Steve asked me to post this after he saw my response to a post (on another 'board') regarding the work of William Cochran.
"I have spoken with him numerous times on the phone and he is as delightful as his work. I originally asked him to be a project leader for the 1997 Belvidere International Letterheads meet and he had to decline. He was dedicating his Community Bridge project that same weekend and would've if he could've. His talent is awe-inspiring and I have posted a link to his Community Bridge project here so you can all get a glimpse of his genius - and you can see why Belvidere was not as important!! He is one of our best talents although he is much deeper into murals and fine art than signs now. FYI: He did the 'America's Most Wanted' gold leafed and carved eagle sign that was in the background of their old set. Mark Oatis knows Bill very well - so does Keith Knecht (although not as well as Mark). Hope I helped.
Jay
******** Check out his Community Bridge project and prepare yourself for some truly incredible images. (sorry - not net-savvy enough to post true hyperlink here - only in emails) http://bridge.skyline.net/
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Posts: 1285 | From: Machesney Park, IL, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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"The codfish lays ten thousand eggs, the homely hen lays one the codfish never cackles to tell you what she's done And so we shun the codfish while the lowly hen we prize Which only goes to show you that it pays to advertise!" *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ Ogden Nash
The Sign Shop Mendocino, CA.
Posts: 6712 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
wow... don't even know what to say,.. thats amazing,....how do you pronounce the Trompe l'oeil? I've never seen that before... unreal. Thanks jay and steve -
------------------ Denise Carson Artful Enterprises Grandville, MI 616-532-2034
Carson Adventures "Anything worth doing, is worth OVER-doing!"
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You must see it to believe it. The Archangel is astounding. Yes, visually take it all in...but read how it all came about. We can all learn from the words written about the project, thoughts about community and each other.......Thanks Jay! Mick Samsel
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Posts: 498 | From: Cherokee, Ia USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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WOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!! awesome &awe inspiring Go back and read the text; I found Mr. Cochran's Spirit more impressive than his work...an that's pretty impressive
------------------ Bill Dirkes Bethel Hill Signs Pay NO Mind to the Idiots-There is more Beauty than Pain
Posts: 591 | From: Bellevue,Ky. US | Registered: Aug 1999
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i have add my voice to the many and just to mention that once you go to the site make sure you go everywhere to see every little detail. i have never seen the level of detail and that archangel is unbelievable. thanks again for sharing this with the board.
------------------ 'To be born once is natural, To be born twice, now that's a miracle. ------------------------------------- From the sometimes sunny south of Ireland,
posted
Jay, could he do a pouring bottle of Grain Belt? I can grab a couple cases and pose. (It will go quick!)
------------------ Mike Meyer Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956 Info:mikmeyer@means.netGoing to Alabama with a Banjo on my knee come and see..http://www.markfair.com/dixieheads Member of the Sign maker Council of Toowoomba
Posts: 3617 | From: Mazeppa, Mn usa | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Hats off to you Jay for sharing this with us. What a treat to see such excellent work. With people like that who can produce such perfection, it makes me sick to see the fakers doing this modern so called art and making a fortune. Bill Riedel
------------------ Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. Little Ferry, NJ billsr@riedelsignco.com
Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Ok- I quit- no more art from me- That just blew my doors off. That angel looks like shes coming out of the wall, I have never seen anything like it. That page is bookmarked!
------------------ Steve Barba is the proud owner, president, & sole employee of Sturgis Sign Works. sbarba2616@dtgnet.com
Posts: 768 | From: Sturgis South Dakota | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
i'm adding to this just to make sure nobody misses what i think is the most incredible work i have seen
------------------ 'To be born once is natural, To be born twice, now that's a miracle. ------------------------------------- From the sometimes sunny south of Ireland,
posted
Here's an oldie but goodie post from our friend Jay Allen! If you haven't seen this website, you're in for a treat. If you HAVE seen it before, enjoy a second look.
posted
Thanks Don Coplen for resurrecting this old post. Suprised to see my name on a post!! I thought senility had hit me since I didn't remeber posting recently.
William's work is timeless. He was actually selected to be one of the project leaders in Belvidere at the International but could not attend due to the fact that the Community Bridge Project was dedicated that same weekend!! Belvidere's loss, that's for sure. This mural, William's other work - Eric Grohe's and Bill Hueg's mural work are incredible examples of work I'll never be able to produce - but will always appreciate and admire. As should we all.
Aside from that, I am most struck by Don's description of me as a "friend" to Letterhead's. That may or may not be an opinion shared by some here - if past flames are any indication (I suppose everybody has been personally ripped here a time or two by somebody - just not by me). What it does speak volumes about is Don's character in not pre-judging me and seeing that my efforts to continue what the original 7 had started is genuine. He is equally respected by me.
I may not be attending as many meets as I used to (bad economy, busy schedule, family, etc), posting here (y'all answer correctly before I can ever respond!!) - but my heart is still in designing and fabricating the best work we can here at my company. The reason I am so busy is because I have applied what I've learned to our work. From people just like Bill Cochrane. All Letterhead's should follow suit (Just make sure you charge for it!!!!!)
How do you repay somebody for something they gave away for free? Thanks seems insufficient. But Don, thanks so much for the very generous comment. You're a class act. Not meant to take away from the intention of my original post - but has anyone called you a friend lately? That is the supreme compliment in my world. I had to respond.
-------------------- Jay Allen ShawCraft Sign Co. Machesney Park, IL jallen222@aol.com http://www.shawcraft.com/
"The object of the superior man is truth." -Confucius Posts: 1285 | From: Machesney Park, IL, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Thanx . . . just amazing and inspiring . . . . the whole thing is incredible. . . . . .the written descriptions and explanations by the artist makes it seem as if you could actually feel the contures and textures of each photograph.
The emotions you can experience from such work are so diverse too . . . from sheer awe to humor:
It's a truly gifted artist that can cause birds to try to land on water fountains and people to complain about ivy growing on the work!!
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Just droppin back in to see what kind of reactions the bridge post brought this time around. Very cool. I knew there were a lot of new Lettervillians since that post who would appreciate this masterpiece.
And Jay, of course you're appreciated by the lion's share of 'Heads. I can guarantee you that I, for one, do appreciate what you're about. Every time I run into you, which has been a few times since 97, I make it a point to give you a big pat on the back for what you did in Belvedere... And not just that, but for delivering the mosty eloquent speech on the topic of the Letterhead movement that I'll likely ever hear.
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