John is very much like Bill in every way. I had the privilege of meeting Bill at the Stockport letterheads meet in the UK (Terry Colley's Down at the Old Bull and Brush) and everything I had heard about him was true, wow what a guy, really took time to explain things to you, and like his art work his wood carving is awsome. John I have met every year since my first meet in 97 and he has become a good friend (allways steals the smoochy dances with my wife) and the portrait picks up on his charm and wit. Is there no end to Bills talents.
-------------------- Paul Priestley Signworx South Yorkshire England paulpriestley@blueyonder.co.uk
never too old to learn Posts: 66 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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I am proud to be included in the collection. Met Bill at Fred's Meet this year in Oklahoma. A nicer, more talented gentleman and Letterhead you could ever want to meet.
Bill sent me a copy. Sue framed it for me for Christmas. It's on the wall in my studio above the combined panel I did with my friends Monte and RT.
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Thank you Bill for this wonderful art work. Time to go look at them again. Thank you Steve for your time in scanning these in and letting all of us see them. It has put a happy face on many people.
To all Merry Christmas!
Love
Diane Balch
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1695 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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Bill is the true meaning of the letterhead spirit and who knows, I think he also looks a little like the spirit of Christmas too! Could it be the twinkle in his eye.......Thanks for sharing his talents and for sharing everyone else's talents throughout the year. Merry Christmas to all the brothers and sisters of the spirit. Tom & Kat
-------------------- Tom & Kathy Durham House Springs, MO Posts: 654 | From: House Springs, MO | Registered: Apr 1999
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Thanks Bill and Steve for the slide show...We got to see these first hand @ our meet this past July...and although the slide show is teriffic seeing the artwork first hand is even better...Your words of wisdom Bill ring true "Just Do It"...Thanks Pat and Ruth
-------------------- Pat Welter Masterhand Signs and Designs Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada Posts: 1304 | From: Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada | Registered: May 1999
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