The bases for both trucks I am creating for the Sign Invitational are now fully sculpted. While somewhat similar at first glance, there are actually getting to be more and more differences as I progress. Today, as I finished building the bases I installed the wiring and switches. These will activate the lights and sound effects which are being produced by my good friend Jim Wells at Fantasonics. Jim is a master at miniature sound and I look forward to hearing what he comes up with! The activation switches are very well hidden in plain sight of course. There is also a large removable rock in each piece which is the access point for the battery packs which are also hidden in the base. Now it is time to start working my way up. The figures are next and then it is on to the trucks!
PIE!
It is fun to design and build signs that look good when viewed from any angle. Our rule of thumb is that in order to be understood and effective a sign should have three words or less. Some type of symbol or graphic that makes the sign understandable without even reading the words is also a big plus. The sign also needs to stand out from its surrounding while still blending in to what is going on around it. And lastly it should faithfully tell the story of the business it represents. All that is definitely a tall order. We pushed the Pie Barn sign out of the shop on Friday and it was good to see it out in the natural light. As I studied it today I checked off the big list I note above. This sign does all of that in a simple and consistent fashion. I can hardly wait to see it in front of the Pie Barn in Nebraska!
A whole lot of feathers!
It makes me chuckle every time I think about how fortunate I am to get to draw and sculpt silly little creatures much of the time. To think I actually get paid for this effort and then ship the funny looking animals far and wide makes me grin a big old grin. It’s a good thing having this much fun is allowed. I’ve spent the last couple of days sculpting a small flock of (three) chickens for the Cookie Coop. One will perch on the sign post and the other two will roost up on the roof of the ramshackle coop. As I considered how I would pose them I decided they should all be enjoying the chocolate chip cookies they make there. One would hold the cone of cookies and the other two would be relaxed and laid back just enjoying the delicious fare. All three chickens are plenty plump, for they obviously ( and rightfully) believe Vala’s chocolate cookies are the very best! Becke has started laying on the colour to bring them to life!
