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I was privileged and honored to be invited to attend Rick & Lola's Conclave meet this past weekend in California. Last minute arrangements were made on Thursday and I was away early friday morning. It was exciting to be able to go to a meet I had dreamed of for many years.
WOW! Wall to wall eye candy!... but better than that... much better was the warm hispitality I and all others recieved when we arrived.
Rick and Lola opened their place and their hearts to share their facility, and their knowlege with us.
It was wonderful to see beginners (like me) and old pro's (the sign gods) working shoulder to shoulder on amazing projects. It was a laid back celebration of the craft.
When the beginner was attempting the craft. the masters would gently coax, teach and demonstrate the techniques. Encouragement was the order of the day.
When the pro's worked on their projects the rest of us would gather around and watch the masters at their craft. They would explain patiently for us newbies what they were doing and more importantly why.
It all took place in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.
Good times and great conversation took place everywhere.
I had a wonderful weekend! It was just the tonic I needed to give me a huge creative boost that will last for a long, long time to come.
Thankyou Rick & Lola and all the others who attended! I had a blast!
And yes my new red truck will be gold leafed soon. It IS possible to do CARTOON gilding.
-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!!!
Sounds like you had a great weekend. I spent the weekend at a Gold Leaf workshop put on by another "master gold leafer" Pete Payne in Bayfield, Ont.
Pete took all the mystery out of glue chipping glass and mirrors, water gilding, shading with asphaltum and various burnishing techniques on gold leaf. It was a long but very informative weekend. Even got to meet fellow Lettervillian Bob Darnell.
Do you have any pics you could show us Dan? I won't have my film developed for awhile. And actually, don't even have any finished panels to show either!
Oh well, glad you had a great time. I heard you mention you were wanting to learn more about gold leaf. Can't wait to see what you do with it!
Terry
-------------------- Terry Whynott Walkerton, Ontario
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Dan, It was an honor to watch a Canadian eat sushi! Shortreed had nearly destroyed my faith in that possibility.
It was great to meet you face to face.
To do the glass panel correctly, it should all be done in reverse. Turn your pattern over and paint the black outline and then do the highlights and shades and then the fills and blends. Think the process backwards.It gets much more fun that way.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
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The Conclave is always a great one - I finally got an invite this year for the first time. Since I live close by I usually crash it, because whilst I can drop in any time, and usually get over there a couple times a year just to Ooh & Aah at the candy and buy a brush or something - meeting the sign folk is the best part. The weather could not have been any better. Dan calls himself a "Newbie" but he has one of the most impressive portfolios I've ever seen.
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Reading your post brought back memories of our first Conclave last year. If there was ever a shop that deserved to be known as "Home Of The Letterheads," Fine Gold Signs would be at the top of most lists.
I'm looking forward to seeing all the photos and reading a meet report. Send in all your photos and text.
Here's a link to last year's meet. Check-out all the eye candy covering the walls.
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Simply the best warm hearted group of folks you ever want to be a part of! Thanks Rick & Lolla and all who attended for your hospitality and encouragement! Robin
-------------------- Robin Sharrard Sharrard Graphics & Sign Fallon, Nevada rds@phonewave.net "Proud $$$ Supporter" Posts: 282 | From: Fallon, Nevda, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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As always Rick and Lola's Conclave is full of talent and skills of some of the finest craftspeople from all around the globe. I must add Dan Sawatzky is about one of the humblest guys I've met. One thing for sure, his future home is a place I would love to live in, on my own piece of property of course. That was a really cool drawing among the many that is in his portfolio. I know you will make your dream come true. It was great to meet lot of new folks and see old friends, one in particular was the daughter of one of the all time greats Al Zanetti was Kimberly Zanetti Purcell she had some great stories and portfolios of her father. You would have to had to been there...
-------------------- 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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