COMMISSION - progression!

BTW, Gary, don't forget to factor in gin 'for a steady hand' in your cost of production

Hey that's very cool [especially since anything native indian is your specialty]..
I hope you're having a great time with the project and it's coming along fine

It is coming along fine, Michelle, and actually I'm having a blast. The lettering is a little boring right now, but it looks so much better than it did I get that cozy little feeling inside. (I'm sure you know what I mean.) I guess I should take a pic to show that part so you all can see the difference. Even if it is just letters. I'll do that Monday.

BTW, Gary, don't forget to factor in gin 'for a steady hand' in your cost of production

I should have thought about that, Tony! Darn, you always come up with the best ideas!
I gotta think about how to do that 'after the fact'.

I'm sorry to tell you my friend.. but i fear you have indeed died and gone to heaven. LOL. Congrats. I would love to get a gig like this.

This is a picture I took a few days ago. Finally got time to get it here. It's certainly not much but one can see the difference some paint can make. I'm putting an eagle and an Indian with a head-dress at the other end...........when I get there.

Oh..........I have to wait until we turn it upside down to finish the 'D'.

Oh..........I have to wait until we turn it upside down to finish the 'D'.

why do you have to turn it upside down Gary?

Oh..........I have to wait until we turn it upside down to finish the 'D'.

why do you have to turn it upside down Gary?

Because it has to be exact. I can't paint a precise line on the left of my right hand unless I'm standing on my head. All of the other letters are mostly masked off, except for the small details. The D I didn't want to go any further. If I screw up, there is no way to fix it except to paint the entire background of the sign. Same with the 'S's.

This is the progress I have made on the sign. They let me add my 'artwork' to the right. (eagle and Indian) It is about ready to be "turned upside down" (don't laugh, Anthony ) I'm hoping to finish next week.
Everything below the red lettering had to be done 'freehand'.

Your sign project is coming along beautifully, Gary! Kudo's

Getting 'creative license' is the kind of commission I dream for, you're so lucky. Moreover, I think they'll be highly pleased with the finished work.

Not to make you come completely out of retirement by adding more work, but have you considered putting something alittle smaller on the other side to 'frame it in?'
Just curious... it's looking very nice so far just the way it is.

Thank you for sharing it with us!

something alittle smaller on the other side to 'frame it in?'

You're exactly right, Shar, I have thought about it. I wanted to put a falls (duh - Indian Falls).......but there was so little room and management, from the start, stipulated the lettering wasn't to be "surrounded" by anything.

When I first thought about this commission and was given the go ahead, I had envisioned and was excited about adding some of my 'usual' art work.

Well.........even after many years of painting, one never stops learning, so I wanted to share this with you. (I know it may not be anything new to many of you.) As many of you already know, I'm really into 'detail'. However, I have never painted anything which is meant to be seen from "far away". (like driving by on a road from 40 to 50 feet away)

I found that to me it is an entirely different perspective. Detail is utterly 'lost' and certain things have to be extremely 'highlighted' for the subject to even be recognized. I soon learned this after painting a bit and then getting back about 25/35 feet to 'check it out'. I was walking back and forth this way for quite a while until I learned to 'adapt' to a new 'style' of painting. So if any of you ever get a commission like this and it is new to you, get ready for a new challenge.

In putting up the finished project (1 of 2) one of our maintenance guys clears a bush which would have covered up the 'subjects'.

Then up it goes.

It is yet to be 'framed', but here are some different 'perspectives'.