As soon as my regular work was done I rewarded myself by packing the heavy mechanical fish sign into my office and placed it in it's permanent home on the bookshelf next to my desk. A few minutes with a small brush polished off the last of the painted details and I declared the fish officially DONE.
It's been almost three months since I did the first sketches on the plane home from Indiana. I worked on the mechanical fish between other projects, seldom more than an hour or two at most in any sitting and instead of having my helpers assist did everything with my own hands - a rarity. Although I am sure I might do some things a little differently the next time I am very pleased with the piece.
The result is a spectacular sample piece for my studio. Clients and visitors to my studio shop were always taken with the piece as I worked on it and I believe it has already helped as a marketing piece and will continue to for years to come.
This piece, along with the many other samples on display in my shop and studio are extremely valuable sales tools for me. One look around the place and my clients instantly understand that there isn't much we can't imagine and build. This customer confidence allows us to get the exactly the kind of work we desire. Samples work!
-dan
